Batboard

Considering some temporary options here and using a 100' pine tree to mount a PD201 for a few months/up to year or so.

Looking for any ideas that have been successfully used in the past. Anyone done this?

I did years ago using some super heavy rubber bungies and some chain on a roof mount/mast contraption,it worked ok but looking for better/other/creative ideas.

Mike

I saw a creative set up a while ago.
They put a about ten 2 x4's all about 3 ft long around a tree like a girdle.
Then put a standard monopole standoff sticking out from a couple of the 2 x 4's and used the usual chain to attach it.
The 2 x 4's were just to protect the tree.
It was a small standoff, maybe 4 ft. and also a small antenna (DB408 I think).
I suppose it would work for a temp set up, but you would want to keep it small, and go tighten / check it often.

Creative indeed, thank you for the reply. I will look at that method as protection of the tree is a concern. Thanks again for the reply- much appreciated. Mike

My two bits worth:
A taxi company in Kailua-Kona strapped a 20' station master into a Norfolk pine with an old seat belt.
The tree was about 20 or 25'.
Remained there for a couple of years.

Tree mounted antennas; BTDT...NOT a creative way to secure the site from lightning or is there an effective method for proper grounding for simple static related noise either.

Maybe one can make use of heavy guage welding cable and use it as a ground return, but remember that living trees grow!

Every year the cable will become shorter and shorter..:O

I'm more concerned about grounding than asthetics myself.

Palm tree cell sites are a joke, but placing a real site in a tree that is camoflaged with more trees is the real deal.

How do you deal with site security for those that come upon the site and steal the copper grounding, or cut the cable as a joke(if the site is remote)?

I used a method that included light duty tower sections strapped to a straight tree myself, and I was able to get the antenna up at least 30 feet above the treeline also.

The TV tower allowed me direct access to the antenna, and the banding straps used to secure the tower to the tree still allowed the tree to grow without damaging it over time.

Bolting anything to a living tree is hazardous to trees, and while I am not a tree hugger or even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I do like my trees to stay alive and provide the beauty and shade I've grown accustomed to.

P.S...I also never played a tree hugger on TV either!

But I suppose the biggest caveat here of course, is dead trees.....NEVER attach any antenna to a dead tree, or one that is rotting; but then you all KNOW that, right?

Strap your ground cables to the tree, never bolt them into the tree, please.

And leave extra running through the bolt on the ground rods as well.

A large, single run of ground cable beats several runs of #4 solid hands down.