Terry Zivney, N4TZ/9, wrote:
>A while back there was some discussion on this reflector about how to
>install a 24 foot mast on top of a tower which was already erected.
>Yesterday, I and an unnamed coconspirator tried to do just that. We
>wimped out with the mast poking above the tower but starting to tilt
>precipitously because the mast was help 9 feet from the end (10 feet of
>gin pole above the tower) and was thus off-balance.
Terry,
Having survived an accident under just the conditions you mentioned but
with a 20' mast. I would consider the following options. I assume you
are trying to lower this mast through a thrust bearing hole.
1) Get a special heavy duty (longer) Gin pole made so you can get above
the center of gravity on the mast you sre raising. I have heard of guys
using one or two sections of Rohn 25 as a gin pole ubolted to the side
of the tower as a gin pole. Done right this is climable.
or
2) Take off only the top section of the tower. Lower the mast inside the
now much larger opening. Put top section back on and pull mast up thought
the the thrust bearing.
or
3) Take the whole tower down and start over with the mast inside the tower.
might take a couple of days but it is actually the safest approach.
I put a horror story out on the refelector about a week ago in where
I almost lost a finger in trying to do just what you were doing
when the GIN pole failed. BE CAREFUL. The welding thing sounds tricky
and you wont be able to replace the galvanizing when your done.
Good luck
Dave
N0DH/7
>From km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher, KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.) Thu Oct 26
>18:52:32 1995
From: km9p@is.net (Bill Fisher, KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.) (Bill Fisher,
KM9P Concentric Systems, Inc.)
Subject: Wifes, Kids, and Contests...
Message-ID: <199510261752.NAA20985@mail1.is.net>
So we're having a peacefull evening at home last night watching the Braves
make waste of the Indians... The XYL asks "So when is the next contest
after this weekend?". The following weekend, I respond.... $&@#!@#
Gee... Am I the only one who has an XYL that even after 9 years of this
routine forgets the schedule? Actually, I think her mind went when she gave
birth to our son. Ever since then, any contest is too many contests! God
forbid there should be 2 in 2 weekends.
I'm working on my contest schedule that I will paste to our refridgerator.
The following rating system will be in place:
***** = Definately operating from now until I die.
**** = More than likely operating.
*** = Could operate, more than likely a phone contest.
** = Doubtful
* = Never
Example:
***** CQWW CW & SS CW, CW Sprint
Any other ideas appreciated.
73
Bill "no votes for father or husband of the year" Fisher, KM9P
---
Bill Fisher, KM9P - Concentric Systems, Inc.
>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM Thu Oct 26
>21:42:00 1995
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Subject: FW: Slopers - Summary
Message-ID: <308FF5A7@admin.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM>
I wanted to re-state a comment I made to Fred regarding
ON4UN's treatment of slopers in his book (which I read with
a great deal of admiration), based on W0UN et al comments
about top-loading of towers needed for quarter-wave slopers
to work and the 'N4KG' feed system that is seeing a lot of
use on 160m antennas.
Here's what I (WB4iUX) wrote:
--------
I have been using a sloper on 80 meters for the last 4 years
and am very pleased (considering my limited space).
ON4UN goes to great detail in Volume 2 of his book to prove
that the tower/antenna combination is actually being used as
a vertical radiator and the 1/4 wave sloper is just some
sort of matching device. I couldn't disagree more, even
though I really respect John's knowledge and experience. I
spent some time comparing East versus West slopers, and if
his statement is true there should be zero directivity. Let
me assure you I got my short fat a** kicked going west to
the Pacific with the east sloper...time and time again. The
west sloper made it through, time and time again.
