Antenna and tower work are never far from our minds as hams. Most amateur loads are considered light by professional installers, but they can be heavy enough to cause injuries if mishandled or poorly secured. This article is an overview of ropes, knots, and slings which are used by hams. Since most of us are not professionals, it’s always a good idea to review and brush up our skills before “game day.”

Two complementary resources are sold by DX Engineering: “Up the Tower” by K7LXC and the ARRL’s “Antenna Towers for Radio Amateurs” by K4ZA. The first features a lot of information on rigging, including ropes, slings, and tools. The second discusses how to properly build a tower system. You should review both of these references, which go into far more detail than this article.

OnAllBands also features an excellent five-part series, “Amateur Radio Tower Safety,” featuring W3YQ. Please be safe when climbing and working aloft. Take advantage of the excellent training material that is available to you!

Lifting & Lowering

Except for the lightest loads, always use a suitably rated pulley or block when raising and lowering items. Avoid the small hardware store pulleys that are not rated for heavy loads. Light-duty hardware is often stamped or labeled as unsuitable for climbing and lifting—heed that warning!

The snatch block is the most useful since the rope does not have to be threaded through the pulley—one side opens so the pulley can be placed directly on the rope, even when it is tied off at both ends. This is called “snatching the rope.” 

The snatch block pulley shown in the photo is rated at a working load of 24 kN (kilo-Newtons), which is about 5,400 lbs. Marine and construction pulleys are also available, although they weigh more. Get pulleys with sheaves that fit your rope so it can’t slip and jam between the sheave and body of the pulley. Watch for sales and have a few pulleys in your tool kit.

Rope

For basic tower and antenna work, Dacron and nylon ropes are preferred. A kernmantle rope has a braided sleeve that protects the rope’s core. For tower work, use a 3/8 or 1/2 inch rope because they can handle heavy loads and are easier on your hands than thinner ropes. Inexpensive polypropylene rope is useful for light lifts—such as the tool bucket or a rotator. Wear sturdy gloves when working with a rope under load so that if the load slips, your hands won’t be burned from friction.

Remember that to lift something to a certain height, you’ll need at least twice that length of rope, and another 50% of length is recommended. Try to have at least two load-rated ropes available.

There are two strength ratings for rope: breaking strength and working load limit. The breaking strength is usually three times the working load rating. Try not to use ropes near or at their load limit.

Using ropes as temporary guys should be done with caution and rarely, if ever, as permanent guys. Stretching varieties, such as nylon, should never be used as a guy line. Use a low-stretch rope material, such as Dacron, and be sure it is well within its load limit.

Knots

There are many, many types of knots and you should find a how-to book or website that shows how to tie the basic knots. If you’re a beginner, some essential knots are demonstrated on the Columbus McKinnon YouTube channel. This site is about entertainment rigging, which is a lot like basic ham radio rigging! For more advanced knots, resources such as animatedknots.com show you exactly how to tie knots (it also includes a beginner’s section).

The most common types of knots used in antenna and tower work are hitches that pull on or lift tubing and tower sections. The below photo shows two half hitches:

Another common knot is the bowline, which is very useful because it doesn’t slip and can be untied relatively easily, even after being used with a heavy load. I use it for tying ropes to antenna insulators because I can untie a bowline even after the rope has been out in the weather for months.

There are lots and lots of instructions for how to tie a bowline. Many of us of a certain age learned the “make a hole next to the tree, the rabbit comes up through the hole, goes around the tree, and back in the hole” method. This video, however, is probably easier to learn! You might also try to learn the one-handed bowline so you can tie a secure knot with one hand while the other is holding a load—a not unusual situation aloft.

Carabiners

To attach a rope to a structure, a climbing harness, or other rope, carabiners are often used. An assortment is shown in the photo below.

Clockwise from top left are a D shape wire gate, straight gate, oval shape straight gate, auto lock, and twist lock. The straight gate versions are the most common in antenna and tower work.

Note the load ratings in the middle. The highest rating of 24 kN is the breaking load with the gate closed. The working load is one-third of the breaking rating. The smallest value is the maximum load with the gate open. Lightweight clips that look and act like carabiners are often sold as keychains or hangars but should never be used for lifting loads! They are stamped with warnings showing they are not to be used for load lifting.

