[Elecraft] Ice on dipole under snow under ice

[Fred Jensen]

Around 1958, I was part of the crew that built KPFK on Mt. Wilson in So 
Calif.  Our 10 dB antenna was a stacked ring design, and included a 
two-stage heater than circulated 60 Hz AC to de-ice it.  Icing didn't 
affect the SWR or pattern but it did put mechanical strain on the 
elements.  Mt Wilson is also famous for a large telescope.  I don't know 
how they deiced that. 😁

Incidentally, the KPFK homebrew 10 KW PA comprised 4 4-1000A's in 
parallel.  I don't recommend 4-1000A's at 90.7 MHz, it was pretty squirrely

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 12/15/2020 12:21 PM, Mike Harris via Elecraft wrote:
>
> It is mentioned in the ARRL Antenna Handbook that a closed loop array 
> like a Sterba curtain could be could be fed with a low voltage DC or 
> AC current to heat the wire to relieve it of accumulated snow and ice.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
>