<del>
Tom WB4iUX Tom.Skelton@ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM
____________________________________________________________
HERE'S WHAT A LITTLE BETTER WORDSMITHING (AND I
SHOULD HAVE HAD JOHN'S BOOK IN FRONT OF ME SO I
COULD QUOTE IT PROPERLY) WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO
WRITE:
I believe the sloper is more than a matching device, because in
comparisons to working east or west with slopers NOT pointed
in that direction I do very poorly. However, I have also had far
better experience with slopers on towers with antennas mounted
on them (last one was a 3 element 20 and 2 element 40) to give
the 'top hat effect'. Thus, maybe the sloper provides some degree
of matching AND directivity. However, on-the-air experience
proves there is some (3 to 6 dB) directivity. Other comments
in Fred's summary indicated modeling showed negative directivity
in the direction of the sloper and positive directivity in the plane
of the sloper. That may be possible, and I wouldn't argue with it.
BTW, I don't want to modify my comment about "my short fat
a** kicked"....it was true and descriptive!!!!
73, Tom WB4iUX
<del>
Fred's sig:
____________________________________________________________
--
Fred Hopengarten K1VR
Six Willarch Road * Lincoln, MA 01773-5105
home + office telephone: 617/259-0088 (FAX on demand)
internet: k1vr@k1vr.jjm.com
"Big antennas, high in the sky, are better
than small ones, low."
>From broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) Thu Oct 26 18:57:45 1995
From: broz@csn.net (John Brosnahan) (John Brosnahan)
Subject: Tower Surgery
Message-ID: <199510261757.LAA00841@lynx.csn.net>
TO: Terry Zivney, N4TZ/9
00TLZIVNEY@BSUVC.BSU.EDU
>Anyway, some of the earlier suggestions included temporarily removing
>rungs from the tower. Don't have AB105; am using Rohn 45. So, if I
>hacksaw one horizontal rung and one Z (diagonal) rung in order to squeeze
>in the twenty-four foot mast, WHERE should I remove these rungs?
>Obviously, I need to remove them at least 24 feet up the tower, but
>should the rungs be removed near a guy bracket, midway between guy
>brackets, or what?
It is not clear to me that taking out one rung and the corresponding
zig-zags would allow a mast to be inserted into the tower. I think it will
just hit the far side of the tower a little further down. Easy to calculate
but depends on mast diameter. In any case I would not saw anything out of
MY tower. I often use 3 or 4 sections of Rohn 25 as a gin pole and clamp it
to the tower with short lengths of chain and chain binders (wire 'em closed
to be safe). This will allow you to go almost 20 ft above the top of the
tower when using 40ft of gin pole and almost 15 ft (which is enough for your
job) when using 30ft of gin pole.
One other (long term) solution is to mount bearing and rotator sheves on
the OUTSIDE of the tower. I have a setup on Rohn 55 using this approach.
Just made shelves for both the rotator and the bearing from some 2" x 10"
aluminum channel and they clamp to two legs. This gives you two advantages,
1) the rotator is very accessible for work or replacement (as is the thrust
bearing 2) the axis of rotation of the mast is now different from the axis
of the tower and some of those torque forces are transformed into
translational forces on the tower/guy system, easing the torque load on the
tower and allowing the guys to do more of the work.
>Also, how would you guys replace the rungs up in the air? Altho my
>buddy suggested getting a welder cum monkey to make these welds in the air,
It appears that your "buddy" is not volunteering to do any of the work
himself. Might be a clue here. Sure he isn't your CONTEST competitor.
73 John W0UN
John Brosnahan
La Salle Research Corp 24115 WCR 40 La Salle, CO 80645 USA
voice 970-284-6602 fax 970-284-0979 email broz@csn.net
>From C Sim James, KK5EA" <jamescs@mail.auburn.edu Thu Oct 26 19:41:01 1995
From: C Sim James, KK5EA" <jamescs@mail.auburn.edu (C Sim James, KK5EA)
Subject: Zone Map
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.951026133621.2941A-100000@mallard>
Guys es Gals,
Where can I get a list or map of the cq zones? I just realized
that I don't even know what zone I am in much less the rest of the planet.
If there is no such internet resource can someone at least inform me as
to what zone I am in here in AL. I don't think I have ever operated CQWW
so the question has never come up. It wont be a real huge effort I have
the military flight aptitude test Sat. morning and that is something I
must be awake and alert for.
