[TowerTalk] Rigging to access feed point on boom 10 feet from tower

[Steve Maki]

Those extra elements are in the way - otherwise there would many safe 
ways to get out to the spot you want to be in, all taking advantage of 
all your *headroom* for safety lines, and all doable by yourself, albeit 
with lot's of climbing up & down.

If you can manage one helper: with only one set of guys below your 
antenna, and assuming you have a capstan hoist, simply disconnect the 
bottom guys from their anchors (let them hang straight done), drop your 
antenna to near ground level, work on it, haul it back up, and reconnect 
your guys. Done. You don't have a cathead? Get one. And a helper while 
you're at it.

-Steve K8LX

On 09/04/19 18:13 PM, w5wz at w5wz.com wrote:

> I have need to access a feed point on a 4" diameter boom, about 10 feet 
> away from the tower.  I know I can "PVRC mount" to tilt and rotate it 
> close to the tower, but this antenna is a monster - Force 12 C-51 XR, 
> 16-elements, 51 foot boom, weighing 250 pounds, so I'd rather not go 
> that route and risk creating other problems.
> 
> Tower is 120 feet of Rohn 55G, guyed at 118, 77, and 37.  This antenna 
> is at 52 feet above ground.  It can be reached by aerial lift/bucket 
> truck, but not inexpensively.
> 
> The feed point is the driven element of the 40 meter section.  Between 
> the tower and the 40m DE are the 15m and 20m reflectors of those section.
> 
> I do climb; I'd like to hear/see some ideas to SAFELY rig to go out to 
> it myself.
> 
> --Scott, W5WZ