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  1. #1
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    Simon43's Avatar
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    Just in case you need this - a 40 foot antenna mast!

    If you ever get the urge to install a 40 foot tall radio mast in your back garden, then you can rely on TeakDoor to give you step-by-step details

    First, excavate a 1x1 metre hole that's about 1.8 metres deep ...


    Place the base of the mast in the hole and start pouring in concrete



    The quickest way to fill a hole of this size is to get the cement delivered by truck



    After filling is complete, adjust the mast alignment by kicking it ...



    When the concrete is dry, lift the first 3-metre mast section into position



    Now the highly skilled mast techie, (complete with safety harness and flip-flops), can start to attach each mast section. A gin pole and pulley (the long pole that's attached to the mast in this photo), is used to assist lifting each mast section so that it's high enough to easy fit onto the previous mast section.



    Repeat the process until all mast sections have been attached



    Attach lightening conductor atop the mast and finish off.

    Stand well back and wait for the wrath of your neighbours who now suffer from extensive TV interference

    Simon

  2. #2
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    Yet another job well done by expert craftsman. dare say any western company could do the same with higher pay, education, union dues, mandatory tea breaks, safety man and of course the inspections by a multitude of im-potent inspectors. All that technology and a guy with a 5th grade education completes his project on time under budget and without accident.

    Has anyone shot this with the level yet for verticallity trueness? I know ridiculous question.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43
    When the concrete is dry, lift the first 3-metre mast section into position
    Lets see, he spec calls for a 24 hour cure before removing the forms, then three days before you can place a load on green concrete and then....bla, bla bla

    The contractor didn't wait for any curing whatsoever, just wait til the concrete would hold his weight and commence erection of the tower sections. What was the concrete spec for this tower base support BTW? What spec you say?

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    I can't see why they checked the level after the conrete was poured ? There's no chance of adjustment with 1.8m of concrete around it. Even if it is still fresh.

  5. #5
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    The company who installed the mast are highly experienced and install the majority of radio station and cellular masts in south Thailand. My puny 12 metre mast was nothing when compared to the 60 metre masts that they usually install.

    I left the concrete base spec to their own experience. Having seen the large mass of this base, I would say that you could balance a very fat elephant atop my mast and have no problems with it being stressed, (I mean the mast, not the elephant - who probably would be somewhat concerned).

    At a height of 12 metres, and with only a lightweight antenna atop (not yet installed), I'm happy to impose my puny 73Kg on the mast when I climb it.

    The Thai spec for curing the concrete was to pour it at 8am and install the mast around 4pm the same day.

    For vertical trueness, he used a plumbline to check (sorry I do not have a photo), and it was spot on correct.

    [at]Superman - immediately after pouring, he checked and adjusted the mast alignment. At that stage, he was able to move the mast slightly using his foot.

    Simon

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    What are you using this for?

  7. #7
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    What are you using this for?
    It's for my amateur radio shortwave antenna, a big, ugly bugger that looks like this:



    Simon

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43
    After filling is complete, adjust the mast alignment by kicking it ...
    Quote Originally Posted by Simon43
    When the concrete is dry, lift the first 3-metre mast section into position
    Quote Originally Posted by ltnt
    The contractor didn't wait for any curing whatsoever, just wait til the concrete would hold his weight and commence erection of the tower sections
    they are still wearing the same clothes

    don't you have specs to include changing their clothes every couple of days

  9. #9
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    Why should they change their clothes - it was all done on the same day!

    Simon

  10. #10
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    that is what I thought, except that concrete takes longer than a few hours to set enough to put some strain on it

  11. #11
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    Indeed Dr Andy, it will no doubt take a few days to completely dry. For this low height mast, I'm not concerned about the stress placed on the concrete base during installation. The antenna that will be mounted on the mast is very lightweight as well

  12. #12
    euston has flown

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    Did you have much hassle getting a thai operators licence?

  13. #13
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    [at]hazz - yes! I got my HF licence about 5 years ago, after waiting for 3 years or so. You can only get a licence if you either take/pass the radio exam (in written Thai), or if you already have an equivalent licence from one of the few countries that Thailand has a reciprocal agreement with ==> Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.

    If you do not already have a licence from one of these countries, then there is fat chance of you getting a Thai licence

    Simon

  14. #14
    Newbie

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    Bet the neighbours love you. I know nothing about amateur radio......what sort of distance do you get with your rig?

  15. #15
    Hifaluten Member
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    ^ hehe he can surely get anyone in the world ... Simon I guess u know the King is an amateur radio operator ... he is on sometimes.

    CQDX

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr
    CQDX
    QSL via the bureau

  17. #17
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    ^ hehe eQSL is all the rage now mate

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    .-.-. ...-.- (ex SM6EGF, WAS, WAC, QRP 2W 40M)

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat
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    looks like you've flushed a few out simon

  20. #20
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    oh dear...

  21. #21
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    What??! I fell asleep

    Actually I find amateur radio a bit like masturbation. It's a solitary activity that you can pursue for hours, sometimes with great satisfaction, yet at other times leaving you utterly frustrated, deprived of sleep, and your loved one cannot fathom out why you prefer to disappear into your shack and twiddle your knobs...

    I got a ham licence about 30 years ago in the UK, but never really used it because I found it all too boring. Now that I am of advanced years and unable to sustain intelligent conversation with all but the dumbest of bar girls, I find chatting with my fellow hams strangely satisfying

    And if I'm unable to raise them over the shortwave ether, I can always drop them an email...

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Have you had a visit from the Army special ops to find out what you are doing?

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat
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    Have you had a visit from the Army special ops to find out what you are doing?
    I'm waiting for some busy-body to poke their nose in and tell me that 'farang cannot' etc. In which case, I will take great satisfaction in waving my Thai licence in front of their nose.

    Unlike most civilised countries, where planning permission is required, (and often refused), for such masts, Thailand grants licence-holders the right to erect a mast up to 60 metres in height, without so much as a 'kor tot'.

    In my case, 60 metres would cause a problem, since the runway of Phuket International Airport is approximately 300 metres away. I'm limited to a maximum height of 15 metres, (so 12 for the mast and a couple for the antenna on the top).

    Out of view is a nearby palm tree which is maybe 19 metres in height, so I reckon I'm OK.

    This set up allows me worldwide shortwave communication, which is useful if my mobile phone battery is flat.

    It's also a great chat-up line in the local bar 'do you fancy coming back to my place and seeing my 40 footer?'

    Simon

  24. #24
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    BTW, when the contractor kicked the base to align the thing he also disturbed the concrete below and this could leave "air gaps between the mast base support and the concrete. Nowhere have I witnessed the consolidation of concrete in a Thai pour. Since as you say this is a very light load I seriously doubt there will ever be a problem.

    I realize that you probably do not experience any interference with the airline or traffic control at the Phuket Airport? Surely that frequency is blocked?

    Does your wife hang cloths on your antenna? Your SW antenna? sorry almost made a fetal mistake there.

  25. #25
    sabaii sabaii
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    Don't you need a warning light on that mate ?

    Your aerial is higher than this


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