If you take a look at the bases, rather than spend $125 each plus shipping on two flat bases from Rohn, I had my excellent local welder Robert weld 3/8" flat plates to the bottoms of two tower sections, drill holes in the centers, and strengthen the joint with stout webbing. This saved about $200.

1. Per the advice of Glenn, K6NA, the guys are steel (1/4" EHS) for the 20' closest to the ground. This is a preventative measure for both fire and vandalism.

2. We had a lot of guys come out and help at the Tower Party. Some were more experienced than others. We made up three teams, one for each guy point, each team led by a ham with experience using preformed grips and handling shackles and turnbuckles and all that. The leader would call the shots and make sure everything was sano. Arlen, my friend with the transit level, and another guy (Jim and Dave shared the duty), would site the tower in two different planes and would bark directions for leveling up the tower. We learned on the second tower to do the guys one level at a time - i.e. all the 40 foot guys done and level before going to the 80s, etc. On the first tower, each team worked at its own pace, so the tower, though secure, was so prang'd that us poor guys at the guy point up the tower (figures) found ourselves having to undo and redo each of the guys because we couldn't take up enough in the turnbuckle. We are still working on getting that tower straight. The one we did second dialed right in. Lesson learned.

In the very lower right hand corner of this photo, you can see a bit of broadcast tower lying on the ground right where one of the white bits meets one of the red bits. One day that big ol' tower might be called into service. For now it just waits. Also, though the light is odd in the photo (the camera adjusted itself to the bright sky and not the important radio stuff), you can see in the foreground two large spools of one-inch diameter hardline. Large cable like this is important for getting the greatest number of your watts to come out up at the antenna. Phil, N6ZZ, had to sell me about 4000 feet when he moved from Texas to New Mexico, in order to lighten his load. Larry, K5OT helped him deliver it. We OTs have to stick together!

In ham radio-speak, I am not building a multi-multi. In fact, the station is not even designed for DX operation. In a nutshell, the design is for optimal domestic single-operator radiosporting. However, with over 20 separate antennas and 4 operating positions, it should be capable of providing training, fun, and a decent score for multi-operator efforts in any major contest. Part of my goal is to train future ops, especially young ones, which is why we are big on quality social events and facilities.

N5OT is assembled of very little which is bought new for the purpose. On the contrary, I have been saving and scrounging and salvaging and collecting stuff since about 1985 when I realized what I wanted to build. Most people who look inside the barn wonder where all this stuff was before I found the land, built the building, dug the holes, and put up the towers. That's a long story, too, and I will tell it at some point.

These folks all standing around having a good time warm my heart and make me feel like I am doing my part to make a good impression for ham radio, and to spark interest with curiosity. Lord knows we need it!