Antenna Design Tower





Here’s another one of Japan’s famous tourist attraction for our Today’s Japan photo series – Tokyo Tower [東京タワー].

This photo was uploaded onto flickr by user BUN BUKU, and the shot was taken from the “Sky Deck” of Roppongi Mori Tower. I really liked how the glowing red Tokyo Tower just stands out against the lights of the busy city of Tokyo.

Here’s some information on the Tokyo Tower [東京タワー]:

Tokyo Tower [東京タワー] is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At 332.5 metres (1,091 ft), it is the tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.

Built in 1958, the tower’s main sources of revenue are tourism and antenna leasing. Over 150 million people have visited the tower since its opening. FootTown, a 4-story building located directly under the tower, houses museums, restaurants and shops. Departing from here, guests can visit two observation decks. The 2-story Main Observatory is located at 150 meters (492 ft), while the smaller Special Observatory reaches a height of 250 meters (820 ft).

The tower acts as a support structure for an antenna. Originally intended for television broadcasting, radio antennas were installed in 1961 and the tower is now used to broadcast both signals for Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. Japan’s planned switch from analog to digital for all television broadcasting by July 2011 is problematic, however. Tokyo Tower’s current height is not high enough to adequately support complete terrestrial digital broadcasting to the area. A taller digital broadcasting tower known as Tokyo Sky Tree is currently planned to open in 2011.

Bands were pretty good and there were a lot of QRP signals out there as well as SKCC and FIST ops. I worked a few of my fellow Polar Bears:

  1. K6BBQ RNem in California
  2. WA8REI Ken in Michigan
  3. VA3RCS Martin in Canada operating a club call
  4. N0EVH John in MO

Then I worked a few non-PB’s and had some good QSO’s with SKCC members.

  1. AD4YB Ed in NC
  2. WD0ESF Mike in KS
  3. KK7YJ Jim in MT
  4. KK7UV Steve in MT
  5. K3y/7 Alan (K07X) in WY
  6. K2USA Howard the op in NJ on 20m SSB to test my Argonaut 509  in that mode

Next weekend is the FYBO and the Central FL QRP Group will be operating its first multi station- multi operator event at Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford, FL. If you’ll are down this way look us up. If not, give a listen for K4AHO which is the call sign we will be using.

Here’s to many good QSO’s. Thanks to all the good ops with good ears that heard my peanut whistle 2 watts today.

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:11:33 +0000 | Wooden Candle Holder Designs