The AM Forum

THE AM BULLETIN BOARD => QSO => Topic started by: K1JJ on April 06, 2005, 11:43:22 PM



Title: An Informative Tower/ Antenna Installation Summary - Read!
Post by: K1JJ on April 06, 2005, 11:43:22 PM
http://www.kish-club.org/towerstuff/towers.txt


Here's one of the best summaries I've seen for designing, installing and maintaining your tower and rotary antennas.

Written by the ham who produced the mechanical modeling software program, "YagiStress".

Read this over a few times and you will be well ahead and far SAFER than the average ham hacker.... :D

T


TABLE of CONTENTS:

GUIDES   6
TOWER CONSTRUCTION GUIDES   6
TOWER ENGINEERING GUIDES   6
LIGHTNING PROTECTION AND GROUNDING GUIDES   6
CLIMBING GUIDES   7
TOWER TYPE SELECTION   7
BRACKET SUPPORTS   8
BASES   8
SELECTING BASE TYPE   8
DIGGING THE HOLE   9
THE RE-BAR CAGE   10
THE CONCRETE   11
CONCRETE DO'S AND DON'TS   12
CONCRETE STRENGTH   13
MAST AND BOOM MATERIAL SELECTION   13
PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS   13
STRENGTH   13
STIFFNESS AND ELASTICITY   16
THRUST BEARINGS   19
ANCHORS   19
SOIL MECHANICS PRIMER   19
ANCHOR TYPES   20
SCREW ANCHORS AND STRENGTHS   20
INSTALLATION OF SCREW ANCHORS   21
GUY CABLES   22
GUY CABLES ACT LIKE SPRINGS   22
HOW GUY CABLES STABILIZE YOUR TOWER   22
ORIGIN OF THE 10% PRELOAD RULE   22
EFFECT OF GUY SIZE   23
TYPES   23
USING PREFORMED GUY GRIPS AND THIMBLES   26
TENSIONING   28
GUY TENSION MEASUREMENT   30
USING LOOS BRAND TENSION METERS FOR GUYS   30
CHECKING GUY TENSION BY COUNTING OSCILLATIONS   32
THERMAL EFFECTS ON GUY TENSION   32
MEASURING TOWER PLUMB   33
TEMPORARY GUYING   33
TEMPORARY GUYS FROM EHS   34
TEMPORARY GUYS USING ROPES   34
LIGHTNING ABATEMENT   35
LIGHTNING PROTECTION THEORY   35
HOMEBREW STATIC DISSIPATORS   36
GROUNDING FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION   37
EXAMPLE TOWER GROUNDING METHOD FOR LIGHTNING PROTECTION   39
GROUNDING GUY CABLES   41
GROUNDING FEEDLINES   41
COMMERCIAL FEEDLINE GROUNDING CLAMPS   43
HOMEBREW FEEDLINE GROUNDING CLAMPS   43
ASSISTING FEEDLINE AND CABLE GROUNDING WITH CHOKE COILS   44
HOMEBREW GROUNDED ENTRANCE PANEL   44
GROUND ROD METAL SELECTION   46
SINKING GROUND RODS   47
IMPROVING GROUND ROD EFFECTIVENESS   47
CLIMBING GEAR   48
CLIMBING BELT   48
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT FALL ARREST   50
CLIMBING LANYARDS   50
CARABINERS   51
CLIMBING SAFELY WITH HARNESS AND LANYARDS   51
CARRYING TOOLS   52
HOMEBREW TOOL AND PART POUCHES   53
ROPES & KNOTS   53
MAKING YOUR OWN LANYARDS   54
COWTAILS LANYARD   54
POSITIONING LANYARD   55
CORROSION PREVENTION   55
DISSIMILAR METALS AND GALVANIC ACTION   55
CATHODIC PROTECTION   60
PROTECTING ANTENNAS FROM CORROSION   60
PROTECTING THREADED FASTENERS   61
ANTI-SEIZE FOR FASTENERS   61
THREAD LOCKING   62
WATERPROOFING CONNECTIONS   63
ACCESSORY MATERIALS AND SERVICES   64
INSULATING MATERIAL   64
ELECTRICAL TAPE   65
ACCESSORY STEP   65
ROTOR REPAIR   65
FIBERGLASS SPREADER RODS   65
CRIMP-ON PL-259 CONNECTORS   65
PULLEYS   65
TOWER BOLTS   66
TOOL AND PART POUCHES   66
COLD GALVANIZING PAINT   66
ROTATORS   66
SELECTION   66
ROTOR WIRING   67
ROTOR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION   68
PHYSICAL INSTALLATION TIGHTENING SEQUENCE   68
TROUBLESHOOTING ROTATION PROBLEMS   69
HYGAIN ROTOR PRIMER   69
HYGAIN ROTOR IDENTIFICATION   70
HYGAIN ROTOR LUBRICATION   70
HYGAIN ROTOR INTERNAL WIRING   70
HYGAIN ROTOR TYPICAL ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS   71
YAESU ROTOR PROBLEMS   71
ATTACHING COAX AND CONTROL WIRES   73
ROUTING CABLES   73
ATTACHING CABLES TO TOWER   73
FORMING ROTATION LOOPS IN THE COAX   74
MAINTAINING ANTENNA SWITCHBOX RELAYS   74
THRUST BEARINGS   75
ROHN TB3 THRUST BEARING   75
INSPECTING YOUR TOWER   77
INSPECTING NEW TOWER SECTIONS   77
INSPECTING USED TOWER SECTIONS   77
ASSESSING BENDS IN TOWER LEGS   78
CORRECTING MINOR BENDS   78
INSPECTION CHECKLIST FOR GUYED TOWER INSTALLATIONS   79
ASSEMBLING TOWER SECTIONS   82
PRE-ASSEMBLY ON THE GROUND   82
GUY ATTACHMENT POINTS.   82
GUY CABLES   83
TOP SECTION   83
GIN POLES   83
GIN POLE TYPES   83
HOMEBREW GIN POLE MAST   84
GIN POLE ROPE   85
RIGGING THE GIN POLE AND TURNING BLOCK   86
GIN POLE KEEPER LOOP   86
RAISING MASTS   87
CLIMBING MASTS   87
RAISING ANTENNAS   88
CHECKING ANTENNA TUNING BEFORE RAISING   88
TRAMMING   88
REMOVABLE TAG LINES   89
ALIGNING BEAMS   89
MINIMIZING ANTENNA INTERACTION   90
CHILD PROOFING A TOWER/ANTI-CLIMB GUARDS   90
ANTI CLIMB DOCUMENTATION   90
METHODS   90
TOWER STRENGTH INFORMATION   91
CALCULATING WIND LOAD AREA AND WIND LOAD   91
WIND SPEED ZONE   91
CALCULATION METHOD   92
NEWER CALCULATION METHODS   94
ANOTHER TAKE ON EFFECTIVE PROJECTED AREA   97
REFURBISHING USED TOWER   97
TOUCHING UP RUST SPOTS   97
SEPARATING OLD TOWER SECTIONS   98
ADAPTING CATV HARDLINE FOR AMATEUR USE   98
CHOOSING LENGTH   98
HARDLINE CONNECTORS FOR AMATEUR USE   99
WASPS   102
BUILDING YOUR OWN BALUN   102
ATTACHING ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES TO YOUR TOWER   105
AMfone - Dedicated to Amplitude Modulation on the Amateur Radio Bands