[AK-VHF] [Moon-Net] 2m Array Down

[Edward R Cole]

Bottom section of tower is bent so all must be taken down. Upper four 
sections of tower look OK and most antennas OK (two lower one's hit 
the ground bending elements and broke end of one antenna (will need 
new boom to rebuild). Hazer Lift crashed and may be too damaged to 
reuse (cost $600 22 years ago). Winch may also be damaged ($150). 
Antenna H-frame and new rotator look OK. Going to attach guys from 
tower top to prevent total tower failure which would destroy it all 
($3,000+). Nothing can be done until next summer. Will ask my tower 
guys whether their boom truck can cross my lawn (may take boards for 
it to run onto or putting in a driveway to handle a 5-ton truck).

If concrete base is bent then a new base will be needed, as 
well.  Will think it over the winter.  I may opt to put up 30-foot of 
tower without Hazer with only preamps and TR relay on tower.  That 
would entail running cables to ground level where all amps would 
live.  Maintenance would entail using a man-lift but that is much 
cheaper than the boom truck.

I will explore using my two KLM yagis for 2m-eme in meantime.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com/2m-eme_down_1.jpg.
http://www.kl7uw.com/2m-eme_down_2.jpg

At 09:35 AM 11/2/2020, Edward R Cole wrote:
>I may have a backup to the 2m-eme array (maybe).  I installed two 
>11-element KLM yagis in Vpol above my 6m eme yagis.  So all move 
>with az-el.  The KLM yagis are rated for 2 kW PEP.  I would have to 
>retrofit one of my 2m-eme preamps and TR relay to run eme on those 
>antenna.  KLM claimed 13 dBd gain (I wonder).
>
>I have 50-foot of LDF4-50A 1/2-inch line to the tower base and 
>33-foot of LMR-600 up the tower.  Two-way splitter is made of RG-11 
>with LMR-400 phasing lines.  Driven elements are folded dipoles with 
>coax baluns.
>
>Assessing the situation later.
>
>73, Ed - KL7UW
>
>At 08:49 AM 11/2/2020, Edward R Cole via Moon-net wrote:
>>We've had very strong winds yesterday and today.  I discovered my 
>>2m array came down last night.  My wife heard a big noise about 9pm 
>>and thought something hit the house.
>>
>>The array was mounted on a Hazer lift and it appears it dropped 
>>which indicates the brake failed and maybe the hauling cable broke, 
>>as well.  The array stopped before hitting the ground so antennas 
>>look OK, but the 50-foot Rohn-25 tower is bent near the base.  All 
>>the guys went slack but this is normal when the array is 
>>lowered.  I realized that the top guys to the tower were not 
>>attached (which is normal for operating eme).  Had they been 
>>attached to the guys the tower might have survived.
>>
>>Still strong winds so have not gone out to inspect, closely.  I 
>>suspecting one of the Hazer guy attachment gave way to cause the tower damage.
>>
>>At this late in the season, probably unlikely to get tower down for 
>>repair (if possible).  It will take a boom truck to pick it off 
>>(not safe to climb).  Ground has been rain soaked for the last 
>>month or tow so will not likely support a boom truck.
>>
>>6m eme array looks fine.  4.9m dish was removed last month and is 
>>on the ground with weights on the edge.  Pictures later.
>>
>>73, Ed - KL7UW
>>   http://www.kl7uw.com
>>Dubus-NA Business mail:
>>   dubususa at gmail.com
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>
>73, Ed - KL7UW
>   http://www.kl7uw.com
>Dubus-NA Business mail:
>   dubususa at gmail.com
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73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com