[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

##  check out old TELREX catalogues.  They depicted a setup with 3 x stacked yagis, for
20-15-10m on a utility pole.   It used steel  shelves, each like a huge L, bolted to the pole.   
Two thrust bearings  and the rotor.  3 x shelves in all.    The shelves were designed to factor in
the taper of the pole.....so the mast that went through the 3 x shelves..all lined up. 

# I doubt rohn 25 would fit over a standard utility pole.   Rohn 45 might just fit.   Or just custom make a 
section to fit the top of the pole.   After all the custom fabrication, cranes to lift the heavy pole, tamping down the
fill  in 4-6 inch lifts, etc.... you might be better off to just install a freestanding tower, like a rohn hbx..or a trylon.
6-7  x 8 foot sections.   Watch out, a 50 foot utility pole  weighs one helluva lot !   Its not to be trifled with. 

Jim   VE7RF