[TowerTalk] Aluminum towers

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 99-03-08 14:47:23 EST, mlevine@compsol.net writes:

> Prior to buying my 45g, I made many inquiries. Not one of the installers
>  I contacted would have anything, what-so-ever, to do with the
>  installation of an aluminum tower. I have a Force 12 model 4BA ten feet
>  above the Force 12 model 420/240. While I do not recall the wind
>  loading, I do remember that the Height's tower was going to be so large
>  at the base that I wanted nothing to do with it.  You can talk specs and
>  theory all you like, when someone as experienced as Matt Strelow KC1XX
>  says not to buy one, I listen. My 45g is only 70 feet with torsion bars
>  and 1/4" guys at 35 and 70 ft. My elevation is 800' a.s.e. and the winds
>  do blow here in NW CT. When I did my inquiries as to towers, the ONLY
>  people that gave favorable reports were the salespeople. I'm glad I
>  listened to Matt. BTW also none of this sinking a section into concrete
>  either. Each anchor point as well as the guys are in 3' x 3' x 4' 4000lb
>  (I think) concrete with the block under the tower reinforced with rebar
>  and supported by a pin.

       To be honest with you, I wouldn't purchase/install one either. But your
initial post offered none of the aforementioned insight.

      Yes, 45G is the accepted standard for any 'serious' installation. I know
Matt and he has just about as much tower experience as I do. If someone were
to ask me, I'd probably give them the same advice. Nonetheless, aluminum
towers still have to meet windspeed forces and engineering calculations,
standards and codes just like steel towers. 

     And you're comparing apples-to-oranges since the aluminum tower is self-
supporting and 45G is a guyed tower. 

     At TowerTalk, we give lots of creedence to actual data. The same isn't
true with hearsay and anecdotal information. 

Cheers,  Steve    K7LXC

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