[TowerTalk] guying question

[Roger (K8RI)]

john at kk9a.com wrote:
> Star guying substantially reduces the twist on a tower.  Torque arms are 
> much less effective.  
I agree on both points.
> According to K7LXC : When Rohn implemented one of the 
> early EIA/TIA-222 tower standards, they found that the torque arms added 
> nothing to  the torque resistance of the tower but they do help stabilize 
> the tower as  it's being climbed.
>   
With this I disagree to a point.  Much depends on how the torque arms 
are installed, but at best they are no where near as good as star 
guying. On my tower I found that following the instructions  added 
little if any resistance to turning, but mounting the torque arms 
*rigidly* made a noticeable difference in the tendency for the top of 
the tower to rotate in high winds.  However, it's not nearly as 
effective as star guying which I'd much prefer. There's an interesting 
PP presentation at www.yccc.org/Articles/KE1IH_Dayton.ppt  showing 
forces on the tower with regular and star guying as well as the force 
when using elevated guy anchors.

If possible I'm going to change the top level on mine from torque arms 
to star guying.  I have a lot of steel and aluminum up there.

73

Roger (K8RI - ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R (World's oldest Debonair)