Most radio amateurs once started as CB'Rs so don't let that fool you Callum I am also a CB'R and because of you I started using mmana-call and now also EZNEC I make baluns, various wire antennas, RF chokes etc. too crazy to mention everything it is just a nice hobby and the more souls the more joy.
Thank-you Callum. And yes i would like to know a lot more about Knotts and their use for towers and guy wires and even your shock Knotts on the DX Commander as well. Cheers and Merry Christmas Callum. All the best in 2025. 👍👍
Awesome! Yes, an 8:1 works great. If you can add eye loops, get a few QuickDraws or dyneema slings to anchor it, while you tie off. If you want to keep it from moving fast on you, use a belay or descender to counter the shock. Look at some things in rope rescue and rock climbing. There are items that will make that so much easier. I suggest still using the pulleys with the winch. It will save the motor.
Outstanding and practical setup. Along with the four square. Hope you have a nice rest over holidays with your family. you deserve it you put in hella good year Sir! Thanks again for sharing the journey entertaining and educational you are!
Great fun Callum ! yes them gopro cameras are touchy. They get to warm or too cold they shut down . That 8 pulley system is nice . Really makes it easier. I like how you can remote in to get camera footage from the tower cam. A weather station will be fun as well. Then weather data on the livestream with the tower cam. It has been some crazy weather in NY so far. Lots of wind and snow. It warms up melys we get some minor flooding then it gets cold and snow and wind again. Lots of cold and flu going around in my area . Me and my girlfriend doing well so far . We have the updated shots . Nothing wrong with CB . it still radio ! It is just between 2 ham bands . I do not let some bad users wreck radio fun for me. It is a bad user and not radio that is the problem. We get that in the US as well about CB. Blame the operator and not the radio . That helps keep me going with fun with radio . Some great footage from the drone ! 73 from NY !
Love the "tower" project and everything you've been working on. I've been on a little ham radio hiatus for about a month. But the content you're putting out is getting me motivated and back on board. I think I commented on another video, you've got me working on a 4 square myself now with your own coming soon I hope. I got the kit from DXE with the 4 directions and Omni. Using some DX Commander Sig 9 poles. My brother-in-law works in a metal fab shop and was able to laser cut some base plates for me as well. They ended up being stainless steel because that's apparently easier on the laser. I won't complain, saved me from having to hand cut them on a table saw, try and make the holes in the center for the mast to go on with a hole saw, and I just need to drill and tap some holes for radials and the SO-239. Maybe we'll both get our 4 squares done around the same time and I'll catch you on 40m during a live stream soon! Cheers and 73 from GA.
@@DXCommanderHQ I'd have preferred aluminum, a little more conductive. But it should still work fine. Guy spreaders I assume at the 4 tie in points for the tower for the 3 levels of guys? That should help you get the lengths right, with some adjustability. And you can probably setup the one the tower/falling derrick heads towards with an extra hole, so you have one to tie the pulley system to and a second one to guy to so you don't have to disconnect one to connect the other.
Ignore the muppets, good for you Cal in telling that personage if he didn't like to leave. Keep doing what you do, you have been great help to many people.
I love all your videos I'm learning from what projects your doing, you get Snobs in all hobbies, I came from CB was on in 1977 some better operation on there then amateur bands. I'm catching up on your videos after knee replacement. Would love to see the music side of playing drums. Happy Christmas to all DX COMANDER TEAM. 73 Mike M1KEY
Yes Callum. Do a revised ham knots video. I really appreciate all the content mate you're original, honest and educational. The Mrs and I also loved the x-mas dance, you nutters. Merry x-mas
I so enjoy watching this project. The new pully worked nicely. Depending on how often you might have to raise and lower the tower a winch might be overkill. Just a thought.
