[SMCARA] Rohn type antenna towers new or used

[Clarke, Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS]

Jim,

Well, if you can find some decent Rohn 25 tower sections with uncompromised galvanization, they can be a good deal.  Especially if obtained via the "it's yours if you take it down" basis!  Rohn 11 and some knockoff brands are pretty light weight for ham use, unless you are going to swing a small VHF beam or top mount a vertical. They tend to be more difficult to climb also.

What I mean by uncompromised galvanization is that there is no or minima rust on it.  Some minor rust can be ground off and cold galvanizing coating (do they even make such stuff anymore?) slathered on, but this will not last as long as the original stuff that hasn't been nicked or flaked off.

Trying to recover the ground rods from an installation would probably be an exercise in futility. New is probably the way to go.  Not sure regarding whether Chinese sourced rods are any good or not.  As I recall, they all are plated steel.  We have some folks in the club who were in the tower business and could probably speak with some authority as opposed to my anecdotal experience! 

Remember, "Bigger (taller) is better" when speaking of antennas!

Tom/W4OKW

-----Original Message-----
From: SMCARA [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Wieldt
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2015 5:05 PM
To: SMCARA at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [SMCARA] Rohn type antenna towers new or used

As I drive around the county anymore since getting my tech,  I cannot help but notice all of the antennas on masts with rotors left over from analog TV days.  Is there any salvage value to these or is it better to just bite the bullet and buy all new?  I would think that the owners would be quite happy 
to let you take them away.   I do see a few Directv dishes attached to some 
so I guess that makes them keepers.

Another question is whether or not these old structures might have the three
8 foot long copper  grounding rods and provisions presently recommended for 
triangular lattice towers.   If I surf around, I find that most supply seems 
to be from China through Alilbaba.   Does copper plated iron bar qualify? 
What does the smart money look for?  KC3WJA 

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