[ADXA] mowing, Collins gear, etc

[w5znjoel at gmail.com]

A close personal friend of mine changed my mindset on mowing the lawn years ago. He told me it was good “therapy” to mow the lawn, or be out on the tractor…….We refer to it as “tractor therapy” now.

 

I now love it because when I’m on the mower or tractor I don’t have to listen to the phone ring, I’m away from email and other disturbing distractions. I can stroll around while looking at antennas and consider different and better arrangements, or just start putting a plan together to achieve my DX goals.

 

“Tractor therapy” or “lawn mowing therapy” – give it a try, it works and then with your mind clear afterward you can GET IN THERE AND WORK ‘EM !!!!!!!!!!!

 

73 Joel W5ZN

 

From: adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net <adxa-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Dennis Schaefer
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2025 5:43 PM
To: ADXA <ADXA at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [ADXA] mowing, Collins gear, etc

 

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

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