Hygain 52' Crankup - good for me?

[Bill Hider]

Hi Scott!  You are where I was in 1985!!  Here's what I did:


I put up a HG-52SS with a Cushcraft A-4S (w/40M element) on 5 ft mast.  So,
the A-4S was at 55 ft.  That worked WONDERFULLY WELL! I also had a 80M and a
160M inverted "V" at the 52 ft level off of the tower.  They worked well
also.  I routinely worked VKs and ZLs on 160 in the DX contests between 1985
- 1992.

The HG-52SS is an extremely rugged tower as long as you respect its maximum
specs and its design.  It is, after all a crank-up tower.

Rules of the road for crank ups:

1. NEVER CLIMB A CRANK-UP TOWER
2. NEVER CLIMB A CRANK-UP TOWER
3. NEVER CLIMB A CRANK-UP TOWER
4. I ALWAYS LOWER THE TOWER TO NEAR MINIMUM AND PIN IT WITH A STEEL PIPE AND
THEN LEAN    MY 32 FT EXTENSION LADDER UP AGAINST IT TO WORK ON THE ANTENNAS.

This year, I will replace the steel cables and the wench because they are 11
years old now and quite rusty.  I bought new cables from HiGain and the
exact replacement wench from E&B Marine. (for 25% of the price of one from
HiGain).

The A-4S is a super performer with the 40M add on kit.  Especially at this
height.

As you probably know, I put up a larger guyed tower recently and will change
the configuration of my HG-52SS later this year or next.  I'm going to take
down the A-4S and the five foot mast and replace that with:

A 13 ft mast with a 155CA at 52.5 ft and a 105CA at 62.5 ft.  (Two ft of the
mast sits in the tower.)  This is a configuration I discussed with Clyde at
HiGain.

I used to lower the tower if we were expecting high winds (>50 mph), but I
haven't done that in 3-4 years.  We've had >50-60 mph winds since then.

If you're buying a used tower, will you obtain the concrete base section
(that goes in the concrete) from HiGain?  Remember, that section is made of
welded rebar attached to the plate into which the tower bolts.  My
recommendation is that you obtain the serial number of the tower (embossed
in the tower base plate) and let HiGain supply you with the concrete base
section. 

Also, I recommend that you read and follow all of the manufacturers'
recommendations contained in the manual.  I can relate a 'lil horror story
of my own based on my not following them!  (But I won't bore you with it now).

As far as the tribanders you mention, I haven't had any experience with
them.  The maximum wind load at the top of the tower is recommended at 9.5
SQ FT.  So, keep that in mind.

As far as a 40-2CD at 50-60 ft, UUUGGGHHH.  It's wasting the $500+ you'd
spend on it.  At that low height, I can't imagine that it would outperform
the 40M dipole element to the tune of $500.

Let me know if I can answer any more questions.

73!

Bill, N3RR



At 06:12 PM 6/28/96 -0500, Scott Neader wrote:
>Been in my first home for one year now and still no tower in the air.  I
>want to put one up, but don't have a lot of room in the back yard.  The
>idea of a self-supporting system really sounds good.
>
>I want to be somewhat competitive in domestic contests only.  I have it in
>my head that I want a decent tribander at 60 feet (KT34? Force C4XL?),
>wires for 40 & 80 (inv vees?  40-2CD up there???), who knows for 160 (maybe
>load the tower?)
>
>Anyway, I have an opportunity to purchase a used Hygain HG-52SS Crank-up
>tower for $600 plus $75 shipping.  I guess I could put a decent mast up
>there to get my theorical tribander at 60 feet?
>
>Your thoughts on either my plans for a station or on the crank-up would be
>much appreciated!!!!
>
>73 - Scott KA9FOX
>
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