Hi,
Agree many variables are present, but many are known such as wind area of antenna, weight of rotator etc. I'm really looking for the equations to do the calculations. There must be structural engineers who use such equations, or am I way off course here....?
Update: In case anyone is interested, it looks like a lot of the info I needed is right here in this document:
http://thebont.com/spreadsheets/AnalysisOfAntennaMastStrength.pdf

I'm just about to put up a pole/mast on the end of my house to support a 6M yagi. Does anyone know where I can find some info on how to calculate the best place for;
a) The pole/mast bracket positions
b) Length of pole with rotator/antenna in place
c) Length of stub mast

I've always done these things by eye/common sense but feel sure there must be a source of information out there that can calculate the safest way to do this.

For some while I have been using a XP laptop with my radios, to run HRD, N1MM etc. I also ran VSPE to create a virtual COM port so multiple progs could commicate with the radio. The problem has arisen when the laptop died and I bought a Samsung Netbook running Windows 7 Starter.

The one com port showing (com3) has been setup with the correct CAT settings but when I try to connect via HRD I get the message 'FT817, 38400, Access Denied'. Nothing I do seems to change that.
I also cannot create a COM port to use with VSPE.I just don't see a control to do so. This is driving me mad! I've run out of ideas. Can anyone advise me, or has a similar setup that is working? Is it a problem with the Starter version of Windows7? Any advice gratefully recieved!

Thanks for both replies. I'll give the Faraday shield a try, but I suspect that my course of action will be to remove the batteries every time I operate when anyone else is in the house. And they are of course CO dectectors as KF7CG pointed out. They have never triggered when I pass by with a gin and tonic in my hand   

G4MKR

I have two CO2 detectors that are very susceptible to RF. They are made by BRK Electronics of Aurora, IL and are model No. CO400. I run around 100 watts, mostly CW using either an inverted L or quarter wave vertical for 7Mhz which sets off both detectors. Both antennas are close to the house. Strangely they don't immediately emit any noise, but usually start bleeping in between overs. I've seen other posts about CO2 detectors being prone to RFi, but has any one had experience of this particular model, and were they able to modify/cure it?

It drives my dogs and my wife mad when this happens! I'm worried the dogs might leave me!

de Richard - G4MKR

This is a radio question! Does anyone have experience of using several PC programs to control a radio (CAT) at the same time? It looks like I need some com port sharing software to allow N1MM logger and CW Skimmer to both control a rig, but what software? Has anyone done this?