UTARC 1996 A New Tower

In April, 1996, several members of the University of Texas Amateur Radio Club got together to raise a new tower at the club station N5XU. The station had previously had a small tower, which fell in a very violent wind storm the previous semester. The new tower was 40' of Rohn 25G, and the two initial antennas were a Force 12 C-4 for the 10, 15, 20, and 40 meter bands, a Cushcraft 50S3 for the 6 meter band, and a vertical antenna for the 2 meter band. Wire dipoles for 40 meters and 80 meters would also use the tower as an attachment point. The project took an entire weekend.

	Derek Wills AA5BT holds the box containing the entire Force 12 C-4 antenna. Very compact!
	Derek constructs the three-element Cushcraft 50S3 50 MHz yagi.
	Derek puts together a three-element six meter yagi that was donated by George Fremin WB5VZL.
	Derek holding the completed three-element six meter yagi. Note the tower next to Derek. The new section shines compared to the older base section. George admires Derek's work from inside the shack.
	George and Derek start the process of assembling the Force 12 C-4 antenna. Derek, having an advanced degree, was the designated reader.
	Derek and George start assembling the Force 12 C-4 40-10M HF antenna. There are a lot of parts to the antenna but they are held together with pop rivets, not screws which can become loose later.
	Derek and George carry the mostly finished Force 12 C-4 antenna to the club station penthouse. The 40M dipole element would be added later.
	Another shot of the mostly completed antenna being taken to the club station. Note Memorial Stadium in the background at left.
	Closeup of the Force 12 C-4 antenna and its many elements. Yes, the club worked into the night to put up the antennas!
	Derek and George work on the loading mechanism for the 40M dipole.
	Derek and George finish up the construction of the Force 12 C-4 HF beam and 40M rotatable dipole.
	George connects the top section of Rohn 25G to the club's tower. Note that the mast is already in place. It was lifted inside the top section of tower.
	A nighttime shot of the W5EHM tower. Attaching the antennas would have to wait for another day.
	George attaches the 144 MHz vertical and 50 MHz yagi to the tower.
	Another shot of the 144 MHz vertical and 50 MHz yagi being installed.
	And another... George is about 40 feet above the WRW roof at this point.
	And another... Watch for falling tools!
	And another... Note the Force 12 C-4 antenna below, waiting to be installed.
	George works on the 50 MHz yagi while Derek provides ground support. The club station is enclosed in one half of the penthouse on the roof.
	Another view of the tower construction and the penthouse.
	The Force 12 C-4 HF beam antenna, ready for lifting.
	Attaching the Force 12 C-4 antenna to the mast.
	Making adjustments to the Force 12 C-4's 40M dipole.
	Finishing up at sundown.
	It's getting dark.
	George makes some final adjustments to the Force 12 C-4 antenna.
	George checks everything out once more.
	Derek and George attach connectors to the new antenna feedlines.
	The University of Texas tower is lit Orange to commorate the new UTARC Tower. Maybe not, but a nice shot on which to finish up.