[TowerTalk] Installing a New Tower - Trylon Titan T200-96'

Tue Jun 28 12:47:58 EDT 2005

In this specific case, a crank up tower (72 ft ?) would be highly desirable.

Bob W7KD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry K3BZ" <k3bz at arrl.net>
To: "(Reflector) TowerTalk" <towertalk at contesting.com>; "Kelly Johnson" 
<n6kj.kelly at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Installing a New Tower - Trylon Titan T200-96'

> So from what Kelly says, a tower IS legal in San Jose... we're just 
> talking
> about HEIGHT and where the tower is located.  If it's on, beside, or 
> somehow
> attached to an existing structure, apparently the antenna could be at 35
> feet... without a permit.... legally.  I wouldn't find that ideal or even
> desirable, but if it was all I could do....well, life isn't always ideal.
> But that's a far cry from unworkable for an amateur antenna installation.
> It just requires some creativity and compromise.
>
> I doubt there's anyone today that would say the SteppIR 3L yagi doesn't
> perform well. I think I'm correct that it was developed and tested at 40
> feet, and performs like a champ at that height. Mine is fantastic at 50
> feet.  However, when I have my tower tilted over and the SteppIR 3L is
> pointing straight up, I can still work EU and AF and SA on 20M and 15M, so 
> I
> would be very surprised if performance was seriously degraded at 35 feet.
> Certainly 35 feet is a compromise, but until a better situation develops,
> the existing situation seems very workable.  Not optimum, not perfect, not
> ideal.... but workable.
>
> 73,  Jerry K3BZ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelly Johnson" <n6kj.kelly at gmail.com>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Installing a New Tower - Trylon Titan T200-96'
>
>
>> San Jose is like most cities...the building department won't cite you
>> for an infraction unless someone complains.  If you put one up w/o a
>> permit, then you run the risk that a neighbor WILL complain.  At that
>> point, the building inspector has no option but to cite you and tell
>> you to take it down.  If nobody complains, you're fine, but these days
>> your chances of avoiding a neighbors complaint seem slim.  The risk of
>> a complaint goes up as the size and/or height of the tower/antennas
>> increases.  You'll almost certainly get a complaint if you put
>> something substantial up like a UST HDX or Trylon or similar lattice
>> structure, esp. if you put lots of aluminum up.  There could be legal
>> issues too if a non-permitted tower falls on your neighbors property.
>>
>> San Jose doesn't explicitly state that antenna towers are illegal.
>> Antennas aren't discussed at all in the zoning ordinance, so they lump
>> them under the category of "accessory structures".  Accessory
>> structures are limited to 12 feet in San Jose, thus you can have a 12
>> foot high antenna tower.  You can also mount the antenna to the top of
>> your house in which case it is just considered an "architectural
>> feature" of your house just like a chimney or windvane.  Houses are
>> limited to 35 feet in San Jose, thus your roof mounted antenna can be
>> 35 feet high.  No permit is needed in either case.  The building
>> department refused to accept my permit application for a 72' crankup
>> on the grounds that it is a violation of the zoning ordinance.
>>
>> Anyone out there know how change the laws of physics so that an HF
>> yagi on a 12 foot pole works well :-)
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/28/05, ChetMoore <ChetMoore at cox.net> wrote:
>> > [Stuff Deleted]
>> >
>> > All that being said,  if San Jose doesn't say it's ILLEGAL  and they 
>> > are
>> > more or less willing to look the other way,  I would begin construction
>> > today.  Forgiveness is almost always easier to get than permission.
>> >
>> > 73
>> >
>> > Chet  N6ZO
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: <K7LXC at aol.com>
>> > To: <towertalk at contesting.com>; <pewing at plxtech.com>
>> > Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 11:50 PM
>> > Subject: [TowerTalk] Installing a New Tower - Trylon Titan T200-96'
>> >
>> >
>> > > In a message dated 6/27/2005 4:38:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>> > > towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:
>> > >
>> > >>  I went to the City of San Jose Building Permits office on Friday 
>> > >> and
>> > >> asked
>> > > About the permit process to put up a freestanding 60 ft tower in my
> back
>> > > yard. They said "can't do it" They won't issue tower permits. They
> told me
>> > > That all the towers I see in San Jose are un-permitted. They had 
>> > > heard
> of
>> > > PRB-1 and were in talks with the ARRL.
>> > >
>> > >>  They implied that I should "do what everyone else does".
>> > >
>> > >    That's right. Get a copy of the ARRL tower information (I don't
> know
>> > > what
>> > > the nomenclature of it is - sorry). Get a copy of K1VR's incredible
> book
>> > > on
>> > > towers and zoning, permit, etc. issues. Get a copy of the building
> codes.
>> > > Contact your ARRL representative.
>> > >
>> > >    You don't have any real questions or perspective yet. Do your
> homework
>> > > with the above and THEN head to the building department.
>> > >
>> > >    I know that K6KR screwed things up some years ago so there are
>> > > restrictions but you should be able to do it by jumping thru all the
>> > > hoops. Also the
>> > > ham-law reflector is good when you get to the point of having 
>> > > specific
>> > > questions
>> > > - that's where are the legal eagles hang out.
>> > >
>> > >    LXC Prime Building Department Directive: Find one person in the
>> > > department who is either sympathetic or knowledgeable or both and
> stick
>> > > with them. If
>> > > you talk to 3 different people in the building department you'll wind
> up
>> > > with 3
>> > > different interpretations. Talk to other local hams who have gone 
>> > > thru
> the
>> > > process and talk to them - especially if they can give you a name of
>> > > someone in
>> > > the building department.
>> > >
>> > > Cheers & GL,
>> > > Steve    K7LXC
>> > > TOWER TECH
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > >
>> > > 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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>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> >
>> > 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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>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> 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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>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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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