73 es tnx,
Sim, KK5EA/4
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Over the modem.
|C. Sim James, KK5EA 03PO | Through the University.
|Email: jamescs@mail.auburn.edu |
|Packet: kk5ea@k4ry.#cenal.al.usa.na | Nothing but 'Net
///////////////////////////////////////
>From Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM Thu Oct 26
>22:59:00 1995
From: Skelton, Tom" <TSkelton@engineer.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM (Skelton, Tom)
Subject: FW: Wifes, Kids, and Contests...
Message-ID: <309007AD@admin.ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM>
KM9P wrote:
So we're having a peacefull evening at home last night watching the Braves
make waste of the Indians... The XYL asks "So when is the next contest
after this weekend?". The following weekend, I respond.... $&@#!@#
Gee... Am I the only one who has an XYL that even after 9 years of this
routine forgets the schedule? Actually, I think her mind went when she gave
birth to our son. Ever since then, any contest is too many contests! God
forbid there should be 2 in 2 weekends.
<del>
---------
WB4iUX now whines:
Well, Bill can thank his lucky stars that he gets (maybe the right
words are: Has gotten!) SEVERAL ENTIRE WEEKENDS a year to go
balls to the wall to contest! I am lucky if I get a couple of hours without
constant intrusions (When are you going to get the light fixed? Can you
fix the computer? How many hours are you going to stay out here? Are
you not coming to bed tonight? Do you want to talk to your mom on the
phone? Did you know you're getting into the TV/stereo/phone/commode/
garden hose/Barbie house/etc., ad nauseum....), much less an entire
weekend!
An entire weekend to contest????? I might as well go ahead and get the
divorce papers ready and save the legal fees.
To the guy who wrote earlier this year that any spouse or significant
other that isn't willing to give a contester/dx'er a couple of weekends a
year
to really compete is being terribly selfish....RIGHT ON!!! I am trying
desperately to find some hobby for my wife so she will want to do something
on her own. Her relaxation at the end of her busy day is a couple of hours
of
(well-deserved!) TV. No, she won't let me move the ham station back into
the family room so we could be 'together' as it was when we got married.
My wife is a very devoted wife, mother AND holds a full-time job outside
the home -- I really appreciate all she does (and I make sure she KNOWS I
appreciate it) and I do help out fully 50% without being asked (meals, kids'
homework, laundry, cleaning, etc.). HOWEVER, the concept of me having
a hobby that actually takes me away from the family is absurd to her. It
matters not how much I contribute to the home and family needs. My
argument that it doesn't matter if it's ham radio, it could be fishing,
hunting,
hiking, biking, stamp collecting, railroading, etc, and that I would have
some
kind of hobby doesn't matter. The real killer may be that our only
daughter
(we also have 2 sons) is really interested in radio and may want to get
her license! That'll really chap her buns if we go M/S!!!
So, to Bill, I thoroughly understand the concept of any contest is too many
contests! And no, I don't know what to do about it. It's sad that you get
excited when your wife tells you she has to go to the office Saturday, Nov.
4,
and you get excited because you realize you might get to start SS at the
beginning!
The upcoming article in NCJ by W9XT (I think that's who wrote it.) on this
exact topic will be very elucidating.
In the interim, I continue to consider enough time to squeeze out 200-300
QSOs in SS a miracle! Making 750 Q's or so a couple of years ago was the
absolute parting of the seas! It's so depressing just to give up because
you
get tired of fighting about the same old issue.....
73, Tom WB4iUX
Tom.Skelton@ClemsonSC.ATTGIS.COM
ps: To those who are thinking ahead, NO -- my wife said almost about
ham radio before we were married. This obviously proves the axiom:
Men marry women praying they don't change.
Women marry men KNOWING THEY will change THEM.
========== end of WB4iUX's whining=================
>From George Cutsogeorge <0006354141@mcimail.com> Thu Oct 26 20:04:00 1995
From: George Cutsogeorge <0006354141@mcimail.com> (George Cutsogeorge)
Subject: Tower Surgery
Message-ID: <85951026190458/0006354141PK5EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
If some weight is added to the mast a foot above the end going
into the tower the center of gravity can be lowered. This
would allow the 10 foot gin pole to be used. Once the end of the
mast is safely inserted into the tower, the weight can be removed.