Hi Callum, another great video Sir. Learning all the time as we all do. Just a heads up regarding the winch, just be aware if your winch doesn’t have a front feeder, placing it vertical may cause cable bunching on the top of the drum due to the angle your pulling at, watch out for entanglements and cable twists, something we have to watch out for as 4X4 nuts. On the CB front like most I don’t care if you do 2m, 11m or anything else RF related. I have been and will always be a 11m operator and will never change due to where my radio journey began, which is probably true for most Amateur Radio operators. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 73 Billy M0WJB
Callum just a suggestion. You can manufacture a rope winder from a empty wire spool to wind the block and tackle rope onto and it will act as a speed multiplier on the lift. It will also act as a very nice storage system for the block and tackle.
You're going to need one more knott. Look into using a prusik as progress capture on that block and tackle if you stick with it. Backing off might be a pain as you'd have to have your hands in the mix to hold the pruisk while easing off. But an electric winch with a wireless remote would be good too to allow you move around and check things as it goes up.
I have a smaller pulley system like that paper work said lift a 1000 lbs .?? But it got me out of a few jams a few times a few times very handy ..super work on tower... winch will be interesting
I think you must have served on a sail ship in a previous life 😁… anyway, a result on the yagi… it’s enjoyable watching you with your antennas, I usually watch your videos at least twice. As regards CB… I became interested in amateur radio and the licence requirement because of CB in the early 90s,,, at first I thought the exams were too clever for me 😵💫 but persisted with it and became a G0… I got talking to a CB’r on Costco car park recently, he has a president Lincoln,,, just got chatting, no argument about ham radio or cb… he told me his radio had been “fettled” and put out 40watts… I didn’t say anything other than “interesting “… had to go at that point to pick up wifey… but he said he was here every day and to come back for a chat / demo… may do in the new year ? Why get your nickers twisted about people on CB ? It’s their interest / responsibility as ours is ours 🤔… With the winch you will loose feedback off your rigging and it will go titsup. 😧 you need to feel the angles of a dangle as the mast goes up and down in my opinion,,, for what that’s worth. You are a very interesting Antenna Alchemist and folks love you for what you do. 😊 Best wishes to everyone.73. 💙 G0uvl
Could use a lil wagon tool box for the antenna field tools and parts ... as long as you bring the wagon you have what you need and could also carry your parts and stuff needed
I have an antenna tool box mounted on a 2 wheel hand truck with big tires so I can roll it over the grass.... the 'theory" is that everything I need to work on my antennas out in the yard is on the hand truck whenever I go out on a "job".....cheers from New England to Old England Mike, K1FNX near Boston
I can’t believe that a cb’r (11m) guy said that to you Cal !!!! He obviously doesn’t want to learn anything about antennas or radio or anything else for that matter….. to threaten to leave your channel made me laugh so much I almost pissed myself…. 😆. Great vid as usual mate. Are you thinking of using adjustable turnbuckles to the anchor points in future? Just to make changes in future easier? Cheers cock. Merry Xmas to you and your family and a safe and prosperous new year. 👍🥃🇦🇺
Lewis gets this a lot (Ringway Manchester) and I do love it when you guys address it like so. It's as I said on lewis' vid. Our opinions as commenters and viewers is meaningless to creators. We can be ignored entirely. And unless the creator wants to engage with us, you are wasting your breath and time complaining. I for one enjoyed the CB vid, as its where I came from in the pass time. I still play with it from time to time as well. To paraphrase Callum quite a bit. Don't be a snob. Its just a giggle innit?
I don't care (as you point out) I am more weirded out by the comments sometimes. It teaches me a lot about people who have no filter because they only have a keyboard to communicate with. If they met me (and I know from experience this happens) all of a sudden they become polite and kind!
@DXCommanderHQ Its an interesting phenomena. I was always of the mind to either be civil when parting with commentary or if you're so upset, just shuffle on and let be. Unless its Hitler or some such oik... However such oiks are a rarity. Thankfully. And as you say, when In person very few would dare be so rude, lest a rebuttal, verbal or otherwise be forth coming. And niche hobbies such as ours (and my many varied other ones as well...) just doesn't need such ... Arsery within. Makes us seem even more oddball, rather than just quirky oddball. Anyways... I am rambling. Goodday Callum and all. Here's to many more VARIED and knowledgeable videos to come.
