Cecil is absolutely correct.  I built a new home in a valley 15 years ago.  I knew it was in a hole, but the choice to live there was mine.  Starting at my back yard and going east the ground rises about 250 feet in a mile.  I didn't worry about it long though because I figured I had only these options for HF:

1.  Move
2.  Find another hobby
3.  Rent a bulldozer and level that hill to meet my needs (about 900 acres)
4.  Put up the best antenna I can and quit worrying.

I chose #4.  In 15 years I have 249 DX entities confirmed with a dipole in my attic.  MOST of those contacts are in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the exact direction of that hill I dreaded.  It came down to the takeoff angle of the antenna.  The hill was almost invisible to my dipole.

So, what are your options, Greg?  Probably pretty similar to mine and lots of other hams.  Just put something up (probably not a vertical) and have fun.  You can always tinker with new ideas while you are racking up contacts.  

73,

Terry, WØFM

Most manufacturers of the DC connector that you are referring to call them "coaxial" connectors.  As they connect "coaxially".  More people will recognize what you are referring to if you use that term.

73,

Terry, WØFM

I agree with K1CJS.  Public safety personnell often stand among many first responder vehicles equipped with 110W VHF mobile radios at incident sites.  All those antennas are just feet from them.  To this day, I never saw anyone negatively impacted by that exposure or even cautioned about dangers.

I did, however, once witness a hot dog cook on an 800 MHz quarter wave mobile whip while the 35W mobile was keyed.  Took about 40 seconds before it started smoking and sizzling.  That was a safety demonstration put on by an engineer.

Terry, WØFM

Hi Ray,

Your question is not off topic.  Guys have planted 4x4's for years to support their masts or vertical antennas.  Make sure you use treated wood for longevity.  Yes, there are addatives you can mix with concrete to accomodate various climate and soil conditions, although most would not bother.  If you are very concerned about this, I'd suggest you stop by your local redi-mix concrete company and talk to the dispatcher.  Concrete contractors order all sorts of different concrete mixes to allow them to pour concrete in all kinds of weather.  They only make money when they pour concrete, so it's essential.  Let us know what they tell you.  Good luck with the project.

73,

Terry, WØFM

There are a number of guys who restore antique radios who will custom make clear plastic radio dials.  Some of them advertise on sites like www.antiqueradio.com.  I had a new plastic dial made for the Philco cathederal I restored and I think it cost me less than $20.  Just another place to hunt.

Good luck.

73,

Terry, WØFM

Twirling around 20 meters a couple weeks ago, I happened to call Dick, W1FYI, who had just finished a QSO.  When he responded to me he mentioned that he also heard another station calling him.  We stood by for the third station who turned out to be Bob, W5RF in Texas.  We all had a chuckle about the chances of randomly getting FYI, RF and FM together in a QSO.  Had a nice chat.  I don't normally send cards for stateside QSO's unless requested, but since this QSO was such a great example of the "roll of the dice" that is our hobby, I sent both W1FYI and W5RF QSL cards for the contact.  I grinned as I dropped them in the mail, thinking "why this?"

I got a card back from Dick, W1FYI, and a few days later a note from Bob, W5RF, confirming the contact and noting that he had no QSL cards.  But all the data necessary to confirm this unique QSO was in his handwritten note, along with his business card.  Both quite authentic.

Terry, WØFM

ROB1955 stated:  "I'm so tired and fed-up of those insane and useless comments that are put on those forums every time someone or a company put a new product".

Unfortunately, Rob, this is not a "new" product.  It is an End-Fed antenna.  Been in use for decades in our hobby.  PAR has a whole line of them that the've offered for years (for a lot less than $125) and I've built many of these antennas from scratch since I was 14.

Here's what I see.  Marketing HYPE!  Some company here sees an influx of new amateur radio operators entering the hobby because of their specific interest in emergency communications.  They market a typical End-Fed antenna as a great emergency HF backup antenna (with a silhouette of soldier on a tank in the background for seasoning) and sell it for a huge profit!