Slings

Rather than tie a rope directly to the workpiece, a synthetic web sling is much more convenient to use. Visit Hoistwire.com for images of various web slings, including common types such as the endless sling and those with eyes at the end. There are also rope, wire rope, and chain slings, but those are not often used for ham radio jobs.

For a complete table of single-ply web sling ratings, see Table 22 “Rated Load for Two-Ply, Class 5 Synthetic Webbing Slings Expressed in Pounds” here: OSHA.gov.

The three most basic uses of slings are straight, choker, and basket as displayed at PracticalMaintenance.net, which shows many ways of using slings and how to determine the load rating of each method.

An assortment of web slings comes in handy for antenna and tower work. Most lifts will use slings from 18 to 36 inches long. One inch wide slings will handle nearly all antennas. A pair of 36 inch slings configured as a bridal hitch make a stable and strong way to lift a Yagi boom. I recommend having at least two slings of several lengths.

If you plan on lifting a tower with a boom truck or crane, use heavier slings that are two inch wide or more. Consult with the crane operator first.

Storage and Maintenance

Finally, you really need to take good care of anything you depend on for safely working on antennas and towers! After the job is done, lower your ropes into a plastic milk crate or bucket. The rope won’t tangle and will then pull out easily without kinking or knotting. Larger and longer ropes can be wound on a portable hose reel.

As you store ropes and slings, inspect them carefully for chafing or cutting that may have occurred in use. Look for carabiner gates that are twisted or won’t latch securely. Damage beyond superficial wear is enough to warrant replacement.

If your crew is going to be bringing some of their own gear, label your stuff! A permanent marker will help you keep your gear separate from that of others. Colored tape will also make it easy to tell everyone’s stuff apart.

Ropes and slings need to be kept clean, dry, and away from where rodents and insects can get at them. Avoid kinks and sets by making sure there are no tight knots or bends in storage. Keep them away from oil and grease that might degrade the fibers.

Take care of your gear and it will take care of you!

Editor’s Note: DX Engineering carries a variety of rope in a range of diameters and break strengths, along with rope hardware kits to work with different sizes of Mastrant rope.

The post Ham Radio Tech: Knots & Slings appeared first on OnAllBands.

Operating at Field Day is lot different than operating a home station—and that’s more than half the fun. It’s also one of the main reasons Field Day exists, so that you get some practice under more stressful conditions than at home. The first Field Day in 1930 was held specifically to test amateurs’ ability to communicate in emergencies and after disasters. After all, it became part of the amateur service’s Basis and Purpose in Part 97.1(a)—our very first rule!

You want to be effective under those conditions, of course. Because the circumstances are so different than operating from home, you’ll have to learn some new techniques and approaches to operating. Having participated in more than fifty Field Days, here are some suggestions to make you a more effective communicator. I learn something new every time, and you will too.

Field Day vs. Other Contests

Is Field Day a contest? It all depends on how your group approaches it. It’s not part of the regular ARRL Contest Program, but if you are trying to get a higher score than that club across town, it sure feels competitive! The scoring rules provide a great yardstick for evaluating your performance, so if you want to treat it like a contest, go for it.

The first thing you must be aware of is the big difference from a regular contest for which fixed stations have been carefully constructed and optimized. I’ve operated at some very capable Field Day stations, but most aren’t as big and powerful as at home. The usual Field Day situation on HF is to run 100W or less using antennas that are usually just a fraction of a wavelength above ground, particularly on 40, 80, and 160 meters. On VHF/UHF, it’s a lot easier to install antennas at a wavelength or more above the ground, but the antennas are often smaller in order to be portable.

TIP: On CW, SSB, and digital modes like FT4 and FT8, most VHF/UHF signals will be horizontally polarized. Use vertical polarization for FM simplex.

Propagation—Get Ready

Knowing what to expect from propagation will also pay big benefits on Field Day since you won’t be able to rely on a big station to power your way through. Summertime propagation is often quite different from even late spring. 

TIP: Listen for a few days before Field Day to get an idea of when the bands are open. Use a propagation prediction service or prepared tables to plan for the best times and bands. Check out logs from previous years to see when stations were making contacts.

