[TowerTalk] Lanyard hookup to tower

[AD5VJ Bob]

 Wow, that was weird, I just woke up and thought it was morning, hence the comment on the calm day. After checking propagation on 20
and 40 meters I just realized it is still night.

Anyway, guess I will check in the *real* morning Hi Hi and see how the winds are, then the Lord willing and the wind dont rise, try
it all again.

Bob AD5VJ

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of AD5VJ Bob
> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 6:32 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lanyard hookup to tower
> 
> Thanks to all who have responded, here are some of the 
> responses I have received along with my replies:
>  
> 
> >First don't work alone
> My 17 year old son was on the ground level
> 
> >Second you will probably need a second person on the tower 
> to help steady things.
> 
> They have told me 'only one on the tower at a time'
> 
> >	1: Put the mast in first
> 
> Cant do that I will explain later in here why
> 
> >	2: Have some ground crew, one person will do from what you have 
> >described
> 
> My sons are the only ones I have sent emails asking for help 
> to various local reflectors but no phone calls from anyone.
> 
> My sons only help, when they have time (which isn't much with 
> girls, gaming contests and schools), so I try to do as much 
> alone as possible and then wait on one of them when I 
> absolutely have to ask.
> 
> >	3:  Have the ground crew pull the antenna up to you and 
> have it in a 
> >cradle
> 
> I dont know what you mean by cradle, I did this but dont know 
> what you mean by cradle, I just tied a rope around the mast 
> and he pulled it up using the 100 pound wall mount pulleys I 
> mounted to one tower leg and to the top of the gin pole with bolts.
> 
> >	4:  You should be able just swing the antenna in and 
> put the u-bolts 
> >thru the mounting plate.
> 
> My antenna is an older one called a Hornet and it has the 
> mast through type construction which includes a top inverted 
> V shaped configuration from each half of the boom to the top 
> of the mast. 
> 
> I think it is called a truss.
> 
> So it has to all go into the tower as one piece and then I 
> can add mast by removing the rotor and installing mast 
> through the hole, but the initial part is all one piece.
> 
> >	5.  Be sure that you use a bottom pulley so that the 
> ground crew pulls 
> >from the bottom of the tower.
> 
> I am using a bottom pulley and a pulley at the top of the gin pole.
> 
> > It seems from what  I Gleaned from you re post. that your trying to 
> > install both the mast pipe and the antenna affixed to the mast pipe 
> > all at one time ?
> > That my friend unless it's a small TV antenna that scenario becomes 
> > unwieldy... let alone add the element of wind or side thrust from a 
> > short gin pole pipe fixture from it's SIDE Angle. Then your not 
> > secured with your positions harness at he tapered APEX.
> 
> I have to do it as one piece, it would be impossible to 
> assemble it at the top of the tower. The things you just 
> mentioned are exactly some of those I was concerned with and 
> dont know what to do about them.
> 
> >  
> >  First IMHO get a second positioning lanyard ( rope ) with
> 
> I didn't know you could use two at a time, mine is a rope 
> that came with the full body climbing harness, I also have 
> the round eye at the shoulder blades with a flat lanyard the 
> hooks onto the harness there and the tower in case of a fall 
> it has a folded part to it that unravels during the fall to 
> arrest the fall impact.
> 
> ( I just learned its called a fall arrest lanyard).
> 
> > the first one keeping you in place  adjust the second rope 
> wraps etc 
> > with your BOTH free hands so your tight at he top OD center 
> tube, keep 
> > them both secured as you step UP.
> 
> Never thought about this, might be just what I need.
> 
> >It's not always possible, but I can't stress how helpful it  
> has been 
> >to have experienced mentors or to have
>  >worked (ground crew or in the air) with experienced  >Hams 
> before embarking on my own projects.
> 
> I went to U-tube and downloaded some videos of various 
> installations, before I started all of this about three weeks 
> ago now. Most people dont have time anymore to help and the 
> ones that do of course have time because they are charging a fee.
> 
> I emailed a few times locally with no responses except from 
> someone who would charge $200.00 to do it. After trying it 
> myself, I dont blame him, in fact that seems cheap after 
> hanging from the tower a few times.
> 
> The issue is I cant afford it right now and I need to get 
> this antenna in place before CQWW CW on the 29th of November. 
> The main limiting factor so far has been the wind.
> 
> Today it is perfectly calm out there as I stare off the back 
> patio at my lonely tower one more time, so today I am getting 
> my mind set in the right attitude and direction to try it again, 
> 
> God willing and the wind dont rise.
> 
> Bob AD5VJ
> 
> 
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