George, W2VJN.
>From Swanson, Glenn, KB1GW" <gswanson@arrl.org Thu Oct 26 20:24:00 1995
From: Swanson, Glenn, KB1GW" <gswanson@arrl.org (Swanson, Glenn, KB1GW)
Subject: Zone Map
Message-ID: <308FE090@arrl.org>
Hello Sim,
Alabama is in CQ zone 5 (as is most of the US east coast).
[Your * ITU * Zone is 8]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Middle" of US is CQ Zone 4
"Western" US is CQ Zone 3
Caribbean is mostly in CQ Zone 8 (and/or 9).
Alaska is in CQ Zone 1
Hawaii is in CQ zone 31
Europe is mostly in CQ Zones 14, 15, 16 and 20
Sources: ARRL Operating Manual
ARRL DXCC Countries List
ARRL World Map (26" x 34.5")
73, de KB1GW
----------
>From: C Sim James, KK5EA
>To: CONTEST
>Subject: Zone Map
>
>Return-Path: <jamescs@mail.auburn.edu>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
>Guys es Gals,
>
> Where can I get a list or map of the cq zones? I just realized
>that I don't even know what zone I am in much less the rest of the planet.
>If there is no such internet resource can someone at least inform me as
>to what zone I am in here in AL. I don't think I have ever operated CQWW
>so the question has never come up. It wont be a real huge effort I have
>the military flight aptitude test Sat. morning and that is something I
>must be awake and alert for.
>
>73 es tnx,
>
>Sim, KK5EA/4
>
>
>\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Over the modem.
>|C. Sim James, KK5EA 03PO | Through the University.
>|Email: jamescs@mail.auburn.edu |
>|Packet: kk5ea@k4ry.#cenal.al.usa.na | Nothing but 'Net
>///////////////////////////////////////
>
>
>From rwerner@usit.net (Robert Werner, Jr.) Thu Oct 26 21:23:29 1995
From: rwerner@usit.net (Robert Werner, Jr.) (Robert Werner, Jr.)
Subject: Zone Map
Message-ID: <199510262023.QAA27706@use.usit.net>
I hate to disagree, but Alabama is in Zone 4 along with TN, KY, an OH.
Good luck,
Bob KC4URW
>
>Hello Sim,
>
>Alabama is in CQ zone 5 (as is most of the US east coast).
>
>[Your * ITU * Zone is 8]
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>"Middle" of US is CQ Zone 4
>"Western" US is CQ Zone 3
>Caribbean is mostly in CQ Zone 8 (and/or 9).
>Alaska is in CQ Zone 1
>Hawaii is in CQ zone 31
>Europe is mostly in CQ Zones 14, 15, 16 and 20
>
>Sources: ARRL Operating Manual
> ARRL DXCC Countries List
> ARRL World Map (26" x 34.5")
>
>73, de KB1GW
> ----------
>>From: C Sim James, KK5EA
>>To: CONTEST
>>Subject: Zone Map
>>
>>Return-Path: <jamescs@mail.auburn.edu>
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---
>>Guys es Gals,
>>
>> Where can I get a list or map of the cq zones? I just realized
>>that I don't even know what zone I am in much less the rest of the planet.
>>If there is no such internet resource can someone at least inform me as
>>to what zone I am in here in AL. I don't think I have ever operated CQWW
>>so the question has never come up. It wont be a real huge effort I have
>>the military flight aptitude test Sat. morning and that is something I
>>must be awake and alert for.
>>
>>73 es tnx,
>>
>>Sim, KK5EA/4
>>
>>
>>\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Over the modem.
>>|C. Sim James, KK5EA 03PO | Through the University.
