We normally used 15 meter antennas but there was a 30 meter mast in my section for when the 15 meter wouldn't cut it. I can't remember a time when we actually used the 30 meter antenna for a radio link. But every so often we'd dig it out and go put it up to make sure all the parts worked and to show those who might have never put on up how it works. We tried setting it up on the back part of Camp Monteith one January day, but the ground was so frozen, we broke several sledge hammers and bent the very heavy steel ground stakes pulling them back out with the truck! Here are some pictures from another time when we drove to a hilltop off post and set it up.
The first steps, setting up the base and carrying
all the other equipment to the base of the antenna.
Every time we set it up, we needed the manual to make
sure we had it all right. Only one or two people could
probably do it without the book, but we always chose to
do it the manual way instead. Better safe than sorry!
As we added section after section we needed to make sure
the antenna was going up without being bent. That's me standing
on the ladder keeping an eye on the antenna and telling the
winch people which way it needed to go and how much.
Two of the winch people doing their thing. That's
PFC Torgerson in front and SGT Sykes in the back.
Keeping it straight. That's the section sergeant
SSG Vasser looking up and SPC Williams next to him.
Winch people again. PFC Torgerson in front and SGT Sykes in back.
And it's up! It is pretty high and I didn't get
the whole thing in this picture. After we put it up
and grabbed something to eat, we took it down again and
rolled on back to Camp Monteith to call it a day. :-)
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