Thanks for setting me straight, guys ! I'll give it a try by myself.
Actually, I just acquired my AB-577 recently.
73, and good luck on FD !
Jamie, WB4YDL
On Thursday, June 26, 2003, at 10:00 PM, RICHARD BOYD wrote:
> Right, I've done them single handed many times. I have 14 of them
> here -- nine of my own and five belonging to others -- we use them for
> Field Day and anything else we think of during the rest of the year.
> In addition to moving the tubes separately from the base ("launcher"),
> N3OC showed me another trick -- leave the rack for the tubes at home,
> which makes loading the tubes into a minivan, back of an Expedition,
> etc. very doable. 73 - Rich, KE3Q
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dan Hammill
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:10 PM
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
>
>
> I don't want to start a war...but with all due respect to Jamie,
> I have to disagree with the notion that AB-577 movement and
> installation can't be one-man jobs. I own three of them, and
> have transported and erected one or more several times by myself
> with absolutely zero assistance.
>
> The trick for transporting them (i.e. - loading in a truck bed
> is to pull the tubes and carrier out, move the pieces, then
> reassemble in the truck bed. Of course it adds 10 minutes
> or so to the process - but these sorts of things shouldn't be
> done in a hurry anyway.
>
> My typical one-man installation time for a standard 50-footer
> runs about 1-2 hours, depending on the complexity of the antenna
> stack (long VHF yagis, preamps, HELIAX, etc.), and includes
> shoveling a level pad in hard-packed decomposed granite soil.
> Sure, I get some exercise in the process, but everything has
> always progressed smoothly.
>
> So far, my only problem with the AB-577 system is that the
> standard guy stakes are too short for handling high gusting
> winds (75-90 MPH w/ long gusts 95-110 MPH)...and forget screw
> anchors in our soil. You might as well try to screw one into
> cured concrete. I'm considering some concrete base pads and
> guy points at home for semi-permanent use.
>
> Good luck & 73,
> Dan KB5MY/6
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of James C. Hall,
>> M.D.
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 13:15
>> To: JWallace@karta.com; towertalk@contesting.com
>> Subject: RE:[TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi John:
>>
>> There are several Army Surplus models that may fit the bill. The most
>> popular is the AB-577 "Rocket Launcher" which will go 50 feet and
>> with an
>> extension kit will go 70 feet. It weighs about 200 lbs and is NOT
>> a one-man
>> job. I know - I have one. This may be complete overkill, however, and
>> you
>> may be able to use something like a AB-155, which will go to 30
>> feet and is
>> definitely a one-man job. I use one of these to support a long
>> Carolina
>> Windom on one end. Both of these are VERY popular in ham circles and,
>> as
>> such, have become rare to find complete 'kits'. When you can find
>> them (
>> usually on eBay ), they will fetch a 'pretty penny' ! Ontario
>> Surplus should
>> have some info on all this.
>>
>> 73, Jamie
>> WB4YDL
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of John Wallace
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 11:15 AM
>> To: towertalk@contesting.com
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Portable Tower Question
>>
>>
>>
>> I am interested in building or buying a truly portable tower or guyed
>> mast
>> assembly that would extend up to about 40 feet in height.
>>
>> By "truly portable", I mean that one or two people ought to be
>> able to lift
>> the thing out of the back of a pickup truck, carry it a few hundred
>> feet,
>> set it on the ground, and have it up in less than 30 minutes, using
>> just a
>> sledgehammer to drive in guy wire stakes & ground rods.
>>
>> In my application, the weight and wind resistance of the antenna
>> itself
>> would be negligible.
>>
>> I don't want to re-invent the wheel; can anybody point me to design
>> information and/or to a commercial vendor?
>>
>> Thanx in Advance, john W2GNI ... jwallace AT karta DOT com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
>> "Wireless
>> Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
>> 1-800-333-9041 with any
>> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
>> "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
>> 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers",
> "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free,
> 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
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