SUBJECT: Toers, part 7

    Roof Mounts:  There are a few commercial roof mounts available to
the amateur.  Roof mounts have a few advantages over towers.  They
are cheaper, they start from 15 to 30 feet off the ground, and the
access is easy as walking on the roof.

    The disadvantages are the holes in the roof, loading, and 
lightning protection. 

    Roof mounting is easy to install verses a tower.  Your antenna 
weight must be restricted in accordance to your home's roof.  BEWARE, 
do not overload the roof!  The results are very expensive when the 
roof mount, antenna, and rotor take a dive in a storm.

    Be sure to properly ground a roof mount with the most direct path 
possible and be sure to properly waterproof the mounting holes in the 
roof.
    ---------------------------------------------------------

    Tiltovers:  This type of tower is becoming rare, but provides the
amateur with the most convience of all the towers given the room to
tilt one over.  The tower can bring the antenna to you rather than
climbing the tower or trying to perform on a ladder with a crank-up
in the down position.

    I only know a couple of hams with tiltovers and I can say they
operate quite well with little maintenance.


-WS