| NT8F |
Rating:      |
2022-05-01 | |
| Great tower |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Purchased the 50 foot tower over a year ago. Quality construction and great customer interaction. Out standing mounting on a pole that does not require a large concrete filled hole. Very light weight allowing for easy instalation with minimum equipment and manpower, Easy to raise and lower and to tilt over when needed. |
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| W2TTT |
Rating:      |
2022-02-23 | |
| Aluma Tower MP-2 Base for T-100HN is awesome! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Over a year ago I located and purchased a used Aluma T-100HN tower from another ham in Georgia after consulting with Aluma's excellent staff about retrofitiing a tilt base for it. The obvious choice for this 92 foot plus mast crankup beast of a tower was their MP-2 tiltover base. They provided all the hardware to attach the 13 foot post to the tower and to lock it in place.
I ordered the MP-2 with a 50% deposit and a few weeks later, I drove down to their factory in Vero Beach where their friendly staff took the balance due and then loaded it all in our Promaster truck. These steps were easy.
Now came the fun part. Other family and community projects, a new job and even the construction of a Rohn 45 tower took priority. Even my tractor with its very useful auger had warranty issues that took awhile before I could get back to this project. Finally, the day came, the hole got dug with the help of the auger, a post hole digger, a long pike with extension and a shop vac! The goal was to dig a 6 foot shaft of otherwise undisturbed soil to allow the MP-2's post to be solid in soil without concrete! This left 7 feet of post up in the air by the bolt-on pivot. Jim, K4DBC was critical to getting this phase done. Many thanks to Jim and to Tom, WA4ZET who kindly.helped spot me when I dug the initial hole.
We used the tractor forks to get the post into the hole and finished that phase by using the forks as a "pile driver". We then added water and dirt 6 inches at a time to pack the base with soil. A week later, I used the tractor and its forks and bucket to lift and position the tower so that it could be bolted to the MP-2. Interesting day working solo, but it got done.
Next will be the installation of a cradle to catch the tower when it is tilted over and guys and anchors for the first section when the tower is cranked down, but not tilted over. After that will come grounding, the rotator, the control and coaxial cables and ANTENNAS!
We'll keep you posted, but this tower is going to give updated as we make progress! Rest assured, that I am quite pleased so far! |
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| K8TAH |
Rating:      |
2019-12-22 | |
| First class tower!! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
After some research, I decided to order the Aluma 40 foot crank up tower in October, 2018. It took until the middle of next January to get built. I borrowed my neighbors boat trailer and drove down to Vero Beach. The factory folks were very friendly and loaded it for me. The construction is very good and the welds are beautiful. It has stood for almost a year with an 8 element Cushcraft Skylog log periodic yagi, 6 meter and 2 meter yagis, with a Yaesu 800 rotor. I am very happy with the overall product.
One last point, do not waste your money on the $65 drill adapter. A 1/2" battery drill is all you need to raise and lower the tower. |
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| N2KNL |
Rating:      |
2016-11-01 | |
| My Aluma T-50H Tower |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I'm Bill N2KNL My wife Elaine KB1VAJ and I purchased our Aluma T-50H Tower June 2011 and it's been in service for almost 6 years now. It's been some time since there has been an update on the tower. As many of you hams know, Aluma Tower Company manufactures an excellent product! The T-50H has been through all kinds of weather here on Cape Cod. High winds (wind gust to 73 MPH), extreme temperatures, moisture..rain, snow, sleet and sun. We have added equipment on the tower, a Davis Vantage Pro2 6152 cabled weather station and 3 wired cameras with a great 65 foot high view. I'm almost 60 years old and lowering/tilting over the tower for maintenance is essential. My climbing days are over! lol :) Thanks Aluma! See our tower at
http://n2knl.com/alumatower/ |
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| W4KNY |
Rating:      |
2015-06-15 | |
| Fabulous Tower |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have the first summary here and that was posted 8 years ago. The tower is just as great today as it was nearly a decade ago. It has aged a bit from the FL sunshine, but it's still fabulous. What great folks the Aluma Tower people are. As I said 8 years ago, if anyone wants the best, treat yourself to an Aluma. Bob - W4KNY
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W4KNY on 2007-05-10
I first saw this aluminum crank up tower (T-35HN) over a year ago at a hamfest and knew I just had to have one; but I needed to save a few dollars first. Well, I now have one installed and the tower craftmanship is superb. While I suppose its strange call a tower this, it really is gorgeous. The Aluma people I spoke with outside and inside their office were very knowledgeable, pleasant and easy to chat with; especially David and Marilyn - true professionals in every way. Too bad the rating doesn't go to 10 because that's what this tower deserves. So if you wish never to have to buy another tower in your lifetime go for the best; go for an Aluma tower.
