Newbie climbing questions

[mikeg520]

Hi, what equipment would I need to climb up to this branch so I can install an antenna? How high does this branch look? What is the best way to learn how to climb, can I just buy a book or do I need to learn from a pro?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hire it out, bro. Forget about doing it yourself.

 

[Lumberjack]

Ditto to MB.

The gear alone would cost more than you could get it done, plus the training and learning curve.

Hard to judge the height but I would say its about 35-40' judging by the b-ball goal being 10' but not accounting for the tree being slightly further back in the pic. I would say 37.5' give or take 5' to be safe.

How are you attaching it the antenna to the limb?

 

[Redbug]

Hello there Mike,
Are you a ham? Is this for a TV type antenna, HF, or VHF? The reason I ask being a ham myself, I have had an HF antenna strung up in a limb much like the one in the picture. You can use a fishing pole and a sinker to throw over that limb, then tie the sinker end of the fishing line to a rope which has your antenna attached on the other end. You can raise your contraption pulling on the rope, and when you get it high enough, tie the rope off to the tree trunk. That way you have done everything safely on the ground. This method is much like the pros who place their light throwline over a particular limb or crotch, and then pull up their heavier climbing line in a tree.

 

[mikeg520]

It's for a wifi access point/router. This is what the antenna looks like

The way the antenna is made I'm not sure how I would hoist it up with a wire but I guess it's possible. I'd have to make it so it would automatically level itself. Maybe I could put some kind of ballast on the bottom or something. Actually now that I think about it I could probably get it higher by doing it that way since I could shoot it over the top of the tree

What's the cheapest way to get the line as high as possible? Would I need a bow and arrow?

 

[Dadatwins]

Like MB said the only tool you need to get that job done is the local yellow pages. I am curious about putting an antenna in a tree though. If there is an electrical storm and the tree gets hit by lightning since it does look tall enough, i am not so sure that I would want a wire connected to it? Is this system grounded somehow to prevent something from blowing up or current being passed?

 

[blackwaterguide]

any kid can climb a tree they say. I'd say it's near 25-30 ft. Get a climber...be done in 15 minutes. Doit yourself and you may spend a lifetime climbing trees and running saws.

 

[DDM]

Doit yourself and you may spend a lifetime climbing trees and running saws.

Or Fall break you Back and end up in a wheel chair the rest of your life.....

 

[treeman82]

It will definately be cheaper to pay somebody to do it for you. Like that, not only do you not have to risk your own neck, but you don't have to spend all that money on gear you will only use once or twice, and you will get the antenna set EXACTLY where you want it.

 

[rb_in_va]

Mike,
Where do you live? Maybe someone from this site would be willing to do it for dinner or a case of beer. Later, Roger.

 

[NickfromWI]

I set an antenna in a tree once for 50 bucks. It was easy, climb up, bolt something in. It was a tall oak tree. Needed a good pruning!

Hire someone to do it. You won't regret it.

love
nick

 

[pbtree]

Hire it out my friend - lots of good advice here and it is all the same!

But welcome to the site!

 

[pbtree]

Where are you located? :Eye:

 

[mikeg520]

I'm in Northern VA, but I think I'm going to take the time to learn how to climb and eventually do it myself.

One question, I've been reading on the forums (this and the other ones, treeclimbing.com and ????????.com) and they don't say specificallly which saddles and rope diameters to use. I mean if you're a bigger person like me (6'7" 240lbs) do you have to use a bigger saddle? What are the best brands for rope, saddles and carabiners, etc? I just want to buy the best for peace of mind..

 

[rb_in_va]

Mike,
There are several people here that live in Northern VA. I would contact one of them, and see if they would help you out. I'm sure that you want to do this yourself, but it might save your life to have an experienced climber work with you on it. Later, Roger.

 

[Tree Machine]

I would agree with the majority and say hire this one out. You'll get your WiFi router set quickly and efficiently, and you have the opportunity to see the climber in action, ask him questions, mebbe try on a saddle or shoot a Bigshot, check out his ropes, flipline, etc. You will get a lot more out of the time than just getting the router set in the tree. It may answer a lot of the questions you have regarding a possible future in treecare. Heck, he might end up being your first boss.

 

[MasterBlaster]

 

[okietreedude1]

Mike,

If your just dieing to get up in that tree yourself, there are several 'sponsors' on here (hint, hint) that have the gear and the knowledge of the safety regs that will set you up with what you need.

That said, I do agree w/ the rest. Hire it out. Heck, you might even find a rental store w/ a 40' platform lift you could rent.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'm around 250#, more with the gear, and i climb on 10mm line. It's rated at over 7000# so I think I'm safe on it.

If you're dead set on DIY, buy the "Tree Climbers Companion" from one of our sponsors first, before anything else.

It's not hard to learn, but one wrong move and you could have problems supporting your family.

Andi if the Bball hoop is 10ft I'll go with around 45ft for the estimate of hight.

I set ant.s with a throwline many-a-time, when i was in the USMC, use the tip of the element for suspention, though our UG feedlines helped with geeting it plumb.

 

[mikeg520]

Thanks.. I'll buy that book