Yes, you are free to purchase as many of these as you like for $125.00 each, but in burns me to see someone taking advantage of an entire new group of enthusiastic, but relatively inexperienced, hams.

73,

Terry, WØFM

Out of the box it appears that radio will RECEIVE 220:  "The FT-7900R provides receiver coverage from 108 to 520 MHz, and 700 to 999.99 MHz (cellular blocked), so you have available a wide range of monitoring excitement, including AM Aircraft, Public Safety, Government, Business, and, of course, Amateur communications. The synthesizer steps appropriate for the operating band are automatically selected, too!"

Modifying it to TX 220 will need to be addressed with more first-hand experience than me.

Terry, WØFM

Great summary, Tisha. 

What you've documented is very similar to what we do with outdoor warning sirens, but with a slight twist.  We have the pole delivered to one of our service centers where our techs attach the siren head, the solar panels, battery and distribution box and the control radios (while pole is supported slightly off the ground by railroad timbers).  The techs run the heliax and grounds down the pole and secure them.  Then we call the electrical contractor who picks up the entire assembly and trucks it to the site, where is is planted, fertilized and watered.  ;o)
I have to say that a pole like that with a 675 pound siren head (and accessories) on top appears to be quite unwieldy to raise.  But they know their job.  Glad someone other than me is doing the lifting and guidance.  Great pics.  Thanks again.

73,

Terry, WØFM

Martin,

We sell Emergency Outdoor Warning Sirens and steer away from using utility companies for supplying the poles.  We found the best results is to contact a decent size electrical contractor in your area.  They can give you a price for the pole and installation as a package.  Some local tower services will also quote a utility pole/install package.  It's not cheap, but a lot less expensive than buying from the local utility company then paying someone else to install it.  Good luck.

73,
Terry, WØFM

Frank,

By all means, don't buy one of those clamps new!  They are NOT worth $12.  Offer the drum tech a buck for a used one if it suits your needs.  Those thing are just as good used as they are new.

Happy hunting.

Terry. WØFM

What you'll be looking for looks something like this.  

http://www.samash.com/p/Latin%20Percussion_LP235%20Cowbell%20U%20Clamp%20(3/8%22%20Diameter)_-49988978?cm_mmc=GoogleShopping-_-Drums-_-Channeladvisor-_-Latin+Percussion+LP235+Cowbell+U+Clamp+(3/8"+Diameter)&utm_source=GSH&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=Channeladvisor&CAWELAID=1594695360&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CKn10Zz-iLQCFQGFnQod30wAZQ

If you find one small enough you'll find that the thumbscrew will give you more torque on the connection.  Either way, a drop of ThreadLok would be something to think about also.

Terry, WØFM

Frank

Another alternative could be some percussion hardware.  If you have a drum shop or music store nearby, stop by and talk to a drum technician or repairman.  I had a box full of connectors quite like what you have there.  They were commonly used to clamp cymbal stands or accessories like cow bells, woodblocks, etc to a drum kit.  They are usually steel and chrome plated.  (We drummers always gravitate to chrome and sparkle  ) 

This doesn't address the deificiency of the soft aluminum ring that Steve speaks about, and would still require inspection, but I always cussed these clamps because they held on too well and wouldn't loosen up when I wanted them to.

Good luck.

73,

Terry, WØFM

Hi Kyle,

While the solution you describe aboves provides an immediate (albeit temporary) fix to your problem I would urge you to work toward a more permanent solution.  Should you ever uplug the carbon monoxide detectors to operate your ham station and forget to plug them back in, it could cost your or someone you love their lives.

Keep hunting!

73,

Terry, WØFM

Dale,

If your car as a fender mounted mast antenna for AM/FM radio reception, check www.sti-co.com.  They make VHF and dual band antennas that replace the factory AM/FM antenna.  They retain their ability to send good time signals to the car radio and you can't tell them from the factory jobs.  Not cheap, but a clean option.

Terry, WØFM