[ADXA] Lightning Hit

[Lanny Aldrich]

I'm back on the air with my Radiowavz Sentinal 20-6M hex beam.  I just wish S21ACP would decode now that I can aim a gain antenna.  I'm glad I got Glorioso (ATNO) on three bands the first day: before the lightning damage.

Craig, WA5YSD, replaced my rotor and cable (new Yaesu G-450AC has different pinout than the old G-450A (DC) a couple of weeks ago.  Thank goodness for GigaParts employee discounts!

Last week, Jon, KI5UCZ, replaced the 180 degree jumper at the top of the hex beam feed stack to the MFJ-915 1:1 current balun, but that didn't cure my problem with unusable high SWR.

[cid:b1eb62c6-46e0-4a5c-a42c-605c9ad8986c]

Craig and Jay, N5LKE, came to my rescue again this afternoon and found that my balun had actually taken a hit.  The balun SO-239 and RG-8X PL-259 were completely charred.  Craig had to pry them apart with pliers.  Jon didn't see this because of being encased in coax seal.  Jay's Comet analyzer and dummy load took us to the ultimate issue.  Jay was surprised that I'd been able to hear anything!

In anticipation I had a fresh 150' roll of ABR RG-8U ready to go with an rf choke wound out of the first 20'.  The hard part was fishing the new coax across my attic and down inside the wall between my shack and the guest bathroom.  No fun in a wicked hot attic!

[cid:6077d9cb-d76a-41e0-9905-0d0aaa29efc9]

I'm turning 80 (and feel it) Monday and very much appreciate all the help and look forward to NCAARS Field Day!

73, Lanny  K1LEC
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