----- Original Message -----
From: "k0dan" <k0dan@comcast.net>
To: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj@hotmail.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Question for crank owners
> Rob:
>
> Generally, the 72' tower at this QTH is parked just shy of 100%, unless
> bad
> WX threatens or we are leaving town.Then it is motored down to around 50%
> or
> all the way (about 22' fully tested). Over time, I'd guess the tower
> averages about 50% height, and averages full-height about 30% of the time
> (remainder is probably maintenance or extremely severe wind or ice).
>
> These very conservative habits are not because the tower demands it, but
> because I have no requriement to push the envelope and I sure as hell
> don't
> want to go to the labor/expense of repair/replace. If you buy and build
> conservative, then use the installation conservative, you'll only need to
> make the investment once.
>
> You should not need to give special treatment in winter (or other
> seasons),
> but quarterly inspection & maintenance will find and repair normal wear &
> tear, weathering, etc. This effort will keep your tower/antenna system
> operating safely and reliably almost indefinitely.
>
> On the other hand, it is wise to use these machines frequently. They'll
> run
> better if they are exercised frequently.
Sounds like an airplane. You either spend a lot of money flying it, or a lot
of money fixing it if you let it set.
Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
> Good luck & 73
> Dan
> K0DAN
> PS Here's a photo (scroll down below center of web page) of our tower at
> about 80% height (60 feet?) during an ice storm that loaded all trees,
> antennas, and everything else, with about 1" of raidal ice. It was scary,
> immobile, and ugly, but everything survived with no ill effects. We are in
> the Kansas City area. http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/02/13/3/
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj@hotmail.com>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 5:18 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Question for crank owners
>
>
>> Got a question for crank-up owners:
>>
>> Do you crank up your towers only when you are operating, i.e. 95% of the
>> time they are nested and only go up when you turn on the rig and start
>> looking for a qso, or....
>>
>> Do you mostly leave them cranked all the way up and only nest them when
>> leaving town for a few days, or when wx threatens such as high winds
> and/or
>> lightning?
>>
>> I'm trying to get an idea of what these things are built to do: Lots of
>> cranking up and down, or extension and retraction only meant to be done
> once
>> in a while.
>>
>> Oh yeah one other thing for you guys in the North: Do you have to do
>> anything special to operate them in the winter--do they need any TLC with
>> snow and ice or low temp.?
>>
>> tnx,
>>
>> rob / k5uj
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 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.
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