[FARC] Fw: towers

Tue Apr 14 09:22:10 EDT 2009

These devices were covered in some detail about two years ago on 
contesting.com. Now the Loos device is designed and calibrated using 302/304 
1X19 Stainless Steel rigging cable. Typically for tower guying the material 
is EHS 1X7 steel strand. Simply put, using a different type of material will 
yield a different tension reading. So while the Loos device should be OK as 
an alternative cost effective device, the reading is subject to some unknown 
variance.
Typically as the tower stands, take tension readings of all guy wires and 
record these (existing) readings.
To adjust guy tensions, start and the first level (lowest) and go up from 
there. You have completely omitted what  or how you are doing about the 
tower plumb as you adjust guy tensions so I wonder if you totally understand 
the process of a plumb and tension on a tower. A P&T can be done with three 
to four people. One at each anchor location, with the third person is 
shifting back and fourth between the guy anchor and the transit used for 
adjusting the plumb. You will be passing around the tension device as one 
person adds or subtracts line tension while plumb is achieved.

Oh the local source of American tower, it has been an old standby for TV 
antenna use for a long time. Lots of it still up in this region. I don't 
know what the prices are, but you can also buy direct from Tessco in Hunt 
Valley. You don't need a business account, just money. In addition to the 
familiar Rohn 25, 45, 55 series towers, there are compatible versions made 
by Nello and Valmont. There is a customer will call pick up area if you have 
a truck.

Dan K3SKE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <BHo7825 at aol.com>
To: <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 22:18
Subject: [FARC] towers

> For the what it is worth file, recently while looking for a local
> distributor for American brand tower on the Internet, I came across an 
> interesting
> article written by an amateur from the western US who is in the  tower
> installation business concerning the ten most common tower mistakes.  One, 
> in
> particular caught my eye, that being proper guying and  tensioning. Having
> installed and owned several guyed towers, I was curious  about the correct 
> way
> of tensioning guy cables. His recommendation was to use a  simple and 
> fairly
> inexpensive ($90.00) device called a Loos tensioner. It clips  onto the 
> guy
> cable and has a spring loaded scale which you use to adjust your
> turnbuckles to the proper guy tension. These devices are available from a 
> company in
> Annapolis, Md., called P-Yacht .com. If this sounds like it has  something
> to do with boats, you are correct as this device is also used to  adjust
> tension on cables for sails on sailboats. For anyone thinking about 
> putting up
> a guyed tower or may already have one, this sounds like a  good guesswork
> saving device. I have ordered one and am anxious to try  it. If there is
> anyone who may have used one of these previously, let me  know your 
> feelings on
> the subject.  And as for the tower distributor, I  found a place in
> Stevensville, Md. that sells American tower, Centronics,  Inc.   73  Bill 
> KA3HJC
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