Just be careful using too many knots in your ropes and lines. Some knots will derate the breaking the strength of the rope by half or more. Same thing with applying forces at angles. Physics can be your best friend or worth enemy. To manage your excess rope, use a rope bucket. Arborist use them all the time.
Regarding the CB pushing 4 Watts ? Was it ? as it has been proven that some 85% of CB's don't push out the full legal 4 watts one of the people who service's CB's on TH-cam has proved this Callum maybe check it into a good expensive power meter with a dummy load , Or send it to the fellow Amateur Radio man for a optimisation and try it again ? Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family
@@DXCommanderHQ This is the first I've known of Retevis to make a CB I know they make other transceivers but was wondering if it was like some of the CB's of the day and today as they all seem to come under the 4 watt spectrum some as low as 2 watts you would be lucky if it was 5 , The one I use in my car isn't very big it's a bit smaller than the one you have there ,
@@quotagious You can tell the difference between the low power and high-power radios .. it's the heat-sink. Adds a lot of weight for the higher power, like the QT80 (which has just been sent to me actually!)
@ I will have to disagree, when I was on aerial rigging they saved a multitude of injuries. Rope burns especially with the blue rope were common as the initial reaction when things were going wrong was to grab the rope. But they are your hands! Happy Christmas. 🤪
What is wrong with CB? That is all I can transmit with. I got banned from transmitting on Amateur Radio, before I even started. I said "Out" in the prac exam. That was enough to earn me apparently a lifetime TX ban. The examiner was good enough to allow me to get a call sign, but with a TX restriction!
You keep making videos about whatever you like, and we'll keep watching.
please don't stop making videos about CB radio thats how i found your channel
Copied!
Most radio amateurs once started as CB'Rs so don't let that fool you Callum I am also a CB'R and because of you I started using mmana-call and now also EZNEC I make baluns, various wire antennas, RF chokes etc. too crazy to mention everything it is just a nice hobby and the more souls the more joy.
Great comment!
Radio is radio, I enjoyed my CB days in the early 80's, probably as much as I do amateur radio.
Thank-you Callum. And yes i would like to know a lot more about Knotts and their use for towers and guy wires and even your shock Knotts on the DX Commander as well. Cheers and Merry Christmas Callum. All the best in 2025. 👍👍
Noted!
Love these project videos and I for one enjoyed the CB stuff as well. It's all good.
Awesome! Yes, an 8:1 works great. If you can add eye loops, get a few QuickDraws or dyneema slings to anchor it, while you tie off. If you want to keep it from moving fast on you, use a belay or descender to counter the shock.
Look at some things in rope rescue and rock climbing. There are items that will make that so much easier. I suggest still using the pulleys with the winch. It will save the motor.
Yes.. Need a belay / descender really..
I don't care if it's a video on a Hello Kitty walkie talkie a kid got for Christmas. It's all RF and it's a 2 way radio. In the end it's all bananas.
Bananas!
For the greater bunch.
Outstanding and practical setup. Along with the four square. Hope you have a nice rest over holidays with your family. you deserve it you put in hella good year Sir! Thanks again for sharing the journey entertaining and educational you are!
Happy holidays!
Great fun Callum ! yes them gopro cameras are touchy. They get to warm or too cold they shut down . That 8 pulley system is nice . Really makes it easier. I like how you can remote in to get camera footage from the tower cam. A weather station will be fun as well. Then weather data on the livestream with the tower cam. It has been some crazy weather in NY so far. Lots of wind and snow. It warms up melys we get some minor flooding then it gets cold and snow and wind again. Lots of cold and flu going around in my area . Me and my girlfriend doing well so far . We have the updated shots . Nothing wrong with CB . it still radio ! It is just between 2 ham bands . I do not let some bad users wreck radio fun for me. It is a bad user and not radio that is the problem. We get that in the US as well about CB. Blame the operator and not the radio . That helps keep me going with fun with radio . Some great footage from the drone ! 73 from NY !
