[TowerTalk] Telephone Poles

[Stan or Patricia Griffiths]

K7GCO@aol.com wrote:

>  > Stan, the idea was to get used ones or cheap ones whether you move around
> or
>  > not.  I suggested adding 4 slopers to it for a dual purpose of other
> antennas
>  > and additional safety if needed in a big storm.  I have an idea of getting
>  > used pipe casings for a sleeve in the ground and up the pole for a ways for
>  > used poles. When installing a beam, lower the slopers and it's still rigid.
>  > When you moved did you leave the concrete base there or did you take that
>  > along also?   K7GCO
>
>  Actually, Ken, I dug out the couple of cubic feet of concrete I had for a
> base
>  around the bottom section, broke it up with a sledge hammer, threw the
> pieces back in the hole, and moved the ENTIRE tower including the part that
> had been set in concrete.  It took me a couple of hours and I needed the
> exercise anyway.
>   >>
> ======You just proved my point.  A used pole is cheaper, 1 hour installation,
> when you move dig down a foot and chain saw it off, add stump remover--it's
> gone.
>    Several got a big laugh out of my comment about taking the concrete with
> you.  However this is good information.  Would you mind if I posted your
> answer or would you care to acknowledge my pole suggestions have been right
> on TT.  Many have to me directly.  I plan to make pictures available of a
> wire track idea on a pole to those who request it.  Poles with a wire track
> and prop pitch motors speeded up are the ultimate. K7GCO

Hi Ken,

You can use any of my comments for reposting, if you want, but I really do not
support your idea that wooden poles are the ultimate.  I have had a total of three
wooden poles in my day.  The first one was cut from the local fir forest when I
was in high school (about 1955) and on a very limited budget.  It was not treated,
was 55 feet long (48 feet out of the ground) and supported a quad.  It rotted at
the base after 5 years.  We replaced it with another untreated fir pole that was
65 feet long and 58 feet out of the ground.  It lasted 5 years also.  We replaced
that with a guyed steel tower that lasted until we took it down and sold it when
my Dad finally sold his house.  The steel tower lasted 30 years and it will see
yet more service when the guy who bought it finally puts it back up.  By the way,
the steel tower was a retired wind generator tower when we got it so I really have
NO IDEA how old it actually is.  It was 90 feet.

Your method of removing a wood pole would not have worked for me on my last pole
(4500 lb, 110 feet long) since it was installed on a city lot in Canoga Park, CA
which was only 63 feet wide and about 120 feet deep.  Falling THAT pole would have
taken out a couple of houses or some power lines, depending upon which way it
fell.  It was removed with a very large crane by the new owner.  That pole was a
treated cedar pole . . . very nice . . . last long time . . . probably 20 years .
. . can't really take it with you . . . too expensive to throw it away . . . cost
about $1500 in 1965.

With regard to "speeded up" prop pitch motors, I am not sure what you mean.  If
you mean the ones that have had one set of gears removed so the reduction is more
like 1000:1 instead of 10,000:1, then I have to disagree again.  Prop pitch motors
with that conversion tend to windmill since there is not enough friction left in
the gear box to act as a brake.  I know, I had one on my 110 foot pole in
California.  I just ruined an otherwise excellent prop pitch by doing what I
thought was a good conversion.  Bad idea.

Now, I live here in Oregon where there are virtually thousands of trees available
to use as antenna poles but I choose guyed steel towers instead.  I stand by that
decision as the best one for me . . . by far.  And I recommend it to all others as
well.

Stan  w7ni@teleport.com



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