I have the pac crest aluminum antenna legs and was wondering if you guys have any idea of how to anchoring them down for high winds in texas? Or do I need to use a differant setup?
Thanks for the input! Have a great day!
When I first started with USGS back in the late 50's we always wrapped a rock, 40 to 50 pounds, with baling wire and then hung it from the tripod. It did a pretty good job of steadying the T-2.
Jerry
Take two of the legs of the tripod and put them down wind. Take one leg of the tripod into the wind. Take a 12" spike and drive it alongside the windward side leg and duct tape the leg to it. Works for up to 68 MPH winds.
Pablo B-)
How accurate is that 68 MPH? Will I be in trouble at 69 MPH 🙂
SHG
We use chains(for towing) , or sand bags and drape them over the foot pegs of the tripod. You can cut the chain into shorter lengths for carrying and storage purposes if needed and the sandbags are great for winter (weight in the truck, and icy road/set-up conditions, spread sand on ground).
rebar works good with duct tape too.
National Weather Service gauge in Cheyenne...around winter 2008. Snuck up on me, was only 25mph in the mornin when I setup...around noonish there were large poodles flyin thru Kimball NE.:-O Hope things are picking up for ya Shelby.
Pablo B-)
I stick 4' lath in the slots of the legs and then lay 2' lath on top of those. It makes kind of a small table then I stick the car battery that runs the radio on top of that. Hope this helps.
After I had the antenna tripod blow down a couple of times, I changed over to
a 3 foot section of 2" pipe that I drive into the ground about 6 to 10". I put the antenna atop 2 or 3 sections of range rod that insert into the pipe. This setup has never blow over and it takes up a lot less room in the truck.
I had one of the Seco aluminum tripods with the radio antenna mast. I didn't like it for the same reason you say. I gave it to another crew and ordered just the antenna mast:
http://www.surveying.com/getmedia/d0cd1123-24e3-47d8-8af8-ca63690c5733/productimage.aspx
I mounted that on one end of an 8" long flat plate and welded a nut on the other end. I just screw it down to the wooden leg tripod that I keep in the truck for the robot. One less tripod to carry around and more weight to hold it up in the wind. If it's blowing hard enough that the wooden legs won't hold it, I go home.
James