[TowerTalk] Crank-up base

[K7LXC--- via TowerTalk]

>  The engineer didn't want to do a formal analysis, and  there is no 
permit involved. Undisturbed soil is what I'd heard, but the HyGain  book doesn't 
mention it. I have no idea how old it is.
 
    Since way back then (70's? 80's?), the  TIA-222 has been written and 
revised several times. It is the industry standard  for tower installations. 
 
>  Still in Duval, so care is certainly advised. What that  means in terms 
of real life shovel-in-the-ground practice, I'm  unsure.
 
    Sounds like your engineer wasn't real  helpful. If you're going to do 
it all yourself, contact a local excavator and  ask their advice, especially 
for your sandy environment. In this case  over-engineering mostly means a 
bigger base since you don't have any control of  what's above it. There is a 
chance that a tower with a base in sand will start  to lean away from the 
prevalent wind direction over time, being pushed by the  wind. A bigger base 
will minimize this. A single guy to the top of the bottom  section in the 
direction of the prevailing wind will help too. 
 
Cheers & GL,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for amateurs