Use the different types of propagation to your advantage and be prepared for what you’re likely to encounter. 

TIP: On VHF, remember that you’ll be operating during prime sporadic-Eseason, so be prepared to take advantage of those openings on 6 and 2 meters. On HF, things may get started slowly because of the high absorption during summer around local noon. Practice NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) operating during these hours. The bands will probably pick up in the afternoon. In the evening, 40 meters is often open coast-to-coast. Later on, 80 and 75 meters can provide lots of contacts.

Learning to Use Unfamiliar Equipment

Using low power and smaller, lower antennas relies more on the operator to get through and make contacts on the HF bands. You may be operating your own equipment, but frequently it’s someone else’s radio or spare radio dedicated to portable operating. 

TIP: Before beginning to operate, spend a few minutes learning the controls and configuration of the new radio and any accessories. Receiver controls like filter bandwidth, RF gain, attenuation/preamp, and noise blanker/reduction are very important. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use the radio correctly!

If you are the equipment owner, be available to help other operators learn to use it. After all, you want to avoid damage to the equipment or having to figure out how another operator may have scrambled the various settings and selections! 

TIP: Bring a copy of the operating manual or download the PDF version to your phone. Use sticky notes to show where the most important sections are. If you have preferred settings, label front-panel controls with colored tape and make a list of any menu items that are likely to need adjustment.

Avoid creating interference to your group’s stations and to other Field Day stations. Before the contest, check for clicks, splatter, and over-driving audio inputs for digital modes. A clean signal is a more effective signal. Even if the radio meets FCC rules, several stations at the same location really put a premium on signal cleanliness, particularly wide-band noise.

TIP: Bring band-pass filters, either LC circuits or transmission line “stubs,” to reduce out-of-band harmonics and noise from your radio.

You may also enjoy this article: Noise Management on Field Day

Know How to Log Contacts

Even more confusing than new equipment, learning how to use someone else’s logging computer and software can be a challenge. Make sure the entire group knows what software will be in use. If there is a free or evaluation version, encourage them to download and use it for practice. Cheat sheets of what keys perform what function are very helpful! Make sure you have the latest version that includes the latest ARRL/RAC sections.

TIP: Just like unfamiliar equipment, watch the previous operator use the software before you start operating. If the software has the ability to record the operator calls, be sure you “log in” before starting to operate.

The Field Day exchange is very simple: Category and ARRL/RAC Section as defined by the Field Day rules. One of the most common mistakes, though, is entering (or attempting to enter) an incorrect section abbreviation. 

TIP: New operators should get some tutoring to be sure they know what they are supposed to enter, particularly the many state/province abbreviations that begin with M: MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT. Ontario has four sections: GH, ONE, ONS, and ONN. California’s Los Angeles section is abbreviated LAX, while Louisiana is just LA. A cheat sheet is pretty handy!

Operator Comfort

Operating outside can be surprisingly challenging. The weather can be too hot in the day and too cold at night, to say nothing of rain, bugs, wind, and so on. Be prepared! Check out your kit in advance and don’t wait until Game Day to find out your tent is missing the rain fly.

TIP: Dress in layers with all the necessary sunscreen, bug repellent, sunglasses, etc. in your Field Day kit.

Just like at a big contest station, remember that the operator will be sitting at the radio for hours. Tables tend to be camping or picnic tables, which are not the optimum height for radio operating. Make sure the tables and chairs will keep the operator relatively comfortable.

TIP: Avoid the low-slung fabric fold-up chairs in the operating tent. They are great for listening to a concert but TERRIBLE for operating at a table. Bring metal or wood folding chairs with a solid seat. A seat pad is also recommended. Nothing’s worse than a sore back or butt at Field Day!

Another commonly overlooked issue is noise. Not electrical noise but acoustic noise! Noise from wind and portable generators, conversations from visitors and non-operating operators, and audio from the other stations can all be very distracting. Pay attention to noise when locating the stations. Remind everyone to be quiet around the operators.

TIP: Use a headset with a boom mic since a small radio speaker may not have enough audio oomph outside. So that visitors can hear what you’re doing, a communication speaker that can switch between speaker-only, headphones-only, and speaker-and-headphones is quite handy. A simple splitter to share the audio can also work.

