VK4HO - Ham Radio and Photography

If you are thinking about installing a Tower then I'd like to offer the following suggestions :

• Talk to your neighbours to try and get a "feel" about how they would react to having a tower built next door to them - you will still have to live next to them and they may be there for quite some time.

• Speak to your local Council/Building Authority about what they require, and what they will charge you, for your area before you decide to go ahead with the purchase and/or construction of your tower. This may include a certified Engineer's Report, Soil Analysis Report, manufacurer's details, etc. If at all possible, speak to one of the Building Inspectors - these guys are at the coal face and can provide valuable practical insight as to what you need to provide and what to do.

• Speak to your Tower manufacurer/supplier to see what documentation is provided, either with the tower or at an additional cost - you may have to engage the services of a certified Engineer or others to provide the documentation required by your local Building Authority.

• Speak with your insurance company to discuss how the installation of this tower will affect your policy(s).

• Take into consideration such things as access to your proposed site by earthmoving equipment, concrete trucks, concrete pumping contractors, cranes, or other equipment.

• Check for and find out where underground water/power/sewer lines go. Don't forget about any underground sprinkler systems. Also ensure that your pride and joy will not be anywhere near overhead powerlines - think safety! If in doubt - ask!

• If you are going to climb your tower then always, always, use a proper climbing harness, preferably one that incorporates one or more fall-arrest lanyards.

• Click on this link, download the Powerpoint Presentation, and READ IT! - it makes for some sobering reading but you need to make informed decisions.

• Never climb your tower when you are alone - have someone on the ground stay and watch what is happening so that they can call your local emergency services in case of an accident. Also, if you do have an accident and you are still suspended on the tower, then make sure that this person stresses to the emergency service that there is the immediate danger of suspension trauma.

• For my tower installation I hired a contractor with a three tonne excavator to clear the site and to dig the 2.1m x 2.1m x 1m deep hole - took him about 70 minutes to get the job done and was the best $120 I've ever spent - if I tried to dig the hole by hand I'd still be digging! Mind you, the contractor was a bit over-zealous - the hole ended up being 2.3m wide in one direction.

Anyway, have a look at the photos below to see what took place with my installation: