[ADXA] Are you READY???

[WB5JJJ]

OK, I need both of these DXCC like almost everybody else.  I just hope my
antenna problem does not pop up again at the wrong time.  Keep reading.

So, I had an anomaly with my antenna a couple mornings ago.  I fired
everything up and my SWR was maxed out on the Mosley (20m-10m).  The
separate m2 6m beam and 5-EFHW's were all fine, so that eliminated the
switcher.

Used my Rig Expert to check cables, auto antenna switcher and all.
Everything checked out EXCEPT for the coax going from the switcher up the
tower to the antenna, its SWR was off scale.  Went out and looked things
over from the ground and saw nothing suspicious.  Came back in and rotated
the antenna for a better look, took zoomed in pictures with my Nikon and
everything looked good for a 10+ year old installation.  Just one end of
coax hold down tape flapping in the breeze, but it's been doing that since
almost the original installation in 2012.

I did another check of the coax to antenna coax run and it was back to
normal, just by rotating the antenna.  Hit the power to it and the SWR was
as expected.  Now, I'm really frustrated as I may have a break in the
rotating loop part of the cable as it's a single piece of RG-8 with no
splices or mid connectors between shack and antenna.  The other spot might
be the crimped/soldered ring terminals on the coax to antenna points might
be loose or corroded.  But why would rotating the antenna change their
contact to the antenna?  Everything in that area is taped to the boom.

I am getting things together to make an RG-213 section from just below the
rotor where it will connect to a home run LMR-400 from a pair of unused
loop antennae down to the shack.  From there it's just a short run up the
mast to the Mosley boom, then through a big choke coil and out to the
connection points.  I will need a bucket truck or man lift in the near
future to make this change out.  BTW, has anyone got about 25' of new (or
like new) RG-213 hanging around they would be willing to part with?

For the time being, all is back to normal, but I know I'm on borrowed time.
 I'm open to any other ideas from the brain trust on here.
73's
George - WB5JJJ
HoIP - 100105
HH - 4969



On Mon, Oct 3, 2022 at 1:15 PM Rory Bowers <k6cks01 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I think I am going to be home for this one.  Woo Hoo.
> Thanks Joel!
> Rory, K5CKS
>
> On Mon, Oct 3, 2022 at 1:07 PM <w5zn at w5zn.org> wrote:
>
>> Two BIG ONES are about to fire up, D60AE Comoros Islands on October 5 and
>> TY0RU Benin on October 14.
>>
>> ARE YOU READY???? (TO GET IN THERE AND WORK 'EM)????
>>
>> If not, the clock is ticking!!!!
>>
>> 73 Joel W5ZN
>>
>>
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