[TowerTalk] Portable Crank-Up Mast

[Pete Smith]

This sounds like a job for one of the "rocket launcher" AB-577 surplus mast
kits.  Nat, I think you can see a lot of them in use at the PVRC FD site
next weekend. 

Following is a message from my archive giving more details:

Reply-To: "Dick Green" <dick.green@valley.net>
From: "Dick Green" <dick.green@valley.net>
To: "Tower" <towertalk@contesting.com>, ve4xt@mb.sympatico.ca
Subject: [TowerTalk] Non-permanent towers; what to do?
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 01:11:55 -0400

Kelly,

If you really want something temporary, you should consider a crank-up
military surplus portable tower like the AB-577/GRC. They are available from
Ontario Surplus in Ontario, NY. Check out the web site at

http://home.att.net/~surplusben/prod01.htm

I have a 50' AB-577/GRC with a Force 12 C3E on top, and it's just great.
It's all-aluminum, very well-designed, very well-built and surprisingly
rugged. The base sits on the surface of the ground, no concrete or gravel
required. It uses three 3' screw-in guy anchors in a 30' radius circle.
Three sets of stainless guys are provided. We haven't had a real heavy blow
here since I put it up, but I've heard from two other owners with TH7's that
stayed up on AB-577/GRCs in 80 MPH winds. So far, mine looks rock solid in a
40 MPH wind, and I would be comfortable leaving it up in much higher winds
(it can be retracted in about a half hour if necessary.) The key is the guy
anchors -- if they're in solid, I think the tower will stay up.

You get everything you need to install the tower, including a very detailed
illustrated manual. If the wind isn't blowing, one person can do the entire
installation (I did), although it's easier to mount the antenna with two
people. An extension kit is available that will take the tower up to 75'.
That requires a man for each guy and one to crank it up.

Total cost with shipping is about $500-$600 USD, although that could be
higher for Canada.

73, Dick WC1M"

One final note -- I think the price has come down somewhat, particularly if
you can arrange to pick it up from Ontario at a hamfest -- I think they
were priced at $325-375 depending on condition at Dayton.  Wish I'd bought
one!

73, Pete Smith N4ZR
n4zr@contesting.com 



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