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PACRAT

Portable Amateur Communications Radio Antenna Tower

The Idea behind this project actually started with the need to tune antennas, primarily beams that need to be up off the ground to check the VSWR. Large beams present major obstacles to proper tuning so we decided to build a small tilt over tower in Sam’s (KC4TAQ) backyard that would allow us to tune and quickly tilt the antenna up 15 or 20 feet above ground for the check. After some discussion it was decided it would be better if it were made portable. I then remembered an old trailer built from pipe that had been parked in the weeds and forgotten for years. We drug it out, put on one tire and hauled it to our shop in town where the build started. We dug around in the scrap pile behind the old barn and found a tapered R55G base section. We also came up with a couple of tired old sections of R45G and some R20G. As the plan came together, we thought it might be handy to be able to use the rig to install or remove towers. Sam and I were the primary builders but did have help from other local hams. We worked on Saturdays and spent about 6 or 7 week on the build. Sam hauled it to his shop and spent a few days on the cleaning, priming and painting. The first test came one evening when we used the PACRAT to remove a tower a few blocks from the shop. Several local hams were on hand for this venture. We next went to Punta Gorda to remove a tower for Jerry (KI4CNE) we had built only 11 months earlier. The next public appearance was at the 2008 Okeechobee ham fest where we used it for the first time as an antenna support structure. Several contacts were made on several bands during the event. The rig sat idle for several weeks until the Okeechobee County fair came to town. We set it up for the duration of the fair where it served not only for antenna support but also as a lighting tower for the main entrance to the fair grounds. The most resent project was the removal of a 100 foot R25G tower in Arcadia Fl. More to come….