Fear of Poles

[cyberham]

Perhaps this is why I've never installed a pole for a satellite dish.

 

[k4otl]

That's pretty messed up, looks like the anchors were set for a different size pole/base plate that's been changed out.

Base plates are the best way to do it, and if one is afraid of missing anchor bolt holes, just set 1 anchor and use post-installed epoxy anchors w/ 3" or more embedment for the other 3. (I'm a structural engineer so I deal with stuff like this all the time). Ideally, you'd use a plywood template when you set your anchor bolts, that's the best way.

I was going to have a local fab shop make me a pole with base plate, but it was cheaper to just buy a 12' long piece of pipe and bury 4.5' in a 12" dia hole filled with concrete. I had the 6' piece of pipe from where I cut down the dish at the previous owners', and so if I move I'll just cut down the pipe and weld in the middle, re-set it in a new hole with concrete, and call it a day. Biggest thing is keeping things plumb while the concrete cures.

 

[N5XZS]

Looks like way off target my friend!!

 

[cyberham]

...and bury 4.5' in a 12" dia hole...

In my dreams. If I can dig down even 1 foot without hitting solid granite, I'm excited. We are safe from mud slides if torrential rain ever comes. Our hill isn't moving due to rock. As for digging a hole, good luck with that.

 

[navychop]

 

[comfortably_numb]

Fear of Poles? Nah, all the Polish folks in my family are very nice people!

 

[NYDutch]

In my dreams. If I can dig down even 1 foot without hitting solid granite, I'm excited. We are safe from mud slides if torrential rain ever comes. Our hill isn't moving due to rock. As for digging a hole, good luck with that.

Dig down to the solid granite, drill anchor holes with a diamond bit, and epoxy/cement threaded rods in the holes. Spin nuts and washers down far enough to allow the rods to stick up through the base plate a couple of inches. Set the base plate in place and use the bottom nuts to level it, locking it with the top nuts. Done.

 

[k4otl]

Dig down to the solid granite, drill anchor holes with a diamond bit, and epoxy/cement threaded rods in the holes. Spin nuts and washers down far enough to allow the rods to stick up through the base plate a couple of inches. Set the base plate in place and use the bottom nuts to level it, locking it with the top nuts. Done.

Very good advice. I'd do 4-6" embed since it's in-situ rock as opposed to concrete

 

[WhiteBeard]

In my dreams. If I can dig down even 1 foot without hitting solid granite, I'm excited. We are safe from mud slides if torrential rain ever comes. Our hill isn't moving due to rock. As for digging a hole, good luck with that.

Dynamite?

 

[cyberham]

Dynamite?

Wrong answers. This is the solution. It's been working fine for 4 months.

 

[TRG]

Fear of Poles? Nah, all the Polish folks in my family are very nice people!

Indeed. This is one of my favorite Poles.

 

[clucas]

As long as we're on the subject of poles, I acquired an Ajax H-H mount I have to clean up but it needs a 3 1/2" O.D. pole. Do I need schedule 80 or will a schedule 40 work?
edit: Oh, it's for a 10 foot mesh dish in case you didn't guess.

 

[navychop]

I am not an expert. Not knowledgeable in this particular field. But I would never use 40 for anything even semi-structural.

And I'd be very careful with 80.

Metal.

 

[primestar31]

As long as we're on the subject of poles, I acquired an Ajax H-H mount I have to clean up but it needs a 3 1/2" O.D. pole. Do I need schedule 80 or will a schedule 40 work?
edit: Oh, it's for a 10 foot mesh dish in case you didn't guess.

A 40 will work, but an 80 should really be used. Though IF it's a mesh dish as you said, a 40 should be fine as long as it isn't more than 6' above ground. Should be at least 4' deep also.

 

[clucas]

Thanks for the input. I currently have a temporary 10 foot fixed dish with the metal pipe but with the dish and mount covering the pole, I can't measure the thickness of the wall. I'm guessing it is "80".

 

[Brct203]

Dig down to the solid granite, drill anchor holes with a diamond bit, and epoxy/cement threaded rods in the holes. Spin nuts and washers down far enough to allow the rods to stick up through the base plate a couple of inches. Set the base plate in place and use the bottom nuts to level it, locking it with the top nuts. Done.

what if there's a big storm that topples the dish and the mountain with it?

 

[NYDutch]

what if there's a big storm that topples the dish and the mountain with it?

The dish will be the least of his worries...

 

[cyberham]

What if...a bear saunters out by the dish to admire the apple tree he ate bare last visit yesterday, then wanders away disappointed. Motoring my Ku dish beside didn't phase him.

 

[k4otl]

As long as we're on the subject of poles, I acquired an Ajax H-H mount I have to clean up but it needs a 3 1/2" O.D. pole. Do I need schedule 80 or will a schedule 40 work?
edit: Oh, it's for a 10 foot mesh dish in case you didn't guess.

Sch 40 is fine, it's what I used for my 10' mesh. Admittedly it's a little more flexible than I'd like, but flexibility is not weakness. Steel can flex way more than you think before failing. For dish use flexibility is not a good thing (particularly on Ku )Really whatever fits the 3.5" OD best is what should be used.

 

[AZ.]

Sch 40 is fine, it's what I used for my 10' mesh. Admittedly it's a little more flexible than I'd like, but flexibility is not weakness. Steel can flex way more than you think before failing. For dish use flexibility is not a good thing (particularly on Ku )Really whatever fits the 3.5" OD best is what should be used.

Throw some rebar down the pole add concrete, the flex will stop.