Operating Style and Courtesy

The question of “courteous vs. efficient” seems to come up every year. Speaking as a longtime ham, on the radio, being efficient is what makes an operator courteous. That is what good radio practice is all about—getting the message through with a minimum of extra transmissions. Field Day has always been a training exercise, so practice your best operating techniques. Minimize unnecessary words and phrases as if you were in a real emergency. Especially if signals are weak or in heavy QRM, extra information only makes it harder to understand, no matter what mode.

TIP: If you don’t need to say it, don’t send it.

***

Here’s a brisk, efficient Field Day QSO:

Me: CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day November-Zero-Alpha-Xray N-Zero-A-X

TIP: A snappy 2-by-2 CQ, nothing but the CQ and my call sign, no “from” or ending “Field Day” or “over.”

You: Whiskey-One-Alpha-Whiskey

TIP: Just one complete call, no repeats, no “over,” don’t start with my call–I already know it! Repeat your call if I don’t respond in a second or two.

Me: Whiskey-One-Alpha-Whiskey, 1 Alpha, Missouri

TIP: Give the contacted station and the exchange, no “you are,” no “thank you,” no “over,” no “please copy.”

You: N-Zero-A-X, 2-Delta, Connecticut

TIP: Give my call if there is any question about who you’re responding to. Otherwise it’s not necessary, and don’t repeat my exchange.

Me: Thanks, N-Zero-A-X

TIP: Acknowledge and give my call for the next station to respond.

***

That’s what courtesy looks like on the air. We’re not holding the door for each other at the store or passing the salt! If you need a repeat, just ask: “What’s your section?” or “What’s your category?” If you need a repeat of a call sign, use standard phonetics. (Save the funny ones like “Fuzzy Rabbit” for late night 75 meter fun.) It looks much the same on CW. One nice thing about FT8 is that it is definitely efficient!

TIP: New operators often get flustered or have a bit of mic fright, so help them out with a script showing exactly what to say and when to say it. Sit with them and guide them along, pointing to each step, reminding them to breathe.

That’s a Wrap!

Basically, it boils down to understanding what you’ll be doing, being prepared, and honing your technique to get the job done with a minimum of fuss and bother. That’s what the good operators do! I hope you’ll find yourself enjoying the benefits of good operating during Field Day, too.

The post Effective Field Day Operating appeared first on OnAllBands.

Here comes Field Day and all of your careful equipment connections and filtering go out the window as the station is disassembled and hauled off to the operating site. Be aware that operating in a multi-station environment, like the popular 2A category, requires that all of the transmitters be “clean.” That is, transmit a minimum of spurious emissions like harmonics, intermodulation products, and the bugaboo of wideband noise.

One “bad apple” can really be aggravating, so here are a few techniques you can use to keep the peace.

If you want to know more about interstation interference, one of the best references is “Managing Interstation Interference” by W2VJN. It’s available as a PDF download here from Vibroplex. It covers filters, stubs, and other techniques.

Lightning Protection

Before we discuss noise, let’s start with the understanding that lightning protection is pretty much impossible for a portable station. Your ground system will be temporary and very lightweight. A ground rod or two just won’t do the job either. What to do? When lightning is in the area—say, within five miles—that’s the time to lower your antennas, disconnect the feed lines and power cords, and get away from the equipment. A lightning detector, such those available from Weather Shack or other vendors, is a good idea. Lightning monitoring apps such as www.blitzortung.org (below) are available for smartphones, tablets, and PCs.

When you disconnect feed lines, move them at least six feet away from any equipment and preferably a lot farther. Wait until the lightning has moved on before reconnecting your station.

Wideband Noise

The most common noise problem encountered on Field Day is wideband noise from a transmitter. Depending on the transmitter’s structure, the noise might be limited to the frequencies near the transmitted signal, just to the band of the signal, or across several bands. The cause is almost always noise on the oscillator(s) in the transmitter.

Noise close to a transmitted signal covers up weak signals on adjacent frequencies. As the noisy transmitter tunes closer to your listening frequency, you’ll hear the noise floor increase whenever the transmitter is keyed, independent of output power. Similarly, noise will also be present on harmonics of the transmitted signal.

