I bought a couple water and light towers in a lot, and the seller threw in a #199 with no top, lamps, or antennas. I did find a reasonably priced top from a regular train shop for $11, with one intact antenna but no lamp or red lens for the top. Trainz had a red lens for a buck, and I built a lamp holder. But, that other antenna has been an issue, they are almost unobtanium, and the one I did find, the seller wanted $65 for just the white dish. I'm crazy, but not that crazy. So, after a working career that included the maintenance of microwave sites, it dawned on me that I can realistically use the antenna with only one dish if I put it next to an industrial looking building. Microwave repeaters, that is the #199 with two antennas, repeat and boost the signal from one direction to another, but it has to start somewhere. So, an industrial looking building, or just a large railroad electrical junction box, might have a microwave tower with one antenna representing the start or end point for a whole string of 2 antenna #199's. So, my freebie #199 with some found parts now is reborn. By the way, that pic I have on my OGR ID is me at about 350ft on a microwave tower. The background is the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance on a perfect weather day. My co worker, Marty took the pic, and I of him.
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