Hi Dan:
I'm posting my reply to your query to the Elecraft reflector as well,
in the hope that it might assist others in procuring "failed" hot
poles as well.
You wrote:
Can you describe what you mean by "hot poles"? And any idea how I
could get hold of some from the local electric company here? When
they fail the test, are they sold as surplus or just destroyed?
Generally, most electric utilities will destroy hot poles which fail
their Hi-Pot tests. They don't want to risk that someone might get
hold of one and then try to 'work' on their local wires with it...!
HOWEVER... if you can develop a relationship with someone at your
local utility, especially if you can convince them that their failed
hot poles would be the best thing since sliced bread for local hams
to use as EMERGENCY ANTENNA SUPPORTS, you might be able to get them
to allocate some of their failed poles to your use.
It happened that one of our club members worked at an electric co-op
which was tossing several poles and he (basically) just went out and
scarfed them out of the trash bin before the trash collectors got to
them. I think we managed to get hold of about 6-8 that way.
Then, a couple years ago, when the State of MO held an emergency
comms exercise in the St Louis area, with emergency services reps
from many city / county / private groups present, the comms rep from
Missouri's largest electric utility was present and he saw is using a
couple of the hot poles for supporting our HF dipoles and a couple
VHF verticals. He mentioned the fact to one of our comms guys who
immediately put the 'arm' on him for their company to make their
failed poles available for the same usage, rather than destroying
them. It worked, and we came away with a dozen or so poles, most of
which have been distributed to ARES and emergency preparedness groups
throughout the state. A VERY worthwhile project.
There are also companies (www.tmascto.com, for example) which sell
NEW hot poles. But the price is fairly significant.
Good luck,
Tom Hammond N0SS
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