Albums: WA7DUH And WB7CNV Tower Construction

WA7DUH And WB7CNV Tower Construction

Photo essay of tower project at the station of Linda WB7CNV and Steve WA7DUH. They live just outside of the Richland and West Richland city limits in Benton County. Project is to initially erect a 65 ft guyed tower, but to design it for 75 ft or higher. Benton County has an ordinance controlling "communications facilities" (BCC 11.65) which includes "communication towers and antennas." Many of the requirements are exempted for amateur radio towers and antennas not exceeding 65 ft.
138 images Submitted by WA7DUH Steve St... on Sat, 08/04/2012 - 11:19am

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One of three rebar cages for guy stations. Each guy station consists of a reinforced block of concrete 6ft x 4ft x 2ft high buried 4 ft below grade. That long 3/4 in rod is what the guy lines are tied to, and is buried in the concrete block. Each rod will sustain at least 8000 lbs of pull, which is about 4X overkill, since the worst case forces with an 88 mph wind is calculated to be 1000 lbs. Building code in Benton Co. requires survival of 88 mph winds.

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Uploaded on 08/04/2012 - 6:44pm by WA7DUH Steve St... 911 visits

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Uploaded on 08/09/2012 - 7:59am by WA7DUH Steve St... 901 visits

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Tower base hole as specificed will be 4ft x 4ft x 5ft deep. 1st 6 inches is gravel and sand for moisture drainage, followed by 4 cement blocks that hold the bottom rebar grid up into the poured concrete. Tower base legs stick down into the gravel/sand (below the concrete so as to drain any water that may form in the tower legs. Another rebar grid will be embedded in the poured concrete 42 inches above the bottom grid seen in the picture.

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Uploaded on 08/04/2012 - 11:39am by WA7DUH Steve St... 895 visits

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Basic process when digging all the holes-- dirt goes in the cart, Linda (WB7CNV) hauls away.

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Uploaded on 08/09/2012 - 7:59am by WA7DUH Steve St... 892 visits

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Uploaded on 08/09/2012 - 8:00am by WA7DUH Steve St... 883 visits

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Uploaded on 09/25/2012 - 11:03am by WA7DUH Steve St... 789 visits

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Adam loves Jessica Kabota.

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Uploaded on 08/14/2012 - 5:28pm by WA7DUH Steve St... 750 visits

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Yes, the droop is normal. Note the middle driven element has not been installed in this picture. The tree has to be removed.

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Uploaded on 09/25/2012 - 11:04am by WA7DUH Steve St... 749 visits

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Uploaded on 09/15/2012 - 7:35pm by WA7DUH Steve St... 748 visits

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Mast installed is 2 inch high strength galvanized steel about 8 feet long.

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Uploaded on 09/25/2012 - 10:57am by WA7DUH Steve St... 740 visits