A Word Of Warning About Aerial Contractors & Specialist Antennas

With just two days to go before our house move, I had arranged for a friend to visit and take down my aerial, rotator and mast. This is not a big job as it is easy to climb on the roof of the bungalow with a small set of ladders. I was keen to get this lot removed before we vacated the property in case our old neighbour vandalised anything, which he probably would have done. Click here for an account of the things he got up to while we were living there and you'll understand our concerns. 

We had two weeks to vacate the old bungalow after signing for our new one, which meant that we temporarily had two properties, but because of the problems we'd had at the old place, we were just keen to move out the moment we got the keys for the new one, then we could move any the valuables and sleep soundly at our new address. 

Unfortunately, high winds and heavy rain prevented my friend from climbing on the roof on the day so he abandoned this until the following day. The next day arrived, with winds much calmer, but here comes another 'unfortunately', as he found he hadn't got the nerve to climb on the roof. This was becoming frustrating, but I'm glad he admitted to this as it's better to be safe than sorry. So this meant I had to get a local aerial contractor to do the job. I found a national company who appeared to be reputable. 

Moving ahead to the following morning. Two bods arrived from a local aerial contractors complete with professionally signwritten and well-stocked Transit van. In other words, they looked the part. It was windy again, but the two bods wasted no time and got the ladders up and climbed on to the roof. They scratched their head and tried to work out how best to take everything down. Remembering how Andrew Webster had got the 9.2 and rotator on the mast, I tried to help by shouting up to them, explaining the reverse procedure in order to help the bods. There was silence!  Eventually, they grunted. I couldn't hear them. Shouting up to the again (it was windy) they replied, sarcastically, "Yeah mate, we've  never taken down a fuck**g aerial before". To say that I am now fearing for the safety of the equipment would be putting it mildly. I tried to communicate with these bods but they were intent on ignoring me. In my head, I am considering a course of action for compensation and I am beginning to accept that I might have to say goodbye to the antenna and the rotator.

Things got worse. They decided to lower the mast with the aerial and rotator still on it. I was now getting worried as this would result in the reflectors resting on the roof and possibly getting bent with the huge weight. The mast includes an aluminium scaffolding pole, a weighted (for balance) Korner 9.2 antenna and a Yaesu G-5500 rotator. This alone is approaching the weight of an adult. The fact that the whole structure was extremely top heavy caused me even more concern. 

For some inexplicable reason, they took the reflectors off the 9.2, leaving the directors still mounted through the rotator. Then they REMOVED the bolts on the TK brackets while the bod on the ladder took the entire weight in ONE HAND! The other bod is still on the roof steadying the whole lopsided structure which is now being lowered groundward. The bod on the roof is about to let go! It got worse still. The bod on the ladder shouted me to grab the bottom of the scaffolding pole while he lowered it to me! WHAAAAAT? Not only am I now VERY concerned for the equipment, but I am also concerned for our loves as my wife and I attempt to grab the bottom of the pole!   

With middle bod holding the bottom of the scaffolding pole, Jane and I stretch hard to grab the bottom of the pole, which is now about six feet above the ground. 

Don't ask me how but, somehow, the whole structure was gradually lowered down and reached the ground. All I can say is that the middle bod must have had immense strength and an outstanding skill of balance, using just the one hand, that he managed to guide everything down safely. I then uttered a MASSIVE sigh of relief! This could have so easily gone wrong.

Needless to say, I will NOT be using Aerial Solutions for any future aerial jobs.