Wideband noise that occupies an entire band or several bands is the biggest problem for multi-station Field Day setups.

How can you tell if your transmitter is generating this type of noise? Don’t worry, operators at the other stations will tell you! Right away! Because all of the stations are so close together, the transmitted noise may make it impossible to operate.

Field Day managers should make sure that any on-site transmitter is well-behaved. Conduct a test of your radio before Field Day. Get on the air with a ham close by or have a ham with a portable receiver listen on all of the bands from several hundred feet away. If they can hear noise when you close the PTT switch, your radio has a problem.

This type of noise must be filtered at the transmitter. Once radiated, it cannot be filtered out at the receiver because it is the same as any other “in-band” signal.

Band-pass filters, such as the LP-BPF-20 filter from VA6AM Engineering below, are good practice for all stations but an absolute necessity for transmitters that generate wideband noise. A set of band-pass filters for the HF bands is a good club purchase! QRP filter kits are also available, and there are a number of schematics available online if you want to build some from scratch.

Even with a filter, other stations on the same band, such as a 75 meter phone and 80 meter CW or FT8 station, will experience interference from the noisy transmitter.

The best solution to wideband noise is to not generate it in the first place. Test all transmitters before Field Day and leave the noisemakers at home. Be aware that you may be completely unaware that you have a noisy transmitter. After all, you probably aren’t receiving while you’re transmitting!

Harmonics & Intermodulation (IMD)

Every transmitter generates some harmonics. They are mostly quite weak but when you are operating more than one station in close proximity, they are strong and can cause a lot of problems. Like wideband noise, harmonics must be filtered out at the transmitter. A band-pass filter will work, or transmission line stubs can knock down harmonics. 

Even with filtering, you probably won’t be able to completely suppress harmonics. It’s a good idea to agree ahead of time on a plan to adjust operating frequencies to avoid interfering with another local station. For example, if the 20 meter station is going to operate on 14220 kHz, the 10 meter station needs to avoid 28440 kHz and nearby frequencies. Coordinate frequencies—it’s better than arguing about who’s interfering with who!

Another source of QRM is intermodulation in the transmitter or amplifier. Often a problem on phone, the different speech components mix together in the RF power devices and generate many signals outside the desired bandwidth of the output signal. This generates “splatter” and “buckshot” on nearby frequencies. 

You can reduce these unwanted signals by careful adjustment of your microphone gain and any speech processing. Before Field Day, have a nearby ham listen to your signal on a quiet band as you adjust the transmitter for the cleanest, full-power output. Take note of the settings so you don’t have to repeat the exercise on Field Day.

Key-clicks and audio IMD on digital signals are also sources of in-band interference to adjacent signals. Solid-state amplifiers are particularly susceptible to overdrive above about half their rated power output. Be a good neighbor and make sure you have signal rise-time and amplitude settings right for the best-sounding signal on adjacent channels. Run amplifiers at reduced output power to avoid generating “spurs” as well.

The ARRL is addressing these problems through the Clean Signal Initiative. As this program progresses, look for more information about how to ensure your transmitter is properly adjusted. In addition, there will be methods for comparing and evaluating signals.

Passive Harmonic Generators

Be aware that strong RF picked up on feed lines and control cables can be conducted into equipment by shields or unshielded conductors. Once inside the equipment, if the RF encounters any diodes or rectifiers (or LED indicators!) it will be partially rectified and many harmonics generated. Those harmonics go right back out by the same path and are radiated as interfering signals. 

These can be hard to troubleshoot and resolve during the short Field Day period. It may be best to simply take the minimum amount of equipment you need. Ferrite snap-on cores can be effective if you can determine which cables and equipment are causing the problem. Type 31 material is the best for HF use.

Receiver Overload

What sounds like wideband interference can often be caused by receiver overload from the strong signals of nearby transmitters. Turn off Noise Blankers, which respond to strong signals by trying to turn off the receiver during what they think is a noise pulse. This can result in what sounds like a transmitted signal “clobbering the whole band.” Turning on a preamp can result in the same problem.

Overload generally disappears as RF Gain is reduced below a threshold. You can give your receiver a little breathing room by switching in some attenuation. You’ll still be able to hear the other signals and the band may sound a lot cleaner. Only use the minimum amount of gain needed. Band-pass filters can also be used if an out-of-band signal is causing the overload.

