I am want to develop a network of AIS receivers with coverage of the
US inland waterways(miss, Ohio, Illinois rivers and the gulf).
Searching the web mostly results in sites targeted for cell phone
carriers. Does anyone know of any sites that would be more appropriate
for this type of need? How do locate sites/towers to be used for
repeaters for example?

Ideally well located amateur towers would probably be best.

Thanks in Advance.

I have an efficiency question concerning feed lines. My present
system is RG-8X to my 75 meter inverted vee which is about 85 feet
away from the shack. I propose to replace some 88 feet of coax with
300 ohm window ladder line that is inserted into the coax run with 4:1
baluns to match the coax on each end. Also at the feed point of the
antenna switch from a voltage balun to a current balun (ferrite chock
type). By my calculations with a 98 watt generator I will increase
the power to the load by about 11-20 watts and with a 985 watt
generator, 117-210 more watts will reach the load. Figuring
theoretical total system (A) against total System (B) or by just the
difference in the 88 feet of ladder line versus coax. What do you
think the increase will be?

Does anyone have the formula to calculate the acreage needed for a guyed
tower? We have a 500' guyed tower, with guy wire at 50%% guying radius .
Wires would be 250' to outer anchor.

Thanks -

Don