[ADXA] mowing, Collins gear, etc

[Stan Ross]

I, too, use “mower therapy”, even though I only have a little over one acre to handle. 

But my favorite therapy has been  for over 50 years: “wind therapy “ on a motorcycle that started when I was 13 years old. 

Traversing the back roads of Crawford county, mostly dirt and gravel, gave me an escape that I find hard to describe.

Then ham radio took over when I was 14 and became WN5FMK in the metropolis of Alma, AR, population around 1,500 at the time. I missed my wind therapy for several years but after raising two sons who learned to ride dirt bikes my dad kept running, I finally got my own small Harley around the year 2000 and rediscovered how much a 30 minute each way commute could be enjoyable. (Mixed in with CW mobile when on 4 wheels!)

Now, 25 years, triple bypass, back and eye 5 later, I’ve been relegated  to three wheel “wind therapy“; not quite as exciting s taking these Ozarks’ twisty roads leaning into curves fast enough to scrape the foot pegs or floor boards, but I’m still able, for the moment, to get out and enjoy our beautiful Arkansas scenery.

Then, after a few hours. come home to a DX pileup (or one just missed) all is well. Then it’s back to “mower therapy” for the next 6 months….

73/GUD DX,

Stan
VR


Just an OM reminiscing 
from my iPhone

> On Apr 12, 2025, at 10:31 AM, w5znjoel at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> 
> 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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