how to tune an antenna if its on a tower?

[209 first class]

how do you guys tune an antenna before you mount it? i wanted to get a crank up tower so i could lower and tune it, but they are much more expensive, and there is a 2 month wait(i am impatient,lol) so it will be quicker to buy a non crank up. how do you tune it once its up there? thanks, 209

[Mr RadioActive]

You'd tune it on the ground! While it was on a pole!

[231]

You'd tune it on the ground! While it was on a pole!

Yep...just like that.

[209 first class]

ok, i figured it would measure differently at different heights above ground, that swr/measurements on the mfj antenna analyzer might change being closer than a wavelength to the earth. i heard it would change, but i will rest assured, you guys are the pros. 209

[outlawmobile]

ok, i figured it would measure differently at different heights above ground, that swr/measurements on the mfj antenna analyzer might change being closer than a wavelength to the earth. i heard it would change, but i will rest assured, you guys are the pros. 209

Sometimes the swrs will change slightly tuning this way but usually not enough to be concerned about it.I have a friend with a Maco 8 element beam and his tower is on a hinge plate.Believe it or not he tuned his beam attached to the tower only up maybe 5 feet off the ground.He had it tuned to about a 1.2 across the regular 40 channels.When he raised it all up it rose to a 1.3,nothing to worry about there.Shawn