W4KNY/Bob |
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| N4QT |
Rating:      |
2014-12-20 | |
| great tower & light weight |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
My 35 foot Aluma Tower was installed in 1996. We restrung the crank up cables in 2010. We also replaced the rope lines. I have a Mosley light weight 4 element beam on the tower. I have had no problems with this tower. Not cheap but well made for the long haul.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N4QT on 2010-01-30
I have a 14 year old Aluma crank-up three section tower model T-135. I purchased it new in 1996. We just did the first refurbishment job on the tower in Jan. 2010. We restrung the metal and rope cables with new cables. After 14 years of cranking the tower up and down many times the cables started to show wear and needed to be replaced. I have a 4 element Mosley MP-33WARC five band yagi on this tower. Never needed guy wires. First section bracketed to house. In high winds and bad weather I crank it down to about 15 feet. Never had a problem with the tower. Very well made. Aluma sent me new pulleys at no cost to me to replace the old worn out pulleys. Tower is very light easy for two people to lower to a ladder when working on the tower and rotor and antenna's. It's back up for another 14 or 15 years of service. Great quality towers not cheap but as another reviewer said you get what you pay for. |
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| W8SPM |
Rating:      |
2012-02-10 | |
| Aluma TM-12 Portable Crank Up Tower |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After over 30 years of operating portable with all kinds of devices to get antennas in the air I decided in late 2011 to order a Aluma Tower Company 50' Trailer Mounted Crank Up Tower! I called Aluma Tower and talked to VP Ron Diniz at length of exactly what I wanted ! He designed a upgraded TM-12 50' Trailer Mounted Crank Up Tower for my needs! I made the trip to Vero Beach,Florida to pick up the trailer a day early! Ron Diniz gave me the grand tour of the facilities and I must say I was really impressed! The company has true craftsman that really take pride in building American Made Products!I saw some of the finest TIG Aluminum welding I have ever seen!
The 1000 mile trip back north went off with no problems at all ! I hardly knew I was towing a trailer!
If you are interested in a home tower product or portable tower Aluma Tower is a high class company to take care of your needs! They truly build High Quality Products!
I hope in the future To operate my trailer from the highest point in each state in the lower 48 in VHF-UHF-HF operation! A Picture of my tower is shown at QRZ under my call W8SPM
Samuel P. Maze W8SPM Parkersburg,WV |
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| NT4Z |
Rating:      |
2011-06-30 | |
| Excellent Tower |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I purchased this tower in September, 2007 and I have used it for many contests. When I purchased it, there was a "big foot plate" that you would put your rear tire on. I have a ladder rack on my truck. I drive onto the big foot plate with my left rear tire and then I use a boat winch that I have set up on the top of my ladder rack to pull the mast up vertically. I attach the mast to my ladder rack and then crank it up to between 35 and 40 feet high. I have never had any problems with it and with an aluminum canoe carrier I can push or pull this mast all over my property with no problems. It is a great mast. The people were very easy to work with and if I ever need another, I am quite sure it will be one from Alumatower. I do not beleive they use the big foot plate anymore but it is a great idea. With the set up I have, I can set the mast up in about 30 minutes. If I need to lower it (due to lightning) it doesn't take a very long time to get it back on the ground. Great product!!! By the way, my call sign is N4RWH now as I changed it to a vanity call in 2010.
I highly recommend this tower. |
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| W5AAT |
Rating:      |
2010-10-21 | |
| SUPERB! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I waited 3 yrs to post this review because "everything" is usually great when you first use it. I purchased the T50H in 2007 and using the house bracket,installed it with the help of ONE friend in a single day with plenty of time left over for beer and pizza consumption.
We mounted a three element steppIR and a 13 el 2m hrizontally polarized yagi on it. The foldover feature and light weight makes antenna maintenance a breeze. Have no doubts! This is a very strong, well made tower that is very easy to install and will last for years. Mine still looks like new and cranks up and down smoothly. I would highly recommend that you buy a 19v hand drill with a slow speed option. With the proper socket you can just stand there and raise/lower it with ease. One day I counted around 330 hand crank revolutions to raise it. Because the WX changes so quickly here in MS, I found myself sometimes doing the "crank operation" 3x/day!
Too much for an OT like me.
I agree with earlier comments about the staff at Aluma Tower. Dave Neubauer (the sales rep whom I dealt with) called me from his fishing camp in Canada on the day of installation to check on our progress. THAT is customer service! If you plan on operating for more than a couple of years the Aluma Tower is the one to buy. My neighbors even like it, including the HOA president! Really.
Todd / W5AAT |
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| WV4I |
Rating:      |
2008-01-11 | |
| Great product and staff |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have to concur with last reviewer, re people and products of Aluma Tower Co, so won't repeat what he said again. We have an Aluma tower, crank up, in use at our aviation community, Wellington Aero Club, Wellington, FL, for some 2 years now. I was involved in the acquisition, also got to visit their facility, meet their people. We crank the tower down for high wind warnings else it holds our wind sock, rotating beacon, pcl antennna,, etc. High quality tower that will still be there long after most of us are gone. In this case, you DO get what you pay for.
For you hams/pilots that might want to take a look, we are Private, FD38, located PBI262/12 dme, 20' elevation, 122.85 CTAF, PBI nearby ATIS is 123.75, PBI App 124.6, Rwy 15-33, 4,000' grass x 100', level but can be mushy after lots of rain. PCL on 118.5. Experimental aircraft friendly, spam cans if we must....if landing, do shoot me an email ahead of time to callsign@bellsouth.net or else low approaches are always enjoyed....
Link McGarity
WV4I
RV-6/N72AT
FD38 |
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