Tilting HAM Radio Antenna Tower - Part 1

Tilting HAM radio antenna tower. A brief video describing the overall construction of a tilting 56' HAM radio antenna tower that I built. The tip of the Comet GP6 is at 80'. A Cushcraft 13B2 is at approximately 70', a Cuscfart A50-5S is at 65" (not shown in this video), a Hygain Explorer 14 (with 40m) at 60', and an Alpha Delta DXA at 55'.

[@donmccormick856]

Marc that is the most incredible tower system I have ever seen. Very well built and fantastic explanation of how it all works together.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Don. It gets used every summer as I add new antennas and adjust others. I really wish everyone had one. This really was a fun project to build. Take care.

[@edwardnemec7611]

After watching videos on tilting towers I decided to install my used antenna tower I bought at a garage sale from a Ham guy. I use a roller assembly on my 1 1/2 story roof to reach over to the winch on my van. Just had it down for a new TV preamp. Made the base hinged 3/8 plate and used 4 corner 3/4'' SS threaded rods in a 30 bag concreate base. Thanks for the nice video.

[@michaelzehrfeld7766]

Marc - this is really "heavy metal"! Compliments for your job.....very well done.....perfekt made!

[@nelsonwalker7105]

what a nice shop and very professional workmanship

[@BBMCLM]

Great explanation of your tilt tower plate. Professional looking install!! Thanks for the video.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your comments. I am happy that you enjoyed it. I get so much enjoyment watching others on KZbin that I am happy that I can give back a bit.

[@brianshanahan3878]

WOW! Excellent design and workmanship! Plus the video coverage and the drone footage is priceless! BRAVO!!!

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your comments Brian. I tried to make a video that would be quick to watch and informative. Part three should be up next week. Take care. Marc.

[@daveengstrom9250]

Thats quite a project. My hats off to you.

[@bigalbert1598]

Excellent construction

[@XPFTP]

shop , skill to use it , tower... respect. damn nice. have to say best setup ive seen on here in long time.. class act old man

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks XPFTP.

[@muthafuhcka]

Great informative video and what a quality, hinged tower install.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Ronald. I appreciate your positive feedback.

[@RGC198]

Very impressive. Well done!!

[@FABARMBOY]

Excellent work!Professional work!Congrats.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Antonios. I tried to do my best. There are many things that can be improved but it has been working relatively well so far. I’m just so happy that I don’t have to climb that tower whenever I want to make any antenna changes. Marc VE3BOE

[@gingercat555]

Great to see your technical skills along with your engineering ability ... GREAT WORK ... love your work shop that must be a great help in preparing for this installation ... your qth looks fantastic as well ... thanks for showing how its all done.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your positive comments. Yes I am fortunate to have a workshop that makes this sort of project more enjoyable. Before moving to this home I used to do all my hobby fabrications in a small single car garage in a tiny home in a high density residential neighbourhood. Rural living has some advantages. Thanks again. Marc. VE3BOE

[@mostafaismail43]

Amazing work

[@olivertaylor8788]

Good design,,well built,,good job...nice..

[@hammerdodger0]

Great install

[@dren2jdh544]

I like the setup!

[@builditsquare]

Nice job!

[@geckoproductions4128]

Very nice indeed. Well designed, well constructed, and very nice video too. Thanks and 73 de Mike N5RXP look forward to meeting you down the log.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Tanks for your comments.

[@rico1319]

You are one smart guy! Job well done! Beautiful tower and Antennas! Also looks like you found an excellent spot to settle down! Beautiful workshop also!! Hope to work you Someday, best of 73‘s W5PN

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Rico, thanks for your nice comments. Yes I am very fortunate to have found this nice place. I moved here about 10 years ago. I wasn’t a Ham when I moved here but I realized that it was a great location to start in this hobby. All the best to you. 73. VE3BOE

[@DenisRule]

Nice setup Marc.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Denis. It was a lot of fun putting it together. 73's.

[@SherwoodR631]

great video - thanks for sharing

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for watching!

[@the11metersd.x.channel.55]

Fine business Sir. I am presently constructing a 50ft tower using the Rohns plans for a 45G tower on a tilt plate.. 11and a quarter inch , equilateral triangle.. The cost to order from Rohns , and ship to Thailand was ridiculous.. around 5000 Dollars.. Local build. with improvements 550 USD. No Brainer..Home brew Rocks..

