[ADXA] mowing, Collins gear, etc

[Dennis Schaefer]

I always thought I disliked mowing, but I wasn’t able to do it in 2024 and
hired someone.  He did a great job but there was something strange about
seeing someone else mowing the yard.   I’m going to try it this year and
see how it goes.  I guess I don’t dislike it as much as I thought!

What does that have to do with ham radio?    Last fall, Craig did some
antenna work for me and we replaced an old run of rotator cable.  We ran it
across the yard and tested the rotator, and since mowing season was over,
it stayed that way all winter.   and up to now.   Yesterday, I pulled it
through the underground pipe, so mowing can happen.  In the process, I
discovered that something had chewed through one of the spare control
cables that ran underground.  I use stainless steel wool to discourage
them, so this was fairly mild damage.  Nevertheless, rodents chomping my
cables isn’t allowed.  I ordered some stainless steel mesh and plan to
cover everything that is exposed.  It isn’t super heavy duty, but is
flexible and I can wrap a layer or two easily.  We will see.   I also have
some rodent repellent, which I will be more conscientious about applying.

My sympathies to those who have had rodent problems, and weather problems.
I know the wind did some damage.

My congratulations to those who are working good stuff and moving up the
standings.  I do read and take note of all the updates!

If anyone knows where I could get a working Collins 75S-1, please let me
know.   Mine has lost audio output and it isn’t a tube.   My eyes aren’t
good enough to work on it - it’s crowded around that stage.   It also
doesn’t seem to ever deflect the S-meter except for RF gain, so its
probably more than audio, maybe a voltage issue.  I would be happy to pay
someone to get it going, or sell it cheap as-is, or trade it, or ?????
Collins was the dream rig when I started in 1963 and I enjoy having one to
occasionally listen to.   An S2 or S3 would be fine, too, but an S-1 is
what I’m looking for.

73,
Dennis/RZ
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/adxa/attachments/20250410/01f1bd42/attachment.html>