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[VHFcontesting] Chimney and/or tower mounts

To: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Chimney and/or tower mounts
From: "Bill Burgess" <ve3cru@rac.ca>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2006 13:46:28 -0500
List-post: <mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Hi Ev,

My house is 33 years old.  The chimney serving the fireplace at the east side 
is clay brick construction.  It for years held only a deep fringe tv antenna on 
an AR-40 rotator.  That system was removed 10 years ago or more.

Since getting my ham license 4 years ago, I have anchored a 30' tv tower to the 
chimney.  It extends 8' above the roofline, and 7' above the point of anchor.  
Six feet above chimney too.  The anchor consists of two pieces of 4 by 4.  One 
piece is notched to fit the legs of the tower, and both pieces are drilled for 
3/4" continuous thread running through them, snug to the chimney so no side 
movement is possible either.  

Any stresses are usually wire antennas which load towards the house, as the 
tower is 8 feet from the property line.  The only beam ever on top was a 5 
element 2 meter at one time.  At the west corner of the house is another 30' 
tower, guyed, with a 6 meter antenna up 36' and a tribander below it.  As you 
can see, the anchor point of the east tower is 23 feet from the ground.  I 
would never put up anything that was anchored lower to a chimney due to the 
stresses and risk, such as using 40' or more of tower to it.  Cinder 
block.....well, not sure of it's strength.  Don't think any chimneys are 
anchored to the house, but are free standing on their base, usually part of the 
foundation.

I would not load any chimney as heavily as what you are planning, regardless of 
bracket strength available.

My two cents, anyways.

73,

Bill   VE3CRU
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