Bonding to Prevent RF Problems

Within the station, you can help reduce harmonics and spurs by making sure all of the equipment is well-bonded together. This is particularly important if you are running an amplifier. RFI from a transmitted signal is generally caused by significant voltage between pieces of equipment. This is often a result of having antennas very close to the station, as is typical of Field Day setups. RF “hot spots” at high-voltage points are created by the same RF current.

You can address these problems with bonding—connecting equipment together to minimize voltage differences. This topic is covered in more detail by my 2022 OnAllBands article, “Grounding and Bonding for Portable Amateur Radio Stations.”

You may be surprised to find that a simple sheet of aluminum foil and some clip leads can solve a lot of RF problems!

The post Noise Management on Field Day appeared first on OnAllBands.

As I’m writing at the end of March, antenna season is about to get underway in many parts of North America, including for the author. (Those of you in the southern regions have probably been working on antennas all winter!) While there are a lot of articles and books about safety and rigging gear for working on antennas and towers, there isn’t a lot about preparing the actual climber— you! That’s the focus of this article, to help you be ready.

Whether you are young or old, launching yourself off the couch or out of a desk chair and into a climbing harness is a great way to hurt yourself with muscle strains, back spasms, or a lot of soreness in general. It’s also a good idea to check your safety gear through the winter months so it can be replaced or repaired if needed. Getting prepared will save you unnecessary difficulties on and off a tower, and there’s no time like the present, so let’s get going.

Before Antenna Season

IMPORTANT—If you have any kind of chronic injury or weakness, get together with a physical therapist or personal trainer. Describe what you’ll be doing and ask them about an exercise and flexibility program for that kind of work. Occupational exercise for tower or construction work will work for hams on towers, too. Let your doctor know what you’ll be up to as well—no surprises, particularly if you are middle-aged or older!

Exercise is important throughout the year. The weekend before your first climb is a little late to start! If you expect to be climbing, moderate exercise throughout the year is just good practice. Emphasize exercises that work on your legs, back, and upper body.

• Walking is always good exercise. It builds stamina and is especially good for your feet and legs that do the most work in climbing. While walking, wear your climbing footwear to keep it flexible and adapted to your feet. If anything pinches or rubs, get it fixed now.
• Work on your legs by climbing stairs whenever you can. At the gym, use a stairstep machine. Supplement the stairs with lunges or squats. You won’t be able to do much tower work if your legs can’t lift you all the way up and hold you there.
• Shoes and feet are your foundation while aloft. While I know several hams who like to wear lightweight shoes, most wear some kind of light work boot. Choose a tread that won’t slip off a rung. Steel-toed boots protect your feet against falling or slipping metal. A steel or fiberglass shank supports your feet against that narrow rung, too. The following cross section is one of many at heddels.com/2017/11/the-cut-down-all-the-shoe-cross-sections-we-could-find/ to give you an idea of what to wear. Note that the tread on this boot has a gap that will fit around a round or angle rung.

• Your back will be bending and twisting while you’re at the top of a tower, so make sure your exercise program includes back health. This is a particularly good opportunity to involve a therapist or trainer in selecting torsion and bending exercises.
• Standing may not seem like exercise, but it is. Spend some time in a standing position to find out if your feet and ankles are ready for tower work where you may be standing on a tower rung for hours.
• Hand strength is necessary during the climb and while working on the antenna system. Use a pair of squeezable hand grips to work on both the muscles and toughen the skin on your palms to avoid blisters.

Head and Neck

You’ll be tipping your head back more than usual while looking up (and down) the tower or tree. As we age, the blood vessels in our neck and skull can become less tolerant of being compressed as our head moves around. Looking up to clean gutters, work with holiday lighting, get on the roof…or doing antenna work are common sources of visits to the ER. We look up, compress blood vessels, reduce blood flow to the brain, and pass out! The resulting fall can have serious consequences.

Before setting foot on a ladder or tower, put on your climbing gear and hard-hat, then stand on a forgiving surface like grass and move your head all around, especially tipped back as far as it will go, then side to side and tipped forward. Repeat several times. If you feel dizzy or weak at any point, don’t climb and get yourself checked out.

