Club Mobile Antenna Slide Cradle

[VA3-GUF-Frank]

To all,

Is anyone interested in building with me an antenna lifting Cradle that would slide up and down the GBARC mobile tower similar to the photo below I found on Facebook?



This would make the tower available for more use/deployment without requiring me or another to climb the clubs mobile tower since the BEAM/YAGI would be mounted at ground level and then hoisted up.  Comment to this post with queries, suggestions or interest in participating in one of the following steps;

Start general line drawing design from details seen in the photo
Proposing and designing enhancements
Final drawings of parts/assemblies to scale or with measurements
Itemizing metal lists and then pricing
Presenting to club membership project design, costs and proposed build timeline 
Assembly
Testing and modifications if required
Write up mounting and use instructions for proper antenna rotor alignment
Assisting with assembly at Field Day

I would even suggest if at all possible with the group that gets involved to duscuss if the current mobile tower could be extended to raise the antenna higher when deployed.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Bobby_ve3pav]

i would like to help build it

[Tom VA3TS]

There was another option, can't remember where I saw it, but it was a hinged plate that mounted in the rotor.

When the tower is on the ground, the hinged plate, mounted in the rotor, allows the beam to be assembled, then, when the tower is lifted, it has the beam as well, parallel to the tower. The hinged plate was there to bring the beam back up level to the ground. A rope on each end of the boom would make that easy.

[VA3DNY Dan]

I think that is a good idea. Anything to make deployment safer and easier should be considered.  I would be willing to help with the project and could work on some of the drawings.  One obstacle though are the tower support braces.  I picture the tops of them being about shoulder height and the cradle wont go down past them.  Will that be low enough to mount the antenna from the ground?