Me too. I have an AB577 with a Cushcraft A3 on top turned by a HD73 rotor
that I have erected alone. If portable get the launcher to the base with a
dolly or hand truck and then the individual tubes two or three at a time by
hand. At home I load the launcher on my utility trailer and pull it into
position with my lawn tractor then a second trip for the tubes. I wait to
crank the antenna to full height when the wind isn't blowing too hard (less
than 10mph). Mine is up year round and has survived several ice storms,
the blizzard of 03 and some 50+mph wind gusts associated with
thunderstorms. Best $350 I have spent for ham gear! Got mine via Ontario
Surplus at a local hamfest they attend.
73,
Ed K3DNE
At 11:00 PM 6/26/2003 -0400, RICHARD BOYD wrote:
>Right, I've done them single handed many times. I have 14 of them here --
>nine of my own and five belonging to others -- we use them for Field Day
>and anything else we think of during the rest of the year. In addition to
>moving the tubes separately from the base ("launcher"), N3OC showed me
>another trick -- leave the rack for the tubes at home, which makes loading
>the tubes into a minivan, back of an Expedition, etc. very doable. 73 -
>Rich, KE3Q
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dan Hammill
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:10 PM
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
>
>
> I don't want to start a war...but with all due respect to Jamie,
> I have to disagree with the notion that AB-577 movement and
> installation can't be one-man jobs. I own three of them, and
> have transported and erected one or more several times by myself
> with absolutely zero assistance.
>
> The trick for transporting them (i.e. - loading in a truck bed
> is to pull the tubes and carrier out, move the pieces, then
> reassemble in the truck bed. Of course it adds 10 minutes
> or so to the process - but these sorts of things shouldn't be
> done in a hurry anyway.
>
> My typical one-man installation time for a standard 50-footer
> runs about 1-2 hours, depending on the complexity of the antenna
> stack (long VHF yagis, preamps, HELIAX, etc.), and includes
> shoveling a level pad in hard-packed decomposed granite soil.
> Sure, I get some exercise in the process, but everything has
> always progressed smoothly.
>
> So far, my only problem with the AB-577 system is that the
> standard guy stakes are too short for handling high gusting
> winds (75-90 MPH w/ long gusts 95-110 MPH)...and forget screw
> anchors in our soil. You might as well try to screw one into
> cured concrete. I'm considering some concrete base pads and
> guy points at home for semi-permanent use.
>
> Good luck & 73,
> Dan KB5MY/6
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of James C. Hall,
> > M.D.
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 13:15
> > To: JWallace@karta.com; towertalk@contesting.com
> > Subject: RE:[TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi John:
> >
> > There are several Army Surplus models that may fit the bill. The most
> > popular is the AB-577 "Rocket Launcher" which will go 50 feet and with an
> > extension kit will go 70 feet. It weighs about 200 lbs and is NOT
> > a one-man
> > job. I know - I have one. This may be complete overkill, however, and you
> > may be able to use something like a AB-155, which will go to 30
> > feet and is
> > definitely a one-man job. I use one of these to support a long Carolina
> > Windom on one end. Both of these are VERY popular in ham circles and, as
> > such, have become rare to find complete 'kits'. When you can find them (
> > usually on eBay ), they will fetch a 'pretty penny' ! Ontario
> > Surplus should
> > have some info on all this.
> >
> > 73, Jamie
> > WB4YDL
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of John Wallace
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 11:15 AM
> > To: towertalk@contesting.com
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
> >
> >
> >
> > I am interested in building or buying a truly portable tower or guyed
> mast
> > assembly that would extend up to about 40 feet in height.
> >
> > By "truly portable", I mean that one or two people ought to be
> > able to lift
> > the thing out of the back of a pickup truck, carry it a few hundred feet,
> > set it on the ground, and have it up in less than 30 minutes, using
> just a
> > sledgehammer to drive in guy wire stakes & ground rods.
> >
> > In my application, the weight and wind resistance of the antenna itself
> > would be negligible.
> >
> > I don't want to re-invent the wheel; can anybody point me to design
> > information and/or to a commercial vendor?
> >
> > Thanx in Advance, john W2GNI ... jwallace AT karta DOT com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> > Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> > 1-800-333-9041 with any
> > questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> > "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> > 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with
>any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
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