Hi Callum, I'm Riccardo from italy, fantastic video, the second telescopic pole that you gave me could be used on an Adriatic crossing next summer!
Riccardo! Merry Christmas!
Love the "tower" project and everything you've been working on. I've been on a little ham radio hiatus for about a month. But the content you're putting out is getting me motivated and back on board. I think I commented on another video, you've got me working on a 4 square myself now with your own coming soon I hope. I got the kit from DXE with the 4 directions and Omni. Using some DX Commander Sig 9 poles. My brother-in-law works in a metal fab shop and was able to laser cut some base plates for me as well. They ended up being stainless steel because that's apparently easier on the laser. I won't complain, saved me from having to hand cut them on a table saw, try and make the holes in the center for the mast to go on with a hole saw, and I just need to drill and tap some holes for radials and the SO-239. Maybe we'll both get our 4 squares done around the same time and I'll catch you on 40m during a live stream soon! Cheers and 73 from GA.
Yes.. Laser cutting is great. I might go stainless too. I'm getting some guy spreaders made for the guy points with turnbuckles on each point..
@@DXCommanderHQ I'd have preferred aluminum, a little more conductive. But it should still work fine. Guy spreaders I assume at the 4 tie in points for the tower for the 3 levels of guys? That should help you get the lengths right, with some adjustability. And you can probably setup the one the tower/falling derrick heads towards with an extra hole, so you have one to tie the pulley system to and a second one to guy to so you don't have to disconnect one to connect the other.
Ignore the muppets, good for you Cal in telling that personage if he didn't like to leave. Keep doing what you do, you have been great help to many people.
Merry Christmas!
@@DXCommanderHQ Merry Christmas to you too
Another interesting bit of fun on the tower... Very Good... Thank You
Great!
Keep up the good work bud, love your videos.
Woo-Hoo thanks!
sooner you than me on the rigging and shackles, nail biting videos, all the best cheers
I love all your videos I'm learning from what projects your doing, you get Snobs in all hobbies, I came from CB was on in 1977 some better operation on there then amateur bands.
I'm catching up on your videos after knee replacement. Would love to see the music side of playing drums. Happy Christmas to all DX COMANDER TEAM. 73 Mike M1KEY
Music.. Someday I'll do a tour of the drum kit. It's recently gone totally electronic. Quite interesting actually.
Yes Callum. Do a revised ham knots video. I really appreciate all the content mate you're original, honest and educational. The Mrs and I also loved the x-mas dance, you nutters. Merry x-mas
Haha.. Yeah,m the silly dance was fun!
I'm going to have to dig out your old knots video, sounds useful and interesting.
Go for it!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Good job.
Thanks, you too!
I so enjoy watching this project. The new pully worked nicely. Depending on how often you might have to raise and lower the tower a winch might be overkill. Just a thought.
This thing is a crazy beast. But it's great!
Hi Callum, another great video Sir. Learning all the time as we all do. Just a heads up regarding the winch, just be aware if your winch doesn’t have a front feeder, placing it vertical may cause cable bunching on the top of the drum due to the angle your pulling at, watch out for entanglements and cable twists, something we have to watch out for as 4X4 nuts. On the CB front like most I don’t care if you do 2m, 11m or anything else RF related. I have been and will always be a 11m operator and will never change due to where my radio journey began, which is probably true for most Amateur Radio operators. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 73 Billy M0WJB
Hey Billy.. I might just go with a hand-winch.. We'll see.
i love how you do youre radio work i like to watch channel
Hey Thanks!
Cracking video Cal..
Callum just a suggestion. You can manufacture a rope winder from a empty wire spool to wind the block and tackle rope onto and it will act as a speed multiplier on the lift. It will also act as a very nice storage system for the block and tackle.
Good job mate 👍i love all your projects and testing that you and the team do and used some of your tricks thanks 👌cheers from vk3pmw
Great to hear!
