For all of those saying to start big and compromise smaller(still bigger than what you intend on...) they are right. I told my XYL that I had acquired a 75' self supporting tower and showed her the pictures of the old beast. She flipped out as expected. But when I told her that I had more recently come across a smaller 54' self supporting telescoping tower and showed her the pictures, she said that it was better. Of course the Honey do list has grown since then but that is fine. I am planning the concrete base over-sized so when that 54' tower has some "problems" I can install that 75' tower in its place. By then she will have eased into the situation a little more I hope... HI hi
As with bargaining with a car sales person, you NEVER start small because you can never go up. But it is far easier to start way up high and work it back down to a more suitable compromise.
OR:
It is far easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.
^ Not recommended for us married folks unless it is something insignificant.
I used this idea and the one that the original poster had with my 2 meter vertical. I first installed a home brew mast and j-pole on the back overhang right where she parks. She didn't like it so after letting her complain about it for a few days, I moved it to the side of the house, bottom of the j-pole flush with the gutter line. Again, she didn't like it, but it was far more pleasing than the previous spot she said. Three weeks later, the J-pole "failed" right before an important net so she "let" me put up a nice vertical that I had acquired since erecting the j-pole.
Two weeks go by and I am coming down from the ladder as she pulls in.
Yes, it is higher just a little bit but ONLY because I was getting RF into the shack and was causing problems with the house circuits. She sighs and goes inside. Next day, I raised it to its final height above the roof line before she got home and she has never said anything about it again.
73 and good luck,
Joe / AJ3O
