Talkin' About Cheap Towers

[WildRoot]

I've got a pretty mean example of Steve's Interceptor 10K antenna in my basement, and I would like to put it up this year — although, Jesus God, I know my wife has other plans for me, including re-roofing, fixing the rotten spots around the house, bleh bleh bleh... but I just wanna put my tenner up!

I may have to settle on 40 foot. In my dreams I would have an 80 foot tower with a 10 foot concrete base and a 15 foot ground spike... But, as I said, the wife isn't gonna let me do that, not all at once. Might have to build up to it, so I may have to settle for 40 foot. For the time being.

I think an antenna tower is the way to go, but they want a lotta money for those damned things, in the thousands of dollars brand new. I've heard that some folks are using electrical conduit to build towers, which impresses me as a rather cheap route. I would definitely prefer to build the thing, if I had a gameplan.

So, come on with the gameplans for building a tower!

['Doc]

You're right, it is a cheap route. In more ways than one. Conduit, or the top rail of fences do not have the strength that 'gin-u-whine' commercial tower sections do no matter how you brace it. That really does mean more than you might think.
Even with the high cost of 'new' tower, nothing says you have to do it all at one time. Put in a pier, and maybe a couple of sections. Wait a while, add to it. A couple of sections would at least get something as tall as the roof of an average house. Probably wouldn't even have to guy it till it was 30 - 40 feet tall (depending on the tower of course). I'm sure it would take longer, but it would definitely be worth it, at least to me. When you get right down to it, there really are no 'cheap' towers.
- 'Doc

[WildRoot]

Well, I'm gonna build one anyway, and it's gonna be a butt-load of trouble, but I'm gonna make it pivot or maybe even telescope, but I'd prefer to build it out of scrap.

[linx]

Hey Wildroot,
Around here, Rohn 25G sells for $20 per 10 ft section. I can buy a 40 ft tower for about $80 and it would probably have a rotor plate in it for future useage.

Look around on Craigslist, or find an old house with a tower and just stop and ask if they want to get rid of it. I bet most folks do. Take most of rural Kentucky for example. There's no cable lines. If you want to get TV you have to have a tower or a satellite. If I drive up to Kentucky I could throw a rock and hit 100 towers, probably most which are not in use anymore.

I'd never buy tower new, and 40 ft aint that bad. I've had 40 ft for years now, and it's the perfect size, especially with high winds.

[721HACKSAW]

When it came time for me to get a tower I got on my local channel and told everyone listening I was in the market for a used tower. Within 5 minutes I had a phone number of a local guy that had some in his yard. I bought 60' of used Rohn 20 with some other used brackets for $100, it was in great shape just some very light rust. I concreted part of a section in the ground and have approximatly 50' standing, bolted to the eave of my garage at 22', it is not guyed at this time but I will be making improvements soon. Craigslist is another good site for local sales.

[WildRoot]

Well, I've had my eye on a couple of unused towers around here. One is right down the street at an abandoned loading dock, about 40 foot, and the other is an old radio tower that was used for a local Christian radio station... They've got a good 200 foot red and white tower, properly guyed, with not one damned antenna on it! Seems they removed their antennas long ago and switched to satellite dish — they've got two or three of them out there.

Every time I drive by it I just shake my head. Lotta good tower going to waste.

[linx]

Just remember, b/c you don't see an antenna, doesn't mean it's not in use. A lot of the lower band AM channels actually use the tower itself FOR the antenna. They may have that 200 footer wired up to be the antenna.

[Bombero]

Hey WildRoot....if your wife gets upset cause you ain't doing all the 'honey do's'...

Can I have all your equipment?

[WildRoot]

Hey WildRoot....if your wife gets upset cause you ain't doing all the 'honey do's'... Can I have all your equipment?

Hey, Bombero, you might have sold me this equipment, which is what **Censored** her off in the first place.

And, no, I didn't realize that commercial AM used the tower itself for the antenna. Makes a lot more sense now, but I think I'll stop by that station and ask for a ten-cent tour. Who knows, they might have some old tower sections laying around, and I know how to get in with them Christians — offer to mow and trim their lawns.

Gets 'em every time. <---(slam dunk)

Seriously, I am one of "them Christians" and my wife is The Church Lady. Hell-raisin' Church Lady.

[Tinman590]

Hey Wildroot,
Around here, Rohn 25G sells for $20 per 10 ft section. I can buy a 40 ft tower for about $80 and it would probably have a rotor plate in it for future useage.

Look around on Craigslist, or find an old house with a tower and just stop and ask if they want to get rid of it. I bet most folks do. Take most of rural Kentucky for example. There's no cable lines. If you want to get TV you have to have a tower or a satellite. If I drive up to Kentucky I could throw a rock and hit 100 towers, probably most which are not in use anymore.

I'd never buy tower new, and 40 ft aint that bad. I've had 40 ft for years now, and it's the perfect size, especially with high winds.

Where can you buy those tower sections? are you a long way from NC? Ive got a 40 footer out but I need a couple more sections

[linx]

I'm in TN. Based on you guys' reaction, you're making me want to get into the tower business, lol.

[Tinman590]

I'm in TN. Based on you guys' reaction, you're making me want to get into the tower business, lol.

Haha linx, Yeah Id buy one from you for $50.00, see already making profit

[WildRoot]

Yeah, found out today that the Christian Radio Station has been out of business for about 5 years. Strangely, all of that gear is just sitting down there, going to waste. Tower, dishes, cables, and who-knows-what hardware in the building itself. Damn, I'm getting interested in this. Wouldn't it be sweet to own a station? Yes it would! Or even pieces of a station!

[WildRoot]

Well, I is blessed... Driving out by the lake today, I saw a piece of property "for sale by owner" — it was a lot, a house, and whaddaya know, a 40 foot Rohn in the backyard. I stopped, got the guy's phone number off the sign, and gave him a call. Yep, he'll sell the tower separate, seeing as how it doesn't exactly add to the value of the house. $120 if I'll go disassemble and remove it. Sounds like a deal, and I didn't have to drive to Tennessee to get it.