A new Antenna mast for Arusha Transmitter

Kivesitower 1.jpg (21324 bytes)

Kivesitower 2.jpg (21350 bytes)

Kivesitower 3.jpg (24460 bytes)

Kivesitower 4.jpg (21993 bytes)

Kivesitower 5.jpg (19503 bytes)

Kivesitower 6.jpg (18828 bytes)

Kivesitower 7.jpg (23306 bytes)

Kivesitower 8.jpg (23992 bytes)

Kivesitower 9.jpg (23511 bytes)

Kivesitower 10.jpg (25934 bytes)

Kivesitower 11.jpg (20426 bytes)

Kivesitower 12.jpg (18830 bytes)

Kivesitower 13.jpg (22133 bytes)

Kivesitower 14.jpg (19208 bytes)

Kivesitower 15.jpg (20294 bytes)

Kivesitower 16.jpg (26915 bytes)

Kivesitower 17.jpg (16527 bytes)

Kivesitower 18.jpg (23883 bytes)

Kivesitower 19.jpg (25880 bytes)

Finally on Friday, November 18th we made the foundation on the Kivesi hill for the Arusha transmitter! Since the trouble with the existing antenna started in August it had been decided the antenna has to be replaced. The old antenna had been made of a chrome plated iron tube, since an aluminium tube was not available when we made it. It also was decided, that the pipe carrying should replaced by an proper guyed antenna mast. It had been ready now for about two weeks, and we looked for a day with dry weather to bring it up the site.

Since no building materials were available at the site, we had to take everything with us. So we loaded the car already the day before with bags of cement and gravel. Of course the hooks for the guy wires and the base were placed in the car as well. The car carried the 4 lower segments of the mast on the carrier, and we bought the cement needed in Arusha town, when we distributed the new calendar to the book shops in town.

When we arrived at Lucas, the watchman’s site, the lorry with sand plastering the transmitter hut has just arrived a well. So we could pay the driver for it.

Then we took all the materials off the car and had to distribute the 210kg Sand, 170kg gravel, 50 kg Cement and 100kg water on the porters! That was a hard task, since everyone wanted the highest salary with the lowest weight!

We are so grateful Lukas helped us with this task! Be fore we took off everyone got a donate and a bottle Soda to get enough strength to carry the 20 kg the steep trail up for 1 hour and about 30 minutes!

Hen we arrived at the transmitter hut Lukas had to note down what everybody was carrying, because some made the trip even twice. Everybody was glad about the peanuts and chocolate we brought along. The boys found some fruits on one trees, which helped us to reduce thirst.

We had to dig the foundations for the guy wires and the antenna mast itself with the panga (bush knife). Big stones at the bottom increased the weight. The concrete had been mixed and poured in the prepared holes, after wetting the soil.

Before we went down again, we calculated how much it will be to pay all the porters, and Lucas promised us, that he will keep all wet when he returns to watch the site.

In two weeks we want to erect the antenna mast and fix he new antenna on top of it !