tower installation

[mistman250]

Ive searched the archives and found nothing on this topic so forgive me if it somehow is a repeat. I recently aquired a used 32' aluminum tower that I put a 10' piece of aluminum conduit on as a pushup. I plan on mounting a Imax 2000 on it and setting the base of the antenna at around 35'. Here comes the questions.

1. Do I put on the antenna before I stand the tower?
2. What is the best method for standing the tower up?
3. Should I pour a nice concrete pad to set it on? (going to stand it next to metal pole barn and clamp it at 12')
4. Will need about 150' run of coax, brand and size suggestions?
5. Grounding?
6. Also will it hurt to bury an AC power cable in the same ditch with the Coax?

I am fairly new at this and have only been doing it a year. This will be my first attempt at setting up a base station. I am currently looking for a Galaxy 2517 to start out with.
Thanks in advance.
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[Ricky]

When i put up my 25' tower i mounted the antenna (A99) to it first. What i did was dig a 2' hole into the ground, lean the tower against my pool deck, and u bolted it to my rayling. i got the tower up by putting the top of it on the rayling, so its on an angle. Then, i pushed the tower from the bottom, and slid it up till it was 90 degrees.

in your case, i would lean up the tower agansed the structurethen get on the roof and put the antenna on the tower, then dig a hole at the bottom where you want the base of the tower to be, then push the tower up, then put it in the hole you dug. then put u bolts on the structure to support it.

i tried to explain it as good as i could. i hope i helped

[80 meter man]

1. Do I put on the antenna before I stand the tower?------------Yes
2. What is the best method for standing the tower up?---Same as you would stand up a 40 foot ladder with three guys. One holding the base and two hand over hand raising the tower.
3. Should I pour a nice concrete pad to set it on? (going to stand it next to metal pole barn and clamp it at 12')---Yes
4. Will need about 150' run of coax, brand and size suggestions?---LMR-400 will work great for that run. If your going to burry it then you need the LMR-400DB
5. Grounding?--Yes, three 8 foot ground rods one for each tower leg attached to each leg with clamps and 0ga wire or flat braid.
6. Also will it hurt to bury an AC power cable in the same ditch with the Coax?---No, AC power in the same ditch is OK

[SheepDog]

As for raising it, when we raised mine, we had a 4 feet deep hole dug. We put the tower (30 feet, with antenna ATTACHED) at the base of the hole. We tied a rope to the top rung of the top section of the tower. I got on the roof and my Dad lifted it off of the ground and walked it up a bit. I then pulled the rope as he walked it up keeping it from falling back and pulling it up at the same time. At a certain point, the tower will just fall into the hole and make one heck of a racket. Then we just leveled it out and poured the concrete around it. If it was any taller I would HIGHLY suggest a MINIMUM of 3-4 guys for SAFETY reasons.

[Tezterz]

One other thing, you said you wanted to put your tower on a concrete pad, if it was me I would make sure to dig the hole you are going to pour your concrete in at least 40" deep to get below the frost line so your antenna doesn't rise in the cold winters there.

[TP-272]

I'm not sure I would bury that style of tower... the supporting vertical column is pressed galvanized sheet steel... I would think it would be more likely to rust out quickly, and by the looks of the base you provided, I'd probably make a good level concrete pad, then use concrete anchors to attach it, after painting the base plate, and help brace it against the barn like you planned to already. Just my two cents.

On tube based towers I've generally sunk a trio of heavy duty pipe into the wet concrete, then set the tower down on those, using a short section of tower to keep the pipes spaced correctly as the concrete sets up.

[mistman250]

i probably wont have much help so keep the ideas coming. I appreciate the responses

[80 meter man]

Get some help even if you have to hire a couple of guys for a day to help you. Putting up a tower is a several man job and can't be done safely with one or two guys.

[ksphotoguy]

I am wanting to put up a tower like yours but I want to have a hinged base on the tower to allow for ease in making repairs etc. talk with a welder in your area, maybe they will have an idea for something like that

[mistman250]

EXCELLENT IDEA ksphotoguy. I could weld up a hinged base made of steel and then bolt it to the existing base. Raising and lowering could then be done with some sort of cable attached to the barn (possibly atv winch) then with the hinge you wouldnt have to worry about the tower going side to side when lifted. possible build the base with a big piano hinge.

If I bolt to barn at the 12' mark do you guys still see a need to guy the tower at a higher point?

[lonesome 500]

no 1.....be careful........that tower looks a ''little'' light weight....braded

will work fine for a omni or even small beam

3 ground rods are not '''always''' a necessity....use what ya got first...can be added later if needed

you could connect tower to the barn via wall support

[countryboy]

if you can put the antenna on first. i did not and had to clime my 25' tower and put my Imax2000 with gpk kit on top. an i am scared of hights. but i did it. i was able to put the bace of the tower aginst the house and pick up the top and walk it up so to speak. the further i got the heaver it got. but i did it .

good luck with your tower.

[mistman250]

thanks for all the feedback guys. I think I know haw I plan to do it now. I will post some pics of the finished project when I can.