These modules are being created for people in rural and remote communities. Because we're in a rural/remote community, we understand that that means that the resources that are needed to do a job aren't always available. The equipment, tools, power, or machinery may be too difficult to get or too expensive where you are, or somehow just plain unavailable. This applies to human resources too. However, when a job needs to get done, there are usually ways around the problems. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of creative thinking to make it work. This activity is an example of that.

Raising a tower can be a tough job for a group of people, and although it is probably even tougher for ONE person, it can be done. The diagrams and explanations below show explains how using your brain and some simple machinery, some patience, and just a little bit of brawn, one person can raise a semi-permanent tower.

A. Install the base and the first tower section.

• Create the form for the base using wood, a hammer and nails.



• Pour the concrete into the form, set in base plate for tower, and allow concrete to set.
  
  
• Mount the first tower section on the base plate and securely bolt in place.
  
  
• Attach the guy wires for the first section.

B. Create a strong extension bar, and a firm attachment point.

• Firmly attach a LARGE eyehook to the top of a LONG pipe or 2x4.
  
  
• The pipe or piece of wood that you choose will need to be substantially longer than the next tower section that you intend to raise. This is so that the pipe or wood can be firmly clamped to the first tower section, while still maintaining enough height above the existing tower to allow you to work on attaching the next section.

C. Attach the hoist mechanism to the extension bar.

• Using strong rope, attach a large block and tackle to the eyehook at the top of the extension bar.
  
• If you don't have access to a block and tackle, instead attach a pulley to the eyehook at the top of the extension bar. You will then need a winch or some other simple machine to help you do the lifting. If you have access to a come-a-long, or a boat winch, either of these (shown below) will work. They will need to be FIRMLY attached to the ground, a vehicle, a tree, or some other immovable object in order to haul up the tower section.

Left: Come-along, Right: winch

D. Firmly clamp the extension arm to the top of the tower

• Climb up the first tower section and FIRMLY clamp the extension arm to the top of the tower, ensuring that there are PLENTY of clamps, and that there is LOTS of overlap between the bottom of the extension arm and the top of the tower section.
  
• U-bolt clamps like the one shown below will work well to hold the extension arm to the tower.
  

E. Attach the next tower extension section to the block and tackle or pulley assembly

• Tie the tower section on firmly with strong rope so that it will NOT come off and land on your head when you're hauling it up.
  
• Tie it on several feet back from the very top of the tower, so that you will give yourself as much room as possible.
  
• Use a knot that will not slip, such as a bowline:

F. Haul the tower section up and tie the rope off at the bottom of the tower.

• Haul the tower section up so that the end of it is *just* at the top of the other tower. This is so that it will be easier for you to get this second section in place.

G. Fix the second tower section into place

• Safety first - put on your climbing harness and safety hook before climbing the tower!
  
• It may take some fiddling to get the tower to slide into place, however the weight should be supported at the top by your winch or block and tackle, and you should be able to reach the top of the rope from where you are in case you need to pull the tower section a bit higher while you're working to get it into place.
  
• Take a prybar and hammer with you to help pursuade the poles to their correct location.
  
• Once in place, bolt the tower pieces together. A good idea is to use eyehooks for bolting the tower together as this will provide a firm attachment point for guylines.

H. Remove the extension bar

• Unclamp and remove the extension bar. Note that you can use the mechanism itself to help you lower it down once you have unclamped it, by simply attaching the haul-hook to the tower, and lowering down the extension bar.
  
• This now leaves room for you to attach guywires to this new section before attaching another section, or the antennas and equipment.
  
• Be sure to properly GROUND the tower when completed.