Ok Alan,  thanks for all the spec's.  Now, do all the coax cables 
retract into their own housing as the tower comes down? Sounds 
very complex, but also impressive! Jim WA6EKS

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan R.  Downing" <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 22:16:31 -0700
Subject: Re: What a tower!

The tower is triangular, and the bottom section is 87 inches 
wide.  The
tower is rated at 180 square feet of antenna at 150MPH, but that 
is fully
retracted.  When the wind reaches 55 MPH, the tower automatically 
retracts.
The tower also accepts mast diameter up to 8.6 inches.  You must 
specify
your chosen mast diameter when placing your order because the 
thrust
bearings are custom made.  You also must specify the total weight 
of your
mast, antennas, rotor(unless you order the rotating base), and 
ancillary
items such as coaxial cables and connectors.  The reason for this 
is that
the tower uses the elevator system of counter balances.  As the 
tower
extends, the counterweights lower.  When the tower retracts, the
counterweights rise.

Alan/KD7GC




Alan R.  Downing
Phoenix, AZ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 9:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What a tower!

Well Alan, I guess I should modify my subject and say, what an 
amazing
tower! What is the diameter of the bottom tower section?  I 
assume that the
thing requires no guy wires else they would also have to be able 
to retract
in to their bases when the tower was down.  You  may have also 
said  what
the max wind load with and without antennas is and the max 
antenna weight
but if so, I  missed that, too overwhelmed by the price.  73, Jim 
WA6EKS


-----Original Message-----
From: Alan R.  Downing
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 8:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: What a tower!

Jim, one amazing tidbit is that the tower goes from full 
retraction (43
feet), to full extension (170 feet), in 29 seconds.  
Interestingly, because
of slow ramp up and ramp down motor control, the antennas don't 
suffer any
extreme stress.

73


Alan R.  Downing
Phoenix, AZ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators 
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jim Gammon
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2014 7:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What a tower!

Man, I need some friends like that! Bet you could just put your
shack atop that tower thus running very short coaxes to the
antennas.  What a "treehouse!" Jim WA6EKS

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan R.  Downing" <[log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Date sent: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:34:03 -0700
Subject: Re: dayton

At Dayton, be sure to check out the 170 foot Luso tower that a
good friend
of mine bought.  It will be on display at Dayton, then
immediately trucked
to my friend's QTH where the base will be waiting for it; all 52
cubic yards
of 4000 PSI concrete.  The rotating substructure  will also be
installed on
the concrete base, and ready for the crane to lower the tower
onto it.  The
tower weighs in at 50,000 pounds.

Alan/KD7GC


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