Hi Bob,
Here's my take:
AD5VJ Bob wrote:
> Thanks to all who have responded, here are some of the responses I have
> received along with my replies:
>
>
>
>> First don't work alone
>>
> My 17 year old son was on the ground level
>
>
>> Second you will probably need a second person on the tower to help steady
>> things.
>>
>
> They have told me 'only one on the tower at a time'
>
>
I'm not sure who "they" are, but it depends on the tower. On a well
guyed 45G it's great to have some one else "up there" they know what
they are doing. <:-))
>> 1: Put the mast in first
>>
>
> Cant do that I will explain later in here why
>
>
>> 2: Have some ground crew, one person will do from what you have
>> described
>>
>
> My sons are the only ones I have sent emails asking for help to various local
> reflectors but no phone calls from anyone.
>
> My sons only help, when they have time (which isn't much with girls, gaming
> contests and schools), so I try to do as much alone as
> possible and then wait on one of them when I absolutely have to ask.
>
>
>> 3: Have the ground crew pull the antenna up to you and have it in a
>> cradle
>>
>
> I dont know what you mean by cradle, I did this but dont know what you mean
> by cradle, I just tied a rope around the mast and he
> pulled it up using the 100 pound wall mount pulleys I mounted to one tower
> leg and to the top of the gin pole with bolts.
>
>
This can be several things and much depends on how good a shape you are
in as well as skill level.
"Typically" from the hook or loop on the end of the rope to the gin pole
there are two straps that extend out away from the center of the antenna
and loop around the boom. This keeps the antenna level on the lift. If
you are going up the side of a guyed tower things have to be a bit
different. I put the TH-5 up by going up the tower with it on my
shoulder while the help on the ground did the lifting with a rope
through a pulley at the bottom of the tower and up to the gin pole.
When I'd get to a set of guys I'd just rotate the antenna around them.
A tram line is far easier.
>> 4: You should be able just swing the antenna in and put the u-bolts
>> thru the mounting plate.
>>
>
> My antenna is an older one called a Hornet and it has the mast through type
> construction which includes a top inverted V shaped
> configuration from each half of the boom to the top of the mast.
>
> I think it is called a truss.
>
> So it has to all go into the tower as one piece and then I can add mast by
> removing the rotor and installing mast through the hole,
> but the initial part is all one piece.
>
>
Not sure I understand why. I have antennas with trusses that sound like
what you describe.
I raise the mast with the gin pole and then lower the mast down into the
tower. I use a thrust bearing, or clamp to hold the mast in place . I
raise the antenna and set it on the tower top plate with the boom to
mast clamp loose enough for the mast to easily slide up and down through
the clamp. I fasten the truss to the top or near the top of the mast and
then raise the mast until the truss is tight, or even lifting the
antenna slightly. I then raise the boom to mast clamp on the mast until
the boom is straight and tighten the boom to mast clamp to that mast at
that point. Here, the truss to mast mount is out of reach once the
antenna is raised high enough to tighten the mount. It takes a bit of
practice, but in practice is quite easy at least once you have done it.
I don't know if the antenna you have would allow this or not.
>> 5. Be sure that you use a bottom pulley so that the ground crew
>> pulls from the bottom of the tower.
>>
>
> I am using a bottom pulley and a pulley at the top of the gin pole.
>
make sure these are good sturdy pulleys
Good Luck,
Roger (K8RI)
>
>> It seems from what I Gleaned from you re post. that your
>> trying to install both the mast pipe and the antenna affixed
>> to the mast pipe all at one time ?
>> That my friend unless it's a small TV antenna that scenario
>> becomes unwieldy... let alone add the element of wind or
>> side thrust from a short gin pole pipe fixture from it's SIDE
>> Angle. Then your not secured with your positions harness at
>> he tapered APEX.
>>
>
> I have to do it as one piece, it would be impossible to assemble it at the
> top of the tower. The things you just mentioned are
> exactly some of those I was concerned with and dont know what to do about
> them.
>
>
>>
>> First IMHO get a second positioning lanyard ( rope ) with
>>
>
> I didn't know you could use two at a time, mine is a rope that came with the
> full body climbing harness, I also have the round eye
> at the shoulder blades with a flat lanyard the hooks onto the harness there
> and the tower in case of a fall it has a folded part to
> it that unravels during the fall to arrest the fall impact.
>
> ( I just learned its called a fall arrest lanyard).
>
>
>> the first one keeping you in place adjust the second rope
>> wraps etc with your BOTH free hands so your tight at he top
>> OD center tube, keep them both secured as you step UP.
>>
>
> Never thought about this, might be just what I need.
>
>
>> It's not always possible, but I can't stress how helpful it
>> has been to have experienced mentors or to have
>>
> >worked (ground crew or in the air) with experienced
> >Hams before embarking on my own projects.
>
> I went to U-tube and downloaded some videos of various installations, before
> I started all of this about three weeks ago now. Most
> people dont have time anymore to help and the ones that do of course have
> time because they are charging a fee.
>
> I emailed a few times locally with no responses except from someone who would
> charge $200.00 to do it. After trying it myself, I
> dont blame him, in fact that seems cheap after hanging from the tower a few
> times.
>
> The issue is I cant afford it right now and I need to get this antenna in
> place before CQWW CW on the 29th of November. The main
> limiting factor so far has been the wind.
>
> Today it is perfectly calm out there as I stare off the back patio at my
> lonely tower one more time, so today I am getting my mind
> set in the right attitude and direction to try it again,
>
> God willing and the wind dont rise.
>
> Bob AD5VJ
>
>
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>
>
>
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