[UK-CONTEST] Guying Versatowers

[Chris Tran GM3WOJ]

Hello Steve et al

I'm afraid I have not read the article "Installing Towers Safely" by Peter
O'Dell
WB2D, published in the 1989 CQ Antenna Buyer's Guide, but I would have
to strongly disagree about guying - I don't think U.S. amateurs have much
experience of crank-up towers, although this is changing in recent years.

I think it is essential to guy any Versatower which is spending most if its
time at full height, for the following reasons :-
1. If the wind speed increases unexpectedly, a Versatower can easily 'jam'
in the fully-extended position.  Because of the tolerances, the sections
tilt
slightly, and it is impossible to lower the tower just when you need to
most.
For this reason, you should always have at least 1 or more ropes attached
to the top of the tower, to allow a helper to keep the tower straight while
you lower it.
2.   The argument that guys exert too much 'down-force' on the telescoping
wires is rubbish.  Yes, there is a slight extra load on the telescoping
wires,
but this should not be excessive, and without guys a fully-extended
Versatower
is relying on the forces being transmitted down to the base.  Versatowers
almost always bend just above the join of the sections.  I've chopped up a
damaged Versatower section with an angle-grinder, and the steel is
surprisingly soft - like the old 'steam pipe' stuff.
3.   Even guyed, a Versatower is still vulnerable if the guys are too far
apart
- they really should be on every section (this is more than Elliott
Versatower
recommend)   Guying only at the top is dangerous because side-forces can
make these guys slacken, and once the tower moves beyond a certain point
the guys are actually adding to the problem, and the tower can bend near
the middle.

Stainless steel ropes - somewhere in my memory I recall being warned
against using Stainless steel for tower ropes - I think it was partly
because
of the bending radius as discussed, but also that they are not as strong as
ordinary steel wire ropes, and there were problems fitting the eyelets to
the ends - however I may be wrong here. I agree with Doug that soaking
the wire ropes in oil or grease before installation is essential, and I use
up a
whole can of grease here on each tower's ropes every year.

73
Chris     GM3WOJ