LESSON 34

Antenna installation, tower safety, overhead power lines

Many of injuries received by amateur radio operators occurs during the installation, repair, or removal of antennas. A little consideration and tower work can be relatively safe but by neglecting the safety rules tower work becomes very hazardous.

Before climbing a tower arrange for a helper or observer, inspect the tower for damage or loose hardware, make sure thee are no electrical storms near by, and put on safety belt and safety glasses.

If the tower is a crank up tower it should never be climbed until it has first been fully lowered. If, and this has been known to happen, the locking device should fail the collapsing tower segments can act like a guillotine slicing through hands and feet. An important consideration when using a crank up tower is winch cables must be specially rated for use on this type of tower

Tools fall off belts or slip out of hands. Sometimes when a person is working on a tower and tries to place the tool back into a pouch it will be dropped. Hardware too can sometimes be dropped. Anyone working on the ground needs to protect themselves from these potential falling items by wearing a hard hat and safety glasses.

When putting up a tower or antenna careful observation must be made to be sure the tower is clear of all power line. This means it should be placed a distance so if it should accidentally fall no part of it will come closer then 10 feet of any power wire. The antenna needs to be high enough so no one can come in contact with it while the station is transmitting.

Maximum height allowed near an airport must be observed when the station is located near an airport.

Stainless steel hardware should be used on towers because they are less apt to corrode or rust and cause a problem in the future.

Guy wires on a tower should be installed in accordance with the manufactures guide lines.

For adequate protection against lightning Separate 8 foot long ground rods should be used for each tower leg, bonded to the tower and each other

1. T0B01
Why should you wear a hard hat and safety glasses if you are on the ground helping someone work on an antenna tower?
A. It is required by FCC rules
B. To keep RF energy away from your head during antenna testing
C. To protect your head and eyes in case something accidentally falls from the tower
D. It is required by the electrical code
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2. T0B02
What is a good precaution to observe before climbing an antenna tower?
A. Turn on all radio transmitters
B. Remove all tower grounding connections
C. Put on your safety belt and safety glasses
D. Inform the FAA and the FCC that you are working on a tower
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3. T0B03
What should you do before you climb a tower?
A. Arrange for a helper or observer
B. Inspect the tower for damage or loose hardware
C. Make sure there are no electrical storms nearby
D. All of these answers are correct
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4. T0B04
What is an important consideration when putting up an antenna?
A. Carefully tune it for a low SWR
B. Make sure people cannot accidentally come into contact with it
C. Make sure you discard all packing material in a safe place
D. Make sure birds can see it so they don’t fly into it
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5. T0B05 [97.15(A)]
What must be considered when erecting an antenna near an airport?
A. The maximum allowed height with regard to nearby airports
B. The possibility of interference to aircraft radios
C. The radiation angle of the signals it produces
D. The polarization of signal to be radiated
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6. T0B06
What is the most important safety precaution to observe when putting up an antenna tower?
A. Install steps on the tower for safe climbing
B. Insulate the base of the tower to avoid lightning strikes
C. Ground the base of the tower to prevent lightning strikes
D. Look for and stay clear of any overhead electrical wires
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7. T0B07
How should the guy wires for an antenna tower be installed?
A. So each guy wire anchor point has an even number of wires
B. So that no guy wire is more than 25 feet long
C. Each guy wire must be pulled as tight as possible
D. In accordance with the tower manufacturer's instructions
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8. T0B08
What is a safe distance from a power line to allow when installing an antenna?
A. Half the width of your property unless the wires are at least
23 feet high
B. 12.5 feet in most metropolitan areas
C. 36 meters plus 1/2 wavelength at the operating frequency
D. So that if the antenna falls unexpectedly, no part of it can come closer than 10 feet to the power wires
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9. T0B09
What is the most important safety rule to remember when using a crank-up tower?
A. This type of tower must never be painted
B. Crank up towers must be raised and lowered frequently to keep them properly lubricated
C. Winch cables must be specially rated for use on this type of tower
D. A crank-up tower should never be climbed unless it is in the fully lowered position
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10. T0B10
Why is stainless steel hardware used on many antennas instead of other metals?
A. Stainless steel is a better electrical conductor
B. Stainless steel weighs less than other metals
C. Stainless steel parts are much less likely to corrode
D. Stainless steel costs less than other metals
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11. T0B11
What is considered to be an adequate ground for a tower?
A. A single 4 foot ground rod, driven into the earth no more than
12 inches from the base
B. A screen of 120 radial wires
C. Separate 8 foot long ground rods for each tower leg, bonded to the tower and each other
D. A connection between the tower base and a cold water pipe



Answers: C C D B A D D D D C C