KDRT Antenna and Mast Raising
Follow along as we set sail in July 2004!
A group of dedicated volunteers helped raise the mast and antenna for KDRT over two weekends at the end of July 2004. They spent three long days: July 24 - 25 (preparation) and July 31 (installation). Follow along in the photo series below.
The KDRT Working Group enthusiastically thank all volunteers involved: Brian Laurenson, Stanton Hunter, Dallas Kassing, Jesse Drew, Irni, Mark Breitung, Rob Nickerson, Amy Kasameyer, and Anton Muntean.
A big thanks goes to Doug Felmann for all of the preparation work & planning- we couldn't have done it without you!
7/24/04 In the beginning. . . there was a roof (not a very strong roof, hence the 4 x 4's) . . .
Jeff contemplates the puddle of water from a leaking air conditioner. The triangles taped together came in quite handy.
Amy basks in the glow of the midday sun. Doug Felmann is testing his capacity for extreme heat within the structure in the foreground - still avoiding the camera.
The inside of the structure, and Doug's reinforcement work. The bolt in the background is the eyebolt appearing below.
Aforementioned eyebolt. Anchored in a pressure-treated 2 x 4 on the outside and sealed with mastic
Doug Felmann emerges from the heat chamber / structure and prepares the guy wires. This shot shows the complete non-penetrating roof mount / mast base, anchored to three 4 x 4's which span 3 roof trusses.
Doug holds the mast while Jeff takes a photo. The lower guy wires have been cut and secured.
Doug secures a guy wire to the south facing eyescrew using wire clamps. The 2 x 4 is secured to 3 studs.
Doug walks out the upper guy wires.
Jeff secures the upper guy wires. Nothing is actually on the mast. We decided to raise it and cut the guy wires with the least amount of weight.
Attempted dramatic reenactment of historical mast raising. Or something like that.
Irni materializes out of thin air to take photos, haul cinder block, and ask all the hard questions.
After a long day, nearing completion, Doug accidentally anchors a guy wire to Jeff's head.
7/25/04 The moon rises over our empty mast. The antennas will have to wait for next weekend . . .
The group assembles at 8:30am on 7/31/04, lowers the mast and attaches both FM antenna bays (87 3/8" apart), phasing harness, and a wi-fi antenna / lightening rod at the top. Pictured is (l-r) Rob Nickerson, Jeff Shaw, Dallas Kassing, and Jesse Drew
(l-r) Brian Laurenson, Mark Breitung, Rob, Dallas, and Jesse.
Brian zipp-ties the cable to the mast. The orange tape is "self-sealing" silicone tape to keep out the weather.
The group surveys the work, some of which will be undone in about 30 minutes, after a small bowing incident. The group decided to remove some of the weight, and telescope the mast upward, securing antenna parts & cabling as we go. Needless to say, I would never recommend raising a mast from horizontal with this much weight.
Rob, Jeff, Mark and Stan Hunter try to telepathically telescope the mast upwards.
Jeff and Mark put on the phasing harness which goes between our 2 antenna bays.
Dallas uses an extra pole to hand Jeff a cable beyond his reach. Anton Muntean arrives (right) to help hold the ladder.
Jeff and Mark continue with the phasing harness. The guy wires are slack because the mast is not yet telescoped out.
Rob (far right) guys the mast as Brian and Stan do the hard work of raising the mast with all the weight on it.
Brian, due to physical exertion, grows to twice his normal size and decides to squish Stan's head.
The final result and last of the group, sans photographer: Mark, Brian, Dallas, and Stan.
