[TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 15:15:05 -0700
From: "Clay Jackson" <n7qnm-lists at nwlink.com>
To: "'towertalk reflector'" <towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support

I just "inherited" a 50' (out of the ground, 6' buried) utility pole (crew
was taking it out and told me that if I'd drag it off the road, I could have
it).    

I'm thinking about trying to find a rotator and tri-bander to put on top of
it; but, having no experience with such a setup; I thought I'd seek some
advice first.

So, a few questions.

I'm sure someone has done this before;  would you be able to share your
experiences?

I have a friend who can weld anything from steel to aluminum and so I think
we can fab up a mount for the rotor.   

Beyond that, thoughts would be appreciated on things like:
Wind loading - how many sq ft (if any) is reasonable before I have to use
guys (for my HyGain AV18HT the building dept made me engineer the base for
90K winds, WITH a "wet stamped" drawing)?
Base - is a 6' hole filled with dirt "good enough" or do I need something
more (if more, would a  6' hole with concrete be sufficient)?

Thanks in advance!

Clay
N7QNM

##  telcos across north america all use the same formulae  for depth into the ground.
10%  + 2 feet.     IE:   For a 50 foot pole above the ground, you require  7 feet below the ground. 
80 feet above ground means 10 feet below the ground.    40 foot above the grnd = 6 feet below the ground. 
A 30 foot pole needs  5 feet below ground.   That has not changed either,  still used to this day.

Jim  VE7RF