[TowerTalk] HG52SS base

[Roger (K8RI)]

I've used dirt bases at all of my locations since 1961 with nary a 
problem. They are usually go about 5' down to the crushed rock .  The 
last couple I fabricated out of 3/4" steel rod and 1/8" Steel strap, 2" 
wide. I gave it a good two coats of paint and planted it.  Yes it's 
heavy but didn't cost much and has proven very effective.

The dirt base only serves two real functions; The first to keep the base 
of the tower from moving sideways and the second is to keep it from 
sinking into the ground.  Setting it on crushed rock helps here.  
However to work well the soil needs to be firm and not acetic.  A hole 
in damp sand with a half a foot of crushed rock will support a lot of 
weight.  Pea gravel is not as effective.

I do think concrete is better but ROHN even sold dirt bases for many years.

73

Roger (K8RI)

VO1HP wrote:
> In Oct 2005 I installed an HG52SS.  I designed a T base similiar to that used by US Towers and had a local machine shop fabricate and galvanize.   It took a few iterations of a wooden model of the base to get the hole right but it worked out FB.  The tower has worked out well so far.  Regular 100 kmph winds in wintertime...during some of these gales I have cranked the tower down but in some others I have left it up at full height.  The antenna is an EXP 14.  The tower is guyed to the top of the first 20ft section only and the guys help to share the load with the base.
>
> There is a 5"diamx 9ft permanent gin pole installed on the concrete base .  The gin pole facilitates very easy one man crank over .
>
> See phots on www.vo1hp.ca
>
>
> 73 Farnk VO1HP 
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