>>|Email: jamescs@mail.auburn.edu |
>>|Packet: kk5ea@k4ry.#cenal.al.usa.na | Nothing but 'Net
>>///////////////////////////////////////
>>
>>
>
>
Bob Werner
UTK Help Desk
rwerner@usit.net
rwerner@utk.edu
Amateur: KC4URW@N4QEA.#METN.TN.USA.NA
>From jcarman@rochester.com (Jan Carman) Thu Oct 26 21:38:48 1995
From: jcarman@rochester.com (Jan Carman) (Jan Carman)
Subject: Wifes, Kids, and Contests...REPLY
>
>So we're having a peacefull evening at home last night watching the Braves
>make waste of the Indians... The XYL asks "So when is the next contest
>after this weekend?". The following weekend, I respond.... $&@#!@#
>
>Gee... Am I the only one who has an XYL that even after 9 years of this
>routine forgets the schedule? Actually, I think her mind went when she gave
>birth to our son. Ever since then, any contest is too many contests! God
>forbid there should be 2 in 2 weekends.
>
>I'm working on my contest schedule that I will paste to our refridgerator.
>The following rating system will be in place:
>
>***** = Definately operating from now until I die.
>**** = More than likely operating.
>*** = Could operate, more than likely a phone contest.
>** = Doubtful
>* = Never
>
>Example:
>
>***** CQWW CW & SS CW, CW Sprint
>
>Any other ideas appreciated.
>
>73
>
>Bill "no votes for father or husband of the year" Fisher, KM9P
>---
>Bill Fisher, KM9P - Concentric Systems, Inc.
Bill: I sympathize with you, and you are not alone by a long shot.
This problem contributed (with other things of course) to the
breakup of my first marriage. My second (and current) marriage
suffers often from the same thing, in fact, any kind of
intense concentration on "radio", be it operating, building antennas,
or just 'thinking' about it as opposed to more productive use of
time (productive as defined by my xyl of course), can evoke huge
negative responses. I really believe there are only two solutions
to this problem, having been through a total of nearly 28 years of
marrige in two segments::
1. Marry a ham
2. Remain single
Any other solution represents a compromise, and compromises
that you might not be willing to accept over the long term. I
tried with both xyl's to encourage an interest in ham radio and
both were ultra negative because of the time it "took me away
from them", etc.
The three biggest hinderances to high performance ham stations
and contest/dx performance are (my opinion) -
1. Family
2. Zoning/Deed Restrictions
3. RFI
These are listed in order of maximum effect, with family being
first.
Good luck on your family relations
73 de Jan, K5MA
Rochester, NY
jcarman@rochester.com
>From RUSSELL S. RINN" <miltex@bga.com Thu Oct 26 21:42:59 1995
From: RUSSELL S. RINN" <miltex@bga.com (RUSSELL S. RINN)
Subject: Wifes, Kids, and Contests...
Message-ID: <199510262043.PAA01295@zoom.bga.com>
from KM9P:
>
> So we're having a peacefull evening at home last night watching the Braves
> make waste of the Indians... The XYL asks "So when is the next contest
> after this weekend?". The following weekend, I respond.... $&@#!@#
>
> Gee... Am I the only one who has an XYL that even after 9 years of this
> routine forgets the schedule? Actually, I think her mind went when she gave
> birth to our son. Ever since then, any contest is too many contests! God
> forbid there should be 2 in 2 weekends.
>
My wife is currently on her CQWW SSB expedition: she and our 2 daughters
are at her parents house. I try to plan these things in advance!
I must admit my wife is pretty understanding. When I operated from my
old home station (my N5DDO days) I would park my car in the garage and
when the neighbors came over to complain about TVI she would tell them I
WASN'T HOME! Can it get any better!
Actually it can...Phone SS falls on her birthday this year. When I told
her how I have always wanted to operate it she (somewhat reluctantly)
agreed. I am obviously grateful. So grateful that I bought her a pair
of front row Spurs v Bulls tickets for her birthday. (I hope that shows
her how much I care!) Well...i suppose I'll get HER a few other things.
Anyway, my solution is have friends visit us or arrange an excursion for
her (easy for me now as my operating is as a guest op.)
73, Russ-- AA5RB op'ing at N3BB
miltex@bga.com
|