[@MikeRPrevost]

Beautiful! I'm building something similar, but with a 33' x 5.5" diameter x 1/4" thick steel pole as a lifting point (back guyed). This pole can also support an antenna. I like the multiple attachment points to the tower. I'm using combination of 4x6x3/8" and 3x5x3/8" angle to make tilt base. No plate. Tilting a restored Rohn HDBX 48' tower that is about 90' from the house. It will support an old-model Mosely Pro 67A multi-band beam and a Comet GP9 VHF/UHF vertical. I have a 24x24x8" NEMA 3R box (room enough for maybe a remote antenna switch and other gizmos) with about 14x 1.5" EMT elbows coming out of the bottom. Cable trench will empty into a covered "pit" next to the box. EMT elbows will run through concrete into pit. 2x 4" PVC drain pipe will run between tower and basement shack. 2x 7/8" hardline and 3x 1/2" hardline coax runs with other control cables. Same size NEMA box on side of house. Waiting for part 3! Very interested in your antenna tilt plate -- I can make stuff, and don't really want to spend $700 on a premade one (but I haven't worked with aluminum before). I'm also interested in how you deal with your coax during tilt. Also interested in how you grounded and bonded things. Thanks for the videos!

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your comments Mike. I will get part three up during the next week. I will make sure to show some pictures of the coax at the tower hinge for you. Marc.

[@franciscomontesdeoca5316]

Super job

[@brian.7966]

great stuff.

[@gabrielepalmas5694]

Bello!!!un bel lavoro!

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Grazie.

[@ronaldbutler4480]

good work there guy

[@lemmiegower8975]

Looking forward to the antenna tilt plate video

[@nr3rful]

Nice, wish I had the tools and knowledge.... and space.... to do the same. 👍

[@joeearley3351]

My God best I've ever seen.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Joe. Your making it hard for me to stay humble.lol. Marc VE3BOE

[@BLUESKYS4EVE]

Very cool.

[@Turjak_art]

freaky awesome!

[@DJBlackhawk]

Wow, beast of engineering! Excellent work! Puts my tilting tower to shame.. haha 73 DE KK4MND

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your encouragement David. Appreciate it.

[@ericb9340]

hello, thanks for this vidéo, very nice work 👍

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Glad you enjoyed it. Happy holidays.

[@ericb9340]

@marcinmetcalfe595 ​your video is very informative for me because I have a small tower (10m) that I want to make tiltable, happy holidays to .

[@GavinFreedomLover]

great video thanks

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@runner406]

Awesome

[@BobBaillargeon]

Nice work Marc! Didn't know there was another ham in Metcalfe. I'm located off Snake Island road at Swale Road. 73 de VE3MPG

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Well now you know there is at least one more.lol. I’m across from the Metcalfe Golf course hidden in the trees. 73 from VE3BOE

[@garrycullum3861]

Wow 👌🏻

[@michaelborron1060]

What is the length of the falling derrick, you used to tilt up our antenna tower? Nice set up, super shop.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

About 18 feet. Thanks for watching.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Great idea 👍 You got the Wade HD -- I believe that it is rated 9 sq/ft wind load at the top. What is the estimated load you have on there? I was thinking of getting a that tower for a wind turbine? Also did not want to climb for servicing -- I did it when I was younger - now, no thanks. Cheers

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

I don’t recall exactly what the total wind loading was but I do recall using the free calculator at the DX Engineering website to do those calculations and then selecting the mast and tower accordingly.

[@dougkapounek9024]

WOW !

[@rykhiemusicz897]

What are the materials you used? The sizes? I have plan to built that design in my backyard. Thank you in advance

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

The base is made of 4” x 4” - 1/4” steel angle and 1/4” plates(4’ x 4’). All the rest of the parts including the hardware, rigging cables, tower reinforcements, anchor bolts,etc., were selected based on detailed load calculations specific to my tower and derick geometry. You’ll have to make your own calculations for your setup.

[@OE8ZZZ]

Hi Marc! I'm just building my new tower and I like the lifting mechanism. What about the tension of the three attachment lines? Is there something I have to pay attention? Is one of these lines looser? Thanks for your reply, 73 de Patrick - OE8ACT

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

You should do the calculations to determine the tension in the lines to ensure that you use the proper size cables. In my case, due to the offset on the hinge point of the falling derrick in relation to the tower, the three lines transfer the lifting loads from the shortest to the longest during the lift sequence. Look closely at the video. Thanks for watching.

[@OE8ZZZ]

@@marcinmetcalfe595 Thank you for your reply! 73

[@Wilf63]

Great job on the tower and videos - thanks for sharing Marc! I have a few questions and wonder whether it would be possible to connect offline? Thanks & 73's de VE3WAS

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

You can reach me at my RAC email.

[@jamescross4660]

Marc, is your tower a DMX-56? Great project and nice documentation...thanks for sharing. James. VY2JGC

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks James. It is partially based on a DMX48 Heavy Duty.

[@tackanderson4270]

What I want to know is how did you keep the antenna flat and level while tilting. Seems to me it would spin around in anything not secured.

