[TowerTalk] Climbing is risky business

[kb9cry at comcast.net]

And if I may also add couple of other categories.

There are those hams who :

4.  Do it the right way, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and those who do not.

How many installations have you seen where the ham cheapened the installation or has overloaded the tower/mast?

5.  Who perform the annual tower inspection and have replaced old/worn/rusted parts in accordance with good tower use recommendations & requirements.

How many installations have you seen where tower inspections/maintenance has been neglected?

In the club I belong to many of the members are getting on in years and can't climb.  I've volunteered to help some of them out and quite a few installations really scare me; I won't go up if I don't think it's safe.  They will have quite a problem on their hands when it comes time to perform any kind of real work/or take the installation down.  Then all those years of neglect or being cheap may come back to haunt them; unless they have really good homeowners insurance and they let God do the work for them.  Towers are serious installations and require the proper time & money or else one may be putting their life in jeapordy.  Do it the right way the first time and perform the required maintenance and tower installations can stay up for many years and be taken down safely and securely.
And if you're not ready or equipped to do this, then string wires up in trees and put in phased ground mounted verticals and be safe.
Phil  KB9CRY
> There are three kinds of hams.
> 
> 1)  Those that don't climb.
> 
> 2)  Those that climb but can't do any real work on a tower.
> 
> 3)  Tower Monkeys
> 
> Figure out your category and stay in it.  Don't risk yourself
> or others by going beyond your capabilities.
> 
> --John   W0UN
> 

> 
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.564 / Virus Database: 356 - Release Date: 1/19/2004

> _______________________________________________
> 
> 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.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk