yes, I get that part of it, but why would a japanese company particularly 
care if the local tower nazi's in the middle of the US have a problem with 
someone putting up a tower?
I just find it very odd that they require an environmental impact study 
before they will sell their product to you...I suppose perhaps they don't 
wish to have towers returned to them after purchase, or after initial 
installation...high cost to the company in that case.
The big thing about cell towers in an urban, or semi-urban environment is 
that they are often on building tops out of the eye of the general 
public...but you are right, a 300 foot cell tower seems to be perfectly 
acceptible in an open field in the middle of a city, but a 68 foot radio 
tower in someones backyard is completely unacceptible lol.
Just like if the city pays an artist to paint a building wall downtown it's 
ok, but if someone isn't payed, and they put some decent art on a building, 
the city fines the building owner if they don't remove it.
there is huge double standard when it comes to civil government.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Howard, W A 9 Y B W" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 2:01 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Luso towers

> Colin,
>
> The environmental impact study would probably study how it may affect the
> environment visually because towers and antennas are ugly.  We get a lot 
> of
> lip about our antennas, however, people don't mind 10's of thousands of 
> cell
> towers ruining the country side and scenery.
>
> Go figure!
>
> Howard #3
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 1:03 PM
> Subject: Re: Luso towers
>
>
>> wow, this sounds a little over the top.  I can sort of understand why 
>> they
>> want soil sample studies, because they want to insure the soil can 
>> support
>> the tower etc...I assume it's an unguuyed tower...but an environmental
>> impact study is quite a stretch.
>> that would be like a gas station asking for an environmental impact study
>> when they sell you gas for your car lol.
>> kind of doesn't make sense from a business perspective.
>>
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 5:44 AM
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: Luso towers
>>
>>> Jim, The Luso engineer only has to be present when the tower is being
>>> installed, not for the base digging and pouring.  However, copies of all
>>> permits, including soil studies and environmental impact statements must
>>> be
>>> submitted to Luso for their review and approval.  My friend says that
>>> providing copies of all of the paperwork, along with soil and impact
>>> studies, costs several thousand dollars.  There is nothing inexpensive
>>> about
>>> putting up a Luso tower.  However, when it is all said and done, you 
>>> have
>>> an
>>> absolutely top notch tower.
>>>
>>> 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: Sunday, December 15, 2013 10:55 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Luso towers
>>>
>>> Alan, how large is the foundation for one of these towers?  Does the
>>> engineer from Japan have to supervise the installation of the base?  Jim
>>> WA6EKS
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- 
>>> From: Alan R. Downing
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 10:46 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Luso towers
>>>
>>> The width of the bottom section is 65 inches, less than I would have
>>> guessed.  Width of the top section is 18 inches.  I don't know what the
>>> foot
>>> print of the rotating base is, but that may well be significantly larger
>>> than the first section of the tower itself.
>>>
>>> Here is an interesting fact, when buying any of these towers, you must
>>> pay
>>> for a Luso construction engineer to travel to your station from Japan, 
>>> to
>>> supervise the entire preparation and installation activities..  You must
>>> pay
>>> all of his expenses, including airline tickets, hotel room, etc.  The
>>> reason
>>> for this is to assure that the tower is installed correctly.  My friend
>>> that
>>> just bought the 90 foot model, had to pay around $5 grand for the
>>> engineers
>>> presence.
>>>
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Alan R. Downing
>>> Phoenix, AZ
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 10:36 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: Luso towers
>>>
>>> heavy duty alright at around 15 tonnes...that sounds a bit on the heavy
>>> side?  A heavy duty 68 foot del hi only weighs maybe 500 pounds
>>> total...this
>>>
>>> must be a very very large tower? that is, very large spread at the 
>>> bottom
>>> to
>>>
>>> support so much weight at the top?
>>> Obviously a 68 foot del hi is only rated for about 12 square feet of 
>>> wind
>>> load though lol.
>>> I can't imagine shipping on a beast like that haha.
>>> 73
>>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 8:14 PM
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Subject: Luso towers
>>>
>>>> Hello list,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone on the list looked into Luso towers when shopping for a new
>>>> one?
>>>> For those that aren't aware of Luso, it is a Japanese tower builder of
>>>> heavy
>>>> duty electrically operated crankup towers in heights from 90 feet to
>>>> over
>>>> 300 feet.  They accommodate antenna, rotor, and mast weight of up to
>>>> 2200
>>>> pounds.  The 150 foot model is rated to accommodate 140 square foot of
>>>> antenna, and goes from a fully retracted height of 42 feet to a fully
>>>> extended height of 145 feet in 29 seconds.    Masts of up to 8.6 inch
>>>> diameters are accommodated with multiple thrust bearings.  Each model 
>>>> is
>>>> available with a number of options, including a rotating base, and
>>>> automatic
>>>> retraction when winds exceed a preset level.  The 150 foot model weighs
>>>> 29700 pounds excluding options.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> A friend just took delivery of the 90 foot model with the rotating base
>>>> and
>>>> automatic retraction system.  Because of my recent good news on the
>>>> health
>>>> front, I am seriously thinking of ordering the 120 foot tower with the
>>>> rotating base, automatic retraction, 4 inch mast with thrust bearings,
>>>> and
>>>
>>>> a
>>>> prop pitch rotor with Green Heron controller.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> If anyone has investigated the Luso offerings, I'd appreciate 
>>>> discussing
>>>> them with you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Merry Christmas everyone, and a very happy New Year.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Best 73
>>>>
>>>> Alan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>