I cannot help out wrt the OP but if I may I would like to share a
childhood experience/observation I had with that Rohn fold over tower
system.
I grew up in Detroit (not a nice part) and was lucky to have my
grandparents live several blocks away from us. When visiting them my
brothers and I would chance our lives and ride our bikes around looking
for things to do while out-riding the thugs that normally chased us.
During one outing I came across an amazing antenna system. At that time
(I was maybe 7 or 8) I knew zero about ham radio but was always
fascinated by this massive tower on a 1/8 acre city lot with a HUGE
antenna on top of it. Every once in a while I would catch the owner
folding over the tower to work on the antenna. It was fascinating
watching the structure slowly fold over and bring down the large 5
element full-sized 20m monobander to near ground level. I think it was
up around 70'-80'. It was also a real trick where and how Gene was able
to run guy wires to keep this beast up in the air on such a tiny lot.
A couple years later, after our family escaped Detroit during the riots
we moved out to the suburbs and I eventually a couple years later became
WN8BYA. It was then after I had my first rig that I could tune around
the bands and listen to what everyone else (but me) was working.
Almost every morning I could hear Gene Ameriguan, K8CD (sk) working
VU2's long path giving out 5x8 & 5x9 reports and regardless of how loud
I cranked up the volume I never once heard any station he was working.
Years later I drove to Gene's house and was shocked he and the tower
were still there. I was warmly invited into his shack and I got to see
where all the magic took place. I even got to sit in the captain's chair
and got to tune the band ! He got a chuckle once I explained that I had
been "spying" on him for decades ever since I was a little punk. Being
older by then I got to inspect the tower and massive antennas and was
still in awe that that system was still rock solid doing it's job. Gene
said it had never once given him any issues and was able to survive
storms for many, many decades.
That setup left a very lasting impression on me and inspired me to
design my own fold over system for my 3 70' universal self-supporting
towers. I can thank Gene and all those warm memories from almost 60
years earlier.
Gedas, W8BYA EN70JT
Light travels faster than sound.....
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
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