[NCARC] Horsetooth Tower update

[Steve's email]

Hi folks-

It looks like our 4-bay 2M antenna may have contributed to the loss of the
1/2 Rohm cross-beam.  The antenna wind load was pretty high and may have
caused the whole cross-beam assembly to snap off in the high winds last
Friday.  It is amazing to think of the forces involved to snap this off.
The winds at Horsetooth must be amazing.

There is one other company affected having lost their antenna. It is making
replacement of the cross beam and antenna a bit more urgent to repair. It is
looking like next week will be when things start to happen, but that isn't
yet clear.

I've been in touch with the tower owners/manager (Scott Burkhardt) with
Crown Castle.  As George (AB0SF) has indicated, Scott has been very
accomodating and is himself a ham. They are likely to replace the Rohm
cross-beam at no charge to us,  and we may also be able to make use of their
tower crew to put up a new length of hardline and antenna.  I believe the
old antenna has been completely destroyed.  We will need to put up a low
wind-load antenna-- maybe a StationMaster or something similar.  We also
will need to supply a 125' or more length of 1/2" to 7/8" hardline and
connectors.

'73

-Steve, N7GN
NCARC President