I got a work gang of MIRO guys together on September 1, 2003 to hoist the new tower and antenna up. I laid the antenna end of the tower across a picnic table and then attached the tower base to the hinge base in the concrete. Then I installed the rotator and mast. We then attached a "come-along" to the tower about midpoint on one end and to the base of a fairly stout rhododendron bush on the other. We had to muscle the thing up at first because the angle of the come-along cable was too low. We walked it up by hand at first, then got a bunch of 2x4s with notches cut in the ends to continue pushing it higher than we could reach, and to where the come-along could start to be effective.
This shows the wierd contraption we put together to hold the tower up just high enough to attach the antenna to the mast. One 2x4 supported the assembly directly underneath while two more supported it on the sides to shore up any lateral movement. The ladder was leaned against the end of the mast and another 2x4 helped support it so it wouldn't put too much lateral pressure on the mast. The tower crew, from left to right:
Unfortunately, due to the frenzy of the getting the tower vertical, I don't have any photos if the final raising. The one memorable part of it was when we finally got the thing almost vertical and it started to take off. We had to scream at Carter stop winching on the come-along, otherwise he would have pulled the whole darn thing right over. We had to then jocky it back and forth, with ropes on one side and the come-along on the other, to get the bolt hole for the hinge anchor into place. Once that was done, there was a cheer of victory and a sigh of relief.
The tower and beam, raised at long last. Looks a little taller than it was when we took it down, doesn't it? That's because I added another ten foot section that I scored from Steve, K7LXC, at Champion Radio. The total height is now about 35 feet, which is exactly the height limit I'm allowed without having to get a variance from the city.
Another angle from the side of the house.
The antenna from the street. Not really too conspicuous, is it?
And lastly, here is a cozy winter scene after the tower and beam had been in service for several months.
