[TowerTalk] pushup mast source and other comments

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

Someone asked where to find Rohn 50 foot pushup masts.

If all else fails, try Majestic Communications, in Memphis TN.

http://www.majestic-comm.com/majesticcomm/rohn/index.htm

they have the H50 for $80.

Another correspondent writes:
<<<I am putting up a 40 foot mast for my GAP Titan and will be
using  Probably 3/16 black Dacron rope and possibly guy grips unless I go
With rope to small to use with them.>>>

I hope you are not planning on putting a 25 pound 25 foot tall gap titan on 
top of a 40 foot pushup mast.  Firstly, that will be a heck of a job getting 
that thing in the air; but more important, the gap will tear that mast up.  
the gap needs a thicker wall steel pipe support; the typical galv.steel 
pushup mast is not made to handle the weight and load and stress of such a 
big antenna.

I advise anyone wanting to go up 40 feet with a pushup mast to spend the 
extra 25 dollars and get the H50, and pull out the top section, throw it 
away, and use the bottom four.  The top is so skinny I do not think it is 
secure except for holding up real small light broadcast rx antennas and 
wires.

the three way guying is okay if you are an honest 120 deg. apart and each 
section is guyed, and the anchors are at least 25 feet out for a 40' mast.

For a 1 year installation, go to a hardware store and get the painted 2 or 3 
foot long earth screws that are about 5 bucks each (in the northern midwest, 
Menards has them) and use dacron.  Forget the clips and thimbles unless you 
use wire but  for a H50 that's overkill.  Just tie the rope to the guy ring 
using a bowline knot (see   http://www.radioworks.com/ninstallant.html and 
scroll down).
Get a bunch of cheap knockoff locking pliars for 3 to 5 bucks each (about 
what a thimble and 3 clips would cost but don't get visegrips or you will go 
broke) and pull the rope tight through the earth screw eye and clamp it with 
the locking pliars.  get the needlenose pliars as they can handle two ropes 
each.  These hold the rope fine and are a walk in the sun compared to 
kneeling in the snow for a half hour with nut drivers, pliars, etc. 
tightening clips.
The rope will stretch out a bit after a week--just pop the pliars off, 
retension and put them back on.  You will retension all your guys in a half 
hour and be back inside drinking coffee, but this only works for a light 
duty pole and dacron.

if you have to put all this up alone, it can be done:   get out the mast and 
extend it on the ground to make sure it is ready to go and does not bind 
anywhere.  mark out where the anchors are going and put them in and get a 
post hole digger and dig a 3 to 5 foot hole where you want the pole.  Drive 
in a 8 foot metal fence post in the hole so it's in 2 or 3 feet into the 
bottom of the hole, making sure it is vertical.  dump in around 6" of 
gravel, put the mast in and strap it to the post with hose clamps.  guy off 
the bottom section and make sure the mast is plumb.     fill in the hole 
with gravel.  With it strapped and plumb and tightly guyed, you should be 
able to push it up on a calm day and quickly guy it off with the pliars.

GL,
rob/k5uj

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