Hi Bill,
You're beating a dead horse and taking the fun out of this reflector.
Clearly, you like fixed towers. SO, leave it at that!
By the way Fl. is a severe weather location. In fact FL has more failed
fixed tower incidents than any other state in the USA. So, much for
fixed towers being the end all solution. In severe weather locations
towers fail regardless of the design. The good news is most hams don't
live in FL and most other locations in the USA don't fall under the
severe weather category, etc.
Bill, if we were to apply your premise to other challenging engineering
problems we'd all still be riding horses. There'd be no space shuttle,
no race cars, no F-16s, no Battle Ships, etc.
The point about crank-ups is simple. The benefits out weight the risk.
If that wasn't the case no company would built them. It's simple
economics Bill.
Also, the wind load capacity of a nested crank-up is typcially over a
hundred square feet. I doubt a typical ham radio operator could afford
a fixed tower with similar ratings.
SO, Bill. I think we got your point on the difference between crank-ups
and fixed towers. You clearly enjoy the benefits of fixed tower
operations. But for those of us that read the instructions and follow
them either a fixed or crank-up tower will prolly serve us well.
Climbing a fixed or a nested crank-up (with a step ladder, etc.) are
both dangerous activities. Tower climbing is like flying private
aircraft. If you don't practice on a regular schedule your risk of
accident goes way up! Geez, we've seen enough example on this reflector
of pros who have killed members of their climbing teams because of
mistakes or failed equipment.
This aspect of our hobby is prolly the highest risk to life and limb,
esp. since most hams don't build linear amps anymore. There are plenty
of stories about hams zapping themselves into the next world because of
unsafe practices when working on home brew amps. But that is a story
for another reflector ;-)
73s,
dave
wa3gin
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