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[TowerTalk] Be Careful With the Tolerance in Laser Levels (Tower base le

To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Be Careful With the Tolerance in Laser Levels (Tower base leveling.
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2017 01:00:20 -0400
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
When using laser levels there is a tolerance of +/- Something per ft, yard, 10 feet, etc. It's often a lot more than acceptable for leveling a tower base.

I have two, a transit and a level. Setup and calibration are critical. I have a plain old combination bubble and 3 digit, digital level. Two digits to the right of the decimal is more than enough. Calibration is easy. Find something close to level (level is not necessary, but convenient) The two points should be about the same distance apart as the bolts. You can even use those bolts, getting them close with the bubble. Then you simply turn on the digital mode, set the level on the nuts and push a button, swap ends with the level and push a button. The digital level is now zeroed.

NOTE: The calibration points must be STABLE! The nuts can not be loose. The digital level properly zeroed is more accurate than the laser transit or level you can purchase at the big box stores that require much more care in calibrating. A surveying laser transit (A lot more money) is accurate, but still takes care in calibrating.

Were I to go that route, I'd rent a surveying transit, but being frugal (some would say cheap) and a bit lazy, I'd use my digital level. I have it, know how to use it, and with a fresh 9V battery in it being the only cost.

I've seen manufacturer's suggestions to use a plumb bob. Now depending on where you live, dead calm days may be rare. We might have 3 or 4 days a year where it's dead calm long enough to use a plumb bob on a 60 - 100 ft tower and a plumb bob is far more work than these other methods

--

73

Roger (K8RI)


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