You're going to need one more knott. Look into using a prusik as progress capture on that block and tackle if you stick with it. Backing off might be a pain as you'd have to have your hands in the mix to hold the pruisk while easing off. But an electric winch with a wireless remote would be good too to allow you move around and check things as it goes up.
great video...
I have a smaller pulley system like that paper work said lift a 1000 lbs .?? But it got me out of a few jams a few times a few times very handy ..super work on tower... winch will be interesting
Interesting!
Congrats for all is my dream 🎉
The rope sounds a bit crunchy going through the 8 pulley system.
I think you must have served on a sail ship in a previous life 😁… anyway, a result on the yagi… it’s enjoyable watching you with your antennas, I usually watch your videos at least twice. As regards CB… I became interested in amateur radio and the licence requirement because of CB in the early 90s,,, at first I thought the exams were too clever for me 😵💫 but persisted with it and became a G0… I got talking to a CB’r on Costco car park recently, he has a president Lincoln,,, just got chatting, no argument about ham radio or cb… he told me his radio had been “fettled” and put out 40watts… I didn’t say anything other than “interesting “… had to go at that point to pick up wifey… but he said he was here every day and to come back for a chat / demo… may do in the new year ?
Why get your nickers twisted about people on CB ? It’s their interest / responsibility as ours is ours 🤔… With the winch you will loose feedback off your rigging and it will go titsup. 😧 you need to feel the angles of a dangle as the mast goes up and down in my opinion,,, for what that’s worth.
You are a very interesting Antenna Alchemist and folks love you for what you do. 😊
Best wishes to everyone.73. 💙
G0uvl
Agree with a winch.. I find the pulley easy. Good point about CB.. It's just radio.
Maybe you can put a weight scale in line with the winch to monitor the pull!?
I thought that drone was a goner then! I did the same with a brand new Mavic 2 Zoom on its maiden flight :) I think I was less lucky though..
Oh no Stu!
Could use a lil wagon tool box for the antenna field tools and parts ... as long as you bring the wagon you have what you need and could also carry your parts and stuff needed
I have an antenna tool box mounted on a 2 wheel hand truck with big tires so I can roll it over the grass.... the 'theory" is that everything I need to work on my antennas out in the yard is on the hand truck whenever I go out on a "job".....cheers from New England to Old England Mike, K1FNX near Boston
👍for videos on CB and any other RF you want.
👍for tutorial on knots.
Noted!
Are you going to add a cable winch with ratchet (Hand wound)? This way no rope to get your feet tangled in and is safer than dropping the rope
Still working unfortunately! My Yagi is doing well at 14m!
If folk don't like cb or any other subject which is not they cuppa tea, just don't watch it. Not everyone likes everything . Cheers.
Good point!
3:29 how far does 4 watts get you? On Amateur satellite I've worked over 2,000 miles with 4 watts. Line of sight.
I can’t believe that a cb’r (11m) guy said that to you Cal !!!! He obviously doesn’t want to learn anything about antennas or radio or anything else for that matter….. to threaten to leave your channel made me laugh so much I almost pissed myself…. 😆. Great vid as usual mate. Are you thinking of using adjustable turnbuckles to the anchor points in future? Just to make changes in future easier? Cheers cock. Merry Xmas to you and your family and a safe and prosperous new year. 👍🥃🇦🇺
Yes.. Pretty big upgrade with turnbuckles on all 12 guys with a steel spreader plate at the guy point.
@ Worth it you recon ?
Lewis gets this a lot (Ringway Manchester) and I do love it when you guys address it like so. It's as I said on lewis' vid. Our opinions as commenters and viewers is meaningless to creators. We can be ignored entirely. And unless the creator wants to engage with us, you are wasting your breath and time complaining. I for one enjoyed the CB vid, as its where I came from in the pass time. I still play with it from time to time as well.
To paraphrase Callum quite a bit. Don't be a snob. Its just a giggle innit?
I don't care (as you point out) I am more weirded out by the comments sometimes. It teaches me a lot about people who have no filter because they only have a keyboard to communicate with. If they met me (and I know from experience this happens) all of a sudden they become polite and kind!