On Climbing Day

OK, it’s game time, so make sure you are ready, just like an athlete before a game. Reserve some prep time for stretching and flexing your muscles and joints. Maybe have your whole ground crew participate.

• Legs and Feet—Hamstring muscles will do most of the work as you climb, so stretch them well. Work your ankles and calves, too.
• Back—Bend forward and backward, remembering that you will be essentially in one position while working at the top of a tower. Make sure your stretches include twisting and bending side-to-side as well.
• Upper Body—Trying to maneuver an unwieldy Yagi, long vertical array or mast will put a heavy strain on your upper body. Work your shoulders and arms to get loose.
• Head and Neck—Repeat the head rotation and tipping exercises mentioned above to be sure you won’t experience difficulties aloft.

If you aren’t familiar with stretching programs, here is a good set of simple exercises from the Mayo Clinic that everyone on your crew can do in a few minutes.

Finally, in case of trouble, be sure everyone in the crew knows to call 911 and have a plan to respond. If there is a climber in your crew, they should have their climbing harness on while you’re on the tower.  Use your phone or handheld ham or FRS/GMRS radios for communication with those on the ground.

Don’t forget the sunscreen and visit the bathroom before heading up the tower!

During the Climb

• Take It Slow—It’s not a race! That first climb of the season can be a challenge until you get your “tower legs.” Climb a couple of tower sections, rest, and repeat. Pay attention to your body if it is trying to tell you something is wrong. Your hands or arms might cramp up on a first climb. Stay attached to the tower with a lanyard at all times.
• Stay Balanced—Don’t climb with heavy tools or gear clipped to one side of your harness. Try to balance the load between both legs and arms so one or the other doesn’t get overly tired. An unbalanced load also stresses your back.

Lifting and Working Aloft

• Use Pulleys for Lifting—Once you’re at the work position, attach a work pulley and rope to the tower. Use the pulley instead of the “Armstrong” method of lifting everything by hand, which will wear you out quickly. Mount the pulley above your head so you don’t have to lift anything into final position. Make it easy to clip a tool bucket or other materials to the tower without having to lift or hold them in position.
• Avoid “Lift-And-Twist”—Trying to lift a heavy load while turning causes a lot of back injuries. If you can, rely on the ground crew to pull the lifting ropes so that all you have to do is guide the load into position. Using a block pulley at the bottom of the tower will keep the lift rope against the tower face and out of the way.
• Secure the Workpiece—Have a plan about what will happen when the antenna or other materials get to the top of the tower. Use slings and carabiners to position and stabilize a heavy load so you can work on it without having to support it at the same time—the aggravating “three hands” situation.
• Stay Hydrated—You’ll go through a lot of water doing all that work in the wind and sun. Take a bit of a sports drink every 30 minutes or so to replenish water and electrolytes.
• Avoid Cramps—Along with dehydration, cramps can also happen because you will be climbing and working with your hands and arms overhead or above your heart. Take time every so often to “shake down” your arms and hands to keep blood flowing. Loading a muscle without relaxing it can also lead to cramps, so keep your legs moving around with a shake or two as well.

Heading Down

• Remember, You’re Tired—After a long work session aloft, it can seem like a trivial thing to climb back down, but you’ve expended a lot of energy. Your body has gotten used to standing on the tower. Start by flexing and getting your muscles ready to go the “other way,” particularly your legs that you’ve been standing on without a break for quite a while! Work slowly and carefully, climb down slowly, and don’t let fatigue overcome good judgement. Accidents happen more frequently when tired.
• Slip Safety—Lowering tools and materials can be just as dangerous as lifting them. They can “get away” from you, leading to rope burns or worse. Take it slow and use friction to brake a rope so that descent doesn’t depend on raw muscle strength to control the speed. Remember, you’re tired!

Once down you will be tired, but you were careful and took your time, so it’s time for a break. Have someone help you out of that harness that seems heavier than when you started! After all the gear is stowed away and you’re relaxing, consider taking a couple of ibuprofen or other pain relievers to help reduce swelling and soreness, too. Welcome back to Earth! 

The post Stretching and Cautions About Lifting for Ham Radio Antenna Season appeared first on OnAllBands.