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Vent Pipe Mounting
Vent pipe mounting (Figure 4-16) secures the antenna
and mast to the plumbing (gas) vent that comes up
through the roof of the house. This type of mounting
should be used only for the smallest antennas, and
then only when economy absolutely demands it. Vent
pipe mounts are not sturdy enough for medium and
large antennas. Even a moderate wind or ice load may
ruin the installation and damage your customer's
property.
Standard vent pipe mounting hardware is available.
However, it should be used with great care. Most vent
pipes are made of soft materials like copper or
orangeburg, which are easily crushed or dented by
the stress exerted by the mounting bracket.
Fig. 4-16. A typical vent pipe mount and related hardware.
Towers
Antennas are mounted on towers (Figure 4-17) when
exceptional height (35 feet or more) is required for
adequate reception or when an unusually large antenna
array must be used. Although they are very sturdy
installations if properly installed, towers can be very
difficult and dangerous to erect. Tower manufacturers'
instructions and specifications usually include a large
number of warnings and precautions that must be
strictly followed. The best advice that can be given
about tower installations before attempting one of
your own, is to work with an experienced tower
installer on one or more installations. If possible,
have an experienced installer assist you with your
first tower installation. If you do find yourself
involved in a tower installation, be prepared for some
heavy work and for the possibility of having to climb
well above the height of the average roof.
If you must climb a tower, use an attachable work
platform with a safety ring and safety belt. These are
available from some tower manufacturers.
CAUTION: Before climbing any tower, first check the
condition of the structure and the guy wires to make
sure the installation is safe. Even a newly installed
tower may have defects that make it dangerous to
climb.
In most cases, a properly guyed 40 or 50 foot
telescoping mast can be substituted for a 40 to 50 foot
tower installation. It is not only easier and less dan-
gerous to install, it is also significantly less expensive.
A detailed discussion about the various types of
towers and the procedures for installing each of them
would require more space than is available in this
manual. The most accurate and helpful sources for
such information is the extremely detailed instructions
that most tower manufacturers provide with their
towers.
Fig. 4-17. Example of an antenna tower.
T
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HA
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OOLS,
ASTS &
RDWARE
EQUIREMENTS
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