Posted 4/16/06
Well, the actual work for this project started clear back in 2002 with the digging of the base and later cement work. However, the top section did not get installed until Thursday, April 13, 2006! Funny thing is, I cannot find my snap shots of the digging of the hole or cement work. So, this page will be updated when those are found. :-)
We now step back to June, 2005 when the grounding and wiring process began. The large ground wire interconnects all the grounds together from the tower to the ham shack and to the house wiring ground.
We now progress to July of 2005 and the tower (minus the top section) is up. During this particular work party the rotor was installed and tested.
We now jump to November of 2005 and our first attempt to install the top section with the mast and vertical attached. This turned out to be quite a fiasco!
It turns out that the gin pole we had borrowed was just too short to handle the tower section, mast and vertical plus it was windy. After considerable discussion, we decided to shorten the top mast to help with the top heavy balance problem.
So, we left the beam on top of the house and strapped the top tower section with mast and vertical to the bottom of the tower. After calling it quits for the day, the group retired to Elsa's for a Mexican dinner! Then winter arrived. The next shot shows the tri band beam on top of the house covered in snow. ARGH! If you look carefully, you can see the top section at the base of the tower with the vertical attached. Also, there is an Isopole antenna there that will be used for APRS on a side arm once the job is complete.
Now we skip to April, 2006. Again, Lou, N8KXM is the top man on the job. The gin pole has been lengthened by several feet. On the bottom left you can see Lou preparing the gin pole and on the bottom right you see Dave, WB8WIQ and Bill, KA8ZBW working the lines.
This time the top section went up with only a small hitch with the rotor and in no time things were looking pretty good! The top section was finally up! Once the guy wires were attached and tightened it was time for the tri band beam to go up.
Once the U-Bolts were in place things started to wind down for the days efforts. Below, top left, Bill and Keith are chastised for stressing their climbing belts!
Now, this does not end the saga, but simply completes yet another chapter. Yet to go up is a side arm for the Isopole for APRS, a side arm for 6 meters and a side arm support for the G5RV to cover the rest of the HF bands!
So, watch for further updates regarding this project!
73....Keith, WA8ZWJ
