[TowerTalk] Heights Towers Aluminum??

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Don't forget that you must comply with the dead weight capacity of your tilt-over tower.  This is important, a nearby ham failed to comply with the dead weight specification and his Heights fold-over tower collapsed as he tilted it up.  His mistake?  He forgot to count the weight of his Heliax feedlines!

Everything you add to your tower must be counted against the dead weight specification, including all cables, masts, rotators and other accessories.  Give serious consideration to using an aluminum mast and light weight antennas, feedlines and control cables.

Its especially important to minimize every pound of weight above the top of the tower (i.e., mast and antennas and feedlines).  Every pound above the top of the tower adds very significantly to the moment on the lower tower sections and the tilting base.

73
Frank
W3LPL

---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 5:11:25 -0700
>From: Dennis <radioart at charter.net>  
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Heights Towers Aluminum??  
>To: W3OA <w3oa at roadrunner.com>, towertalk at contesting.com
>
>Thanks for taking the time to respond Dick.
>
>Very good input on some of the issues I would be faced with.   How do you rotate the antenna at 40' or is it stationaly?  Isn't there some kind of ring assembly for rotating antennas on the sides of towers?
>
>Thanks Dick, Dennis, k0eoo
>
>
>---- W3OA <w3oa at roadrunner.com> wrote: 
>> Hi Dennis -
>> 
>> I have a 60' Heights tower with a fold-over kit and 10 feet of mast out 
>> the top.
>> 
>> It's been up for 5 years now and I'm very happy with it.
>> 
>> You do need to watch how big an antenna you put on it.  If the antenna 
>> is too large you won't be able to lower the tower far enough to work on 
>> most of the antenna from the ground.  I suppose that's obvious but it's 
>> a trade I thought about for a long time before I decide to get a 
>> fold-over tower.  I ended up with two Force 12 C-4s, one at 40 feet and 
>> one at 70 feet.  I can reach the feed points using an 8 foot step ladder.
>> 
>> Another gotcha I found out through experience is that rotor brakes that 
>> hold an antenna just fine when the tower is up may not hold the antenna 
>> in position as the tower rotates down.  The antenna, of course, wants to 
>> rotate so its heavy end is pointed down and the break may not hold it in 
>> any other position.  This can be an even bigger problem with side 
>> mounted antennas.
>> 
>> I'd do it again 'cause I don't want to climb a tower.
>> 
>> Good Luck - Dick, W3OA
>> 
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:46:23 -0500
>> From: "Dennis Petrich" <radioart at charter.net>
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Heights Towers Aluminum??
>> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Message-ID: <A577548AEF344F668DEB831F901180B9 at D5V7GZF1>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> 	reply-type=original
>> 
>> Hello all who have aluminum towers.
>> 
>> I am thinking of putting up the tilt-over self supporting aluminum tower 
>> from Heights Towers.  This one is 69' with the tilt-over kit and is rated at 
>> 21sq' at 80mph. and will take a 12' mast.  I will be putting up 15sq' of 
>> antenna.
>> 
>> Anyone of you have experence with such a thing??  The whole tower tilts over 
>> so you can work on the antenna from the ground, an idea I like very much. 
>> You can see it on their web page. 
>> http://www.heightstowers.com/fold_over_kits.htm
>> 
>> Thanks in advance for your comments
>> 
>> Dennis, k0eoo 
>> 
>> >   
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
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