[TowerTalk] Help with FIRST TIME STATION

[Dave .]

Wow....

I live in central Iowa.....Originally was planning on a US tower
  Hdx70 tower but it was destroyed in bad weather before I could purchase....so this Hy Gain tower became avaliable..I thought I could use this for now until I got a 70 replacement...but

Confusion ...

I was looking up a HyGain hg54HD
IN one factory document I see 16sq ft at 60mph (1990)

In annother factory calculations document I see 25sq ft

I know these calculations are from days of old

And other mfg numbers are ALL over the place
And let's not forget that many of the antenna mfg windload numbers are well...I'm not sure what to call them

Here is the plan

HY-54GD....16sq....supports ?

Concrete base for tower is rated for a HDX70 ( 2 x more Concrete than the hy54hd requires)

For comparison

Hdx555  23 Sq. Supports 200lbs

nn4zz tiltplate......1sq.  30lbs

Steppir 4 El 40-6....( 1 trombone)........18.5 Sq.  PROJECTED ??? A few sites say 12sq......106lbs

3 .....M2.  2m12 2m yagi.   1.5 Sq each. 8lbs each

1 wire dipole......

1 diamond x510HMN..........

Yaesu 2800 rotator...14.33 lbs

2 inch 1/4 wall 6063 alum mast...4 1/2 foot above the Tilt plate...Tilt plate 2 inches above thrust bearing


Looks like my wind load with all the above would be 23.5 sq....OOPS...

OBVIOUSLY...I wouldn't leave the tower up in a 60mph wind.( that's asking for trouble)

It is 22ft cranked all the way down.....


It seems as if you want more than a dipole on top you have to purchase a 80,000 tower

Are there numbers SOMEWHERE that are "real" .?

Every mfg seems to have their own calculator..

M2 antennas and nn4zz seem reasonable

It appears all numbers are cover your butt numbers the mfg have come up with...

There are so many years and years of politics in between.  And calculators....


And to say hams NEVER overload their towers....well...that would be a fairytale


Is there some rule of thumb that this might work to say 30-40 mph without cranking down?....is there someone with a simular set up that is in use that can share some thoughts ?

Sigh