[TowerTalk] Guyed self-supporters

[kk9a at arrl.net]

I have a 70' Universal aluminum freestanding tower that I also felt
uncomfortable climbing.  I installed guys at 35 and 70 feet to minimize the
movement.  Most of the sections are 26" and it seems logical that the guys
would make it a stronger structure.

John


----- Original Message -----
From: <Cqtestk4xs at aol.com>
To: <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 11:40
Subject: [TowerTalk] Guyed self-supporters


I keep a set of guys at around the 56 foot level of my old 64 foot Heights
aluminum tower which is supposed to be self-supporting for around 15 square
feet.

Although the windload is around 9 square feet from my KT34XA, I attached the
guys for two reasons.  First, over the years I have seen instances of
'egging' on the aluminum tower bolt holes from the constant flexing on
several aluminum towers.  Second, I found that the tower, although having a
30 inch wide bottom and gradually tapering up to a 22 inch top, was quite
flexible at the top, making me feel rather uncomfortable.  I would rather be
on top of a 200 footer guyed Rohn 55 than on top of this one at 64 without
guys.

In the 80s when Heights was manufacturing these towers, although they were
supposed to be self supporting, they did say you could guy them and even
showed a guying schedule and the correct way to fasten them to the tower.
They did not however, mention the amount of tension or guying material.

So just because the tower is supposed to be self-supporting, don't
automatically assume that fastening guys is the 'wrong thing' to do.  In
some
cases it may violate the prime directive, sometimes not.

Bill K4XS
_______________________________________________

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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