Depth of 26' light pole and how to dig it?

[Deere Dude]

What about digging a square hole 3x3x3 and putting a tripod antennae mast up and fill with a yard of concrete. Then you can climb up easily, they are stable and those won't move. They are more expensive than poles no doubt, but can be added to if the trees get taller.

 

[jenkinsph]

What about digging a square hole 3x3x3 and putting a tripod antennae mast up and fill with a yard of concrete. Then you can climb up easily, they are stable and those won't move. They are more expensive than poles no doubt, but can be added to if the trees get taller.

What you are describing is something like a Rohn 25G tower available in 10' sections with a concrete base section. I started to suggest this but in reality in a few short years he won't need any of this even in remote areas. Long and short of it, the OP needs a five year fix that is cheap. Someone with a skidsteer and hydraulic auger can do this easily and is what I would suggest. Might cost $200 or so but is the easiest and cheapest way out imo.

 

[AKwelder]

use the FEL to dig low enough for the 2 man auger to go deep enough, set the pole then back fill what you dug out with the FEL

 

[Michael35]

Thanks for all the reply's!
The 26' height was chosen because I have to see a tower up on the mountain and I have to see over some trees in the neighboring property. It is also the tallest size I could haul on my trailer so that's how we arrived at 26'.

 

[Michael35]

AKwelder,

I was thinking about something like that. I didn't know which was more important: depth or undisturbed soil.

 

[Michael35]

That's what my dad would have done. he was a CB guy. I like that idea, I will try my large post first. I am planning on digging the hole today.

 

[Texasmark]

I put in a pole of about that height for my night light. I used my 12" standard auger and let it go as far as it would. Used my FEL to get the pole in the hole; worked great. Then filled hole with concrete. No problems. The use of ground wires as mentioned makes for good insurance.
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Tried the local guys with the towers and too many trees on both ends even though there is a valley between us. Tech has to set up your system and zero your antenna. He has to install it. On a 20' pole?????

Giving up on that I went with the Satellite, more expensive, but no choice on the matter.

Around here we use Excede and Dish (buys service from Excede and uses same equipment and satellites) satellite nets Since we have Dish satellite TV we get a discount for bundling. They are pickey about how/where you mount the antenna. Seems the beam is very narrow and the satellite is 25k or thereabouts miles in space in the synchronus arbit region. A few seconds (degrees, minutes, seconds) of pointing error can completely miss the target. I have a pole mounted and roof mounted. The pole is 2 3/8 tubing in concrete and about 4' off the ground. Excede is on that one and they installed it as Dish did the roof mount. It is in a protected area of the yard and is sturdy.

One of your first problems is getting the tech up the pole to zero it in. Excede uses a tone for zeroing and the guy has to be next to the antenna to hear it.

Down here the looking angle is about 30 or so degrees up in a SW direction. You might do better to cut some trees and install it in the conventional manner. Actually when you get your service, it's a requirement that they install it as they have to go through the hookup software so that the satellite knows that you are down here.

HTH,
Good Luck,
Mark

 

[Michael35]

Mark,

All good points to consider. Thank you for the information.
I am putting the dish on the pole because I am shooting at a tower on the Mountain/hill about 1 mile away. The trees I am trying to clear are on protected land so I doubt I can cut them.
I got the hole dug down to 5' now. I tried standing the pole once already and it fell sideways instead of going in the hole. I need to re-figure my strategy and try again.

Michael

 

[k0ua]

Mark,

All good points to consider. Thank you for the information.
I am putting the dish on the pole because I am shooting at a tower on the Mountain/hill about 1 mile away. The trees I am trying to clear are on protected land so I doubt I can cut them.
I got the hole dug down to 5' now. I tried standing the pole once already and it fell sideways instead of going in the hole. I need to re-figure my strategy and try again.

Michael

Try chaining the pole to the bucket with the opening of the bucket pointed down and resting on the pole with 5 foot sticking back towards the tractor, raise slowly and rotate bucket back and set in hole. Be careful. Chain tightly.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Dig a ramp ditch a little wider than the pole so it goes down into the hole a foot or more. Set your pole so it is over the ramp with the bottom end over the hole. Block up the far end of the pole so it is starting tilt into the ditch. Get two helpers and put a set of guy ropes from the top of the pole one on each side to keep it from tipping sideways on the way up. Get under the far end with the bucket and lift. Work forward, the pole will be against the side of the hole. Dump the bucket so the pole is not on the sharp cutting edge and slides on a smooth part of the bucket. Work the tractor forward til she drops in the hole.