Posted: 11/1/2013 9:52:39 AM EDT
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Big truck pulled up in front of the house yesterday... just in time for Halloween !
Thought I would share a few pictures as this unfolds. Don't have all of the install components, nor the details worked out, so this little project will likely move along kind of slowly. But, I'll post pics as things progress. This is a crank up aluminum tower. It does require guys when fully extended to its maximum height of 35 ft... collapses to a height of 12 ft, as it is delivered. Pretty simple and compact crating. The auger anchors, guy cables and hardware, all in one simple crate. 
Dont yet fully understand how this cable system works yet... wont be clear until I get it up... 
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The base of the tower has a few options... fixed base and a pivot "T" base.. The tower is very light, so this isn't a big deal either way, but I opted for the "T" base.
The hardware attaching the tower to the "T" base is smaller and lighter duty than I expected. Even has a plastic/nylon bushing... no way that will hold up under a lot of use... But, neither will it be a difficult or expensive item to maintain. 
The center mast is adjustable with a couple of "U" bolts... looks like it will extend 4 to 5 feet above the center section of the tower. 
The top of each of the three tower sections is a guy cable attachment point... color coded to the supplied cables (cable pics to follow soon). The quality of welds looks very good. 
More as things progress... |
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Just a simple K4KIO Hex Beam ... weighs 20 lbs or something... very light. |
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Not JUST a hexbeam, its a great antenna. |
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Quoted:
Well that's awfully pretty!! What does it require to anchor it? What are you supposed to do with the guy wires when the tower is down? Let them dangle? It is a clean looking pcs of hardware... Really doesn't "require" much at all... you could stand it up in a field, guy it off, and be good to go. I am still working out the location and exactly how it will be anchored at the bottom. It comes with a pre-drilled bent aluminum plate to mount to an adjacent structure at the top of the bottom section... I'll be using that to attach it to the side of my second floor deck... the bottom attachment is still being worked out. The guy cables come color coded and in three separate bags. Not sure I'm going to use them... probably just going to get some heavy duty antenna rope that will be easier to work with. Easier to roll up and put away when not in use... maybe... |
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I used to have a really nice 5 section, self standing tower. I never poured a mount for it, but I took the top three sections and stood them up and strapped them off to my elevated deck. It held!
When I moved I ended up giving it away to someone.......... *cough* HOMESLICE *cough* That said, MAKE A SECURE MOUNT FOR IT. If you have concrete to mount it on, drill holes and put bolts in. I understand you can crank it down, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. I can tell you stories about several storms that had me standing outside at 3 in the morning just because I was worried..... So, how much was this thing?? 
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Quoted:
I used to have a really nice 5 section, self standing tower. I never poured a mount for it, but I took the top three sections and stood them up and strapped them off to my elevated deck. It held! When I moved I ended up giving it away to someone.......... *cough* HOMESLICE *cough* That said, MAKE A SECURE MOUNT FOR IT. If you have concrete to mount it on, drill holes and put bolts in. I understand you can crank it down, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. I can tell you stories about several storms that had me standing outside at 3 in the morning just because I was worried..... So, how much was this thing?? Yea how much? |
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Very nice! Congrats!
Hexbeam may be a great choice for a 35 ft tower. The seem to work better at lower heights than full size Yagis. A friend of mine just build a hexbeam. His tower is only 30 ft tall but the antenna works wery well. Also make sure to position the radials exactly at 120 degrees in relation to tower's vertical center axis. It is important. |
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The nice thing about aluminum is the weight... The Aluma Tower website lists the tower weight at 74 lbs.
I'd have to say that is pretty accurate as packaged. Me and my daughter moved it to the back yard with ease... one on each end and only carrying 40 lbs ish each... Pretty handy and maneuverable for a 35 ft tower.... As far as the height of the Hex beam... should be fine... I've worked central Russia over the pole with the hex down around 25 ft or so..... should be rock'n at 35'. With my predisposed propensity to 'never leave well enough alone', I might modify the center mast to push it up to 40 ft or so... maybe... I ordered an extra "T" base for this thing... going to cobble something together with wheels... mobile tower base thing, of some sort... might be nice for field day... At only 75 lbs, I can move this puppy around where ever I need it to be.... Anybody have a link to the website that sells those really nice aluminum tower stakes ??? |
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Quoted:
I used to have a really nice 5 section, self standing tower. I never poured a mount for it, but I took the top three sections and stood them up and strapped them off to my elevated deck. It held! When I moved I ended up giving it away to someone.......... *cough* HOMESLICE *cough* That said, MAKE A SECURE MOUNT FOR IT. If you have concrete to mount it on, drill holes and put bolts in. I understand you can crank it down, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. I can tell you stories about several storms that had me standing outside at 3 in the morning just because I was worried..... So, how much was this thing?? TapCon anchors are cheap.
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Quoted:
TapCon anchors are cheap. Quoted:
Quoted:
I used to have a really nice 5 section, self standing tower. I never poured a mount for it, but I took the top three sections and stood them up and strapped them off to my elevated deck. It held! When I moved I ended up giving it away to someone.......... *cough* HOMESLICE *cough* That said, MAKE A SECURE MOUNT FOR IT. If you have concrete to mount it on, drill holes and put bolts in. I understand you can crank it down, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. I can tell you stories about several storms that had me standing outside at 3 in the morning just because I was worried..... So, how much was this thing?? TapCon anchors are cheap. TapCon ?? No freek'n way. We have to come up with a plan 'B' ....
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Quoted:
Yea how much? Quoted:
Quoted:
I used to have a really nice 5 section, self standing tower. I never poured a mount for it, but I took the top three sections and stood them up and strapped them off to my elevated deck. It held! When I moved I ended up giving it away to someone.......... *cough* HOMESLICE *cough* That said, MAKE A SECURE MOUNT FOR IT. If you have concrete to mount it on, drill holes and put bolts in. I understand you can crank it down, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. I can tell you stories about several storms that had me standing outside at 3 in the morning just because I was worried..... So, how much was this thing?? Yea how much? In this thread he stated it was right at 4k. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_22/669115_Light_Duty_Rotator.html |