@DXCommanderHQ Its an interesting phenomena. I was always of the mind to either be civil when parting with commentary or if you're so upset, just shuffle on and let be. Unless its Hitler or some such oik... However such oiks are a rarity. Thankfully. And as you say, when In person very few would dare be so rude, lest a rebuttal, verbal or otherwise be forth coming. And niche hobbies such as ours (and my many varied other ones as well...) just doesn't need such ... Arsery within. Makes us seem even more oddball, rather than just quirky oddball. Anyways... I am rambling. Goodday Callum and all. Here's to many more VARIED and knowledgeable videos to come.
Look at that beautiful monstrosity! 😂
Yes! LOL
I use a 6x1 for my mast and it’s a lot of rope :-)
I use 8 mm climbers rope and harken yacht sheaves
Nice
Soooo many (good) work and efforts to setup a mast. Why not buy a cheap crank up mast. so easy, no fiddeling with wires etc etc..
They are still expensive, and not as much fun!
This is cheap and interesting.
I'm not sure an electric winch is necessary is it? How often will you be putting the mast up and down v's the expense of the winch?
Weekly. Sometimes 3-4 times per day if I'm developing.
Need more cb 11 meter videos
How soon will there a testrun, your new 2-el yagi?
Well.. I did have it up - now the wind is apparently going to blow a gale. I might get it back up Monday.
Just be careful using too many knots in your ropes and lines. Some knots will derate the breaking the strength of the rope by half or more. Same thing with applying forces at angles. Physics can be your best friend or worth enemy. To manage your excess rope, use a rope bucket. Arborist use them all the time.
We're fine.
That is block and tackle.
Regarding the CB pushing 4 Watts ? Was it ? as it has been proven that some 85% of CB's don't push out the full legal 4 watts one of the people who service's CB's on TH-cam has proved this Callum maybe check it into a good expensive power meter with a dummy load ,
Or send it to the fellow Amateur Radio man for a optimisation and try it again ?
Happy Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family
Well. Maybe it was 3W. Maybe 5W.. But that's not the point. It weighed less then a small fly - so it might have been 2W!
@@DXCommanderHQ This is the first I've known of Retevis to make a CB I know they make other transceivers but was wondering if it was like some of the CB's of the day and today as they all seem to come under the 4 watt spectrum some as low as 2 watts you would be lucky if it was 5 ,
The one I use in my car isn't very big it's a bit smaller than the one you have there ,
@@quotagious You can tell the difference between the low power and high-power radios .. it's the heat-sink. Adds a lot of weight for the higher power, like the QT80 (which has just been sent to me actually!)
GLOVES 🧤
See pinned comment on last tower video - and why gloves are "not" a good thing.
@ I will have to disagree, when I was on aerial rigging they saved a multitude of injuries. Rope burns especially with the blue rope were common as the initial reaction when things were going wrong was to grab the rope. But they are your hands! Happy Christmas. 🤪
I will keep subscribed because you're working with the 11m band. Lo l- Let me guess I can't call Citizen Band 11m because its illegitimate. ROTFL
Not quite sure!
you should talk more about CB and experiment with antennas, even directional ones, it's always RF, stupid people are better lost than found.
Good comment!
Knot video would be good 🪢
Copied!
What is wrong with CB? That is all I can transmit with. I got banned from transmitting on Amateur Radio, before I even started. I said "Out" in the prac exam. That was enough to earn me apparently a lifetime TX ban. The examiner was good enough to allow me to get a call sign, but with a TX restriction!
Did I say there was something wrong with CB? See this: th-cam.com/video/41PeeHweLYs/w-d-xo.html
@@DXCommanderHQ No you didn't, you were however complaining of Amateur snobs of which I totally agree with.
I don't not want a knott video please! :D
Don't NOT want a video.. So you do..!? LOL
Knott to be missed.
see no reason why a winch wont work vertically - and seems the obvious choice compared to that block and tackle
Yeah.. Still toying with it..
It would Knot be funny Knot to show us your Knots. roflmao
Knot too funny!