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

If you look at part 1 closely you’ll see how the hinge for the beam works. The connection to the rotor stops it from rotating.

[@burakdemirci265]

what is the thickness of sheet metal used for hinges? and the diameter of screw used for mil?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Everything is made of 1/4” thick steel 4” x 4” angle iron. I think the hinge bolts are 3/4” .

[@VA3WZW]

This was informative, very helpful. (A Sub., thumbs👍🏽) 73 Andr VA3WZW

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for the feedback. I hope that you found the video fun to watch. 73 VE3BOE

[@xavierkost9264]

Hi Marc, I am building a 64ft tilt over with a DMX, your video is quite helpful. How did you come up with 12,000 winch? Is the 4" falling derrick thick enough? There appears to be a bit of a wow in it, perhaps its the video angle. How much does your tractor weigh? Thanks

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks for your positive comments. I calculated what the forces were throughout the system. I purchased this particular winch because it was on sale (lol) and because it was well within my lifting force requirements. No "wow" in the falling derrick but you should be aligned dead on centre with your cable as shown in my videos. Please make certain that you understand what I did at the 4:50 mark in the video. The forces transfer through the derrick by the use of a through fastener and NOT the metal thickness of the derrick. Also note the lateral guy-wires on the derrick. My tractor is a BX25. Note that during the lift and lowering sequence, the forces acting at the centre point of the bucket are not acting purely against the weight of the tractor, hence the extensive strapping to nearby trees (see part 3 of my series). Good luck.

[@xavierkost9264]

@@marcinmetcalfe595 Great job, what is the length of your falling derrick & how did you calculate the winch requirement? I would have thought 6000 lbs would have been plenty....I'm thinking of cost. I'm the same as you, I don't want to be going up & down my 64ft tower at my age. You did an amazing job btw, very pro....

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

@@xavierkost9264 Thanks for your comments. The falling derrick is 16’ long. Good luck with your project.

[@MaximusAurelius1987]

What’s the tallest tilting tower that is made? And what’s the model number?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

I don’t know. You will have to Google that. I have seen pictures of some commercially made tilting and telescopic towers but I don’t know much about them other than I likely can’t afford them.

[@gtb81.]

how did you get the pieces to reinforce the bottom of the tower? also, is it a necessary component?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Those reinforcement pieces are actually the base stubs that you connect to the bottom of the tower and they go into the concrete base. Instead of installing them from the base down and installed them from the base up to reinforce that bottom tower section as it is subjected to some greater loads. I’m really not able to comment on whether or not it’s absolutely necessary. I put them in for good measure since they came with the tower kit. I think it is a good idea to do it.

[@gtb81.]

@@marcinmetcalfe595 ah ok, I ask because I bought mine second hand and don't have them

[@brianshanahan3878]

Water drainage for that base plate setup?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Hi Brian. I simply drilled some drainage holes at appropriate locations on the base plate. Thanks for your interest.

[@caperguy2000]

awesome job 73 de ve1dew

[@LZ1SSA]

Супер е станало

[@ericksonflores361]

This is so great.. Hope you can share your design. :)

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Pretty much what you see is the design. There is nothing hidden that I didn’t show or describe in the video. With the weight of your expected finished tower and antennas, along with the height of your falling derrick, you should be able to calculate to cable loads. It’s essentially a first year engineering statics problem. The concrete base was built to the tower manufacturers specifications. The winching setup was based on the site conditions and what I had available to me as anchor points, and very unique to my site. Thanks for watching.

[@robertheintz8017]

Why don't you use your tractor to raise/lower the tower?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

I tried but the angles were wrong. Plus it was to much for my small BX25.

[@theboogeyman826]

How do you calculate how much load is on the raising cable?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Well that’s the key. Best to hire a qualified person to figure that out based on your particular tower and loading. All the best.

[@theboogeyman826]

@@marcinmetcalfe595 did you just overkill on your setup?

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

@@theboogeyman826 No. Fortunately I’m a qualified professional engineer. I was able to get all the calculations done for free. 😁

[@theboogeyman826]

@@marcinmetcalfe595 believe it or not I havent been able to get any help on this matter. Maybe Enginners are not what I thought. I figured any structural engineer could figure this out for me.

[@chandrakumar9411]

🎉👌👍

[@robertoler3795]

excellent work fine business WB5MZO

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Thanks Robert. VE3BOE Marc

[@DanielOrtegoUSA]

So this is what jealousy feels like. 🥺

[@wolfhawg]

I could not work in that garage. Everything is where it belongs. 73s

[@marcinmetcalfe595]

Bob. Trust me, it doesn’t always look like that. ;)

[@bobbaggs860]

Wow Marc that is an incredible system ! VE3RRB