[TowerTalk] Crank Up towers

[K7LXC@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/17/2005 9:03:36 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  Can I get some feed back from you guys on experience  with
Crank Up towers?

>  1. Is it the way to go?
Pros and cons


    Cons - increased mechanically/electrical  complexity; much more expensive 
than other similar antenna structures;  potentially fatal cable failures; 
sometimes dangerous to work on. Check out  the TT archives for discussions of 
guys trying to find replacement motors,  winches, etc. - they are numerous. 
 
    Pros - I can't think of any. 

>  2. Who makes a good one (inexpensive)
example: Hazer is too expensive
 
    If you think a Hazer is too expensive, wait until  you price out a 
moderately equipped crank-up! A crank-up is the MOST expensive  antenna support you 
can buy. 
 
    US Tower is the 800 pound gorilla. They make a  good product and offer 
good customer support. There is an aluminum crank-up  out there but it's even 
more expensive and is very fragile compared to a steel  tower. Tri-Ex crank-ups 
are being sold but I don't have anything good to say  about their customer 
service. 
 
    There are lots of used ones out there from  Hy-Gain, EZ Tower, Tri-Ex, 
and others but there you're getting a pig-in-a-poke  reliability-wise. 



    What's your local windspeed rating? What's your  proposed antenna system? 
The gotcha with crank-ups is that they typically  can't be rated at more than 
moderate windspeeds and windloads. They're only  rated at the factory specs 
at 70 MPH - the lowest windspeed rating used. 
 
    I think that a lot of people buy a crank-up  thinking that it's easier to 
work on antennas and such. If everything is  installed properly, why would 
you have to work on anything? I think people  spend money for this when they 
really don't have to. 
 
    Of course there are spouses that would prefer a  crank-up and other 
aesthetic reasons for buying one but the only reason I've  ever heard of that truly 
justifies one is N6RJ who convinced his neighbors it  would only be extended 
after dark. 
 
Cheers,
Steve   K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur
Cell: 206-890-4188