[TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support

Thu Jun 5 10:54:25 EDT 2014

Most of these gov't agencies are out for themselves.  I have no idea why 
people think they are out to help us.

Ask them to show you the laws and regulations that give them this power.

Mike W0MU

On 6/5/2014 6:51 AM, Steve Baughn wrote:
> Clay,
>
> Reference the building dept issue you might want to start by looking 
> up your local ordinances that deal with building regulation and see 
> what language they use. Some years back the municipality I worked for 
> in Ohio got a hair about a tower I had that had been in the ground for 
> a number of years. They attempted to call it an accessory structure 
> and a number of other things. Bottom line is they had no language that 
> pertained to towers to begin with and had never heard of PRB-1. They 
> then settled for me paying for a permit after the fact. This created 
> another issue as they had no language in their fee schedule for 
> towers. This was also resolved. They then tried the same thing on 
> another ham. My point is just because they tell you something it may 
> pay to double check what they are saying and make sure their 
> ordinances are in line with what they tell you. They basically had no 
> idea what they were talking about but because they had gotten a 
> complaint from some nut case they felt obligated to do something-even 
> if it was wrong..Gl es 73,
>
> Steve, WD8NPL
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Clay Jackson
> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2014 12:59 AM
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support
>
> Thanks to all who replied - tried looking for a  BSP on wood poles and
> couldn't find the correct index.   Any assistance there would be
> appreciated.
>
> I'm going to look into some sort of tilt-up "attached pole"; but, failing
> that, will just do a rotor/mount and then spend the $$ renting a bucket
> truck when I need to do maintenance (tree service will rent me one 
> with an
> operator for $75/hour).   Main concern on the attached pole would be the
> load on the pulley/cable in a wind storm.
>
> Another big consideration will be permitting - need to call the building
> dept tomorrow.  I know amateur antennas below 61' are exempt from 
> zoning in
> my county, Benton, WA; but don't know about the BUILDING Dept. When I did
> my HyGain AV18HT (24' tower with a 24' mast); the Building Dept made 
> me get
> a Washington PE licensed in THIS County to do a full-on engineered base
> plan, with a wet-stamp; cost well more than the antenna.
>
> Any suggestions on the "correct question" would also be appreciated - 
> is it
> a "private utility plole" or an "antenna pole" or ??.  We're having a big
> addition (that required a permit and multiple inspections) and I don't 
> want
> to just put it up while there will be inspectors on-site.
>
> 73!
>
> Clay
> N7QNM
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim W7RY [mailto:w7ry at centurytel.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 7:31 PM
> To: n7qnm-lists at nwlink.com; TowerTalk at contesting.com; n0tt1 at juno.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support
>
> BTW, there are Bell System Practices (call BPS's)
>
> BSPs And they are on Google.
>
>
> 73
> Jim W7RY
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: n0tt1 at juno.com
> Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 7:01 PM
> To: n7qnm-lists at nwlink.com ; TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Utility Pole as Beam Support
>
> Lucky you to get such a pole for free!!!  :D)
>
> Use NO concrete!  The pole will shrink a little over time and there 
> will be
> a crack to let water in and stay there, accelerating the rotting of your
> pole!  Concrete will also prevent you from making below ground periodic
> inspections per the reference suggested below.
>
> Backfill with dirt or use some fine-graded sand that you "water in"
> to fill all the voids.
>
> BTW, there are Bell System Practices (call BPS's) that *may* be posted on
> the web that describes the proper install, loading, etc of wood poles.
> Google.  If not, maybe a dedicated Telco ham just might have a copy in 
> his
> personal library!
>
> I'd be tempted to rig the beam and mast with a "tilt-over" feature 
> using a
> small winch to make it a no-climb antenna structure.  A "cradle" would
> prevent side-to-side movement at the top.
>
> Now back to my workbench.  :D)
>
> 73,
> Charlie, N0TT
>
> On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 15:15:05 -0700 "Clay Jackson" <n7qnm-lists at nwlink.com>
> writes:
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk