[Hallicrafters] Station Antennas Destroyed

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Talk about an ironic twist of fate! I had offered to resign as NCS for the
Saturday HCI 40 meter Net after four years of doing it, if any of you wanted to
assume the duties. Today was possibly my last scheduled on air job as NCS. 	
	
When I fired up the equipment, I noticed that the forty meter antenna seemed
awfully quiet. The eighty meter antenna did also. I switched to the GAP Titan
and there was life on both bands. My grandson happened to be here, so I sent him
out to the forty foot tower side mounted to a shed in the woods 125 feet south
of my home. He came back and reported that both antennas were gone.   	
	
More investigation revealed that they were not actually gone, but were lying in
the woods on the ground. The mounting brackets that attached the IAC Double
Bazooka antennas to the tower had been torn completely off the tower. I had used
the forty meter antenna Wednesday night to talk with several that I could not
talk with during the HCI Global Glow on 20 meters. This damage happened either
Thursday or Friday.  There have been no high winds, freezing rain variety of
storms or other weather issues that would have caused this. I believe this was
done intentionally by someone, who knows why.	
	
I seriously doubt it was due to angry neighbors experiencing TVI, as I have
received only one complaint in almost five years. It turned out to be ComCast
Cable and their new fiber optic cabling system with serious malfunctions. The
neighbor apologized to me for blaming me. The usual assumptions: see lots of
antennas - must be the Ham radio dudes fault.  	
	
I will not be on the air on forty meters for several weeks. It is forecast to be
from 9-14 below zero Sunday night, so finding anyone who wants to climb a tower
on Monday is very unlikely. Although I do have the GAP Titan, it is a poor
excuse of an antenna, as far as I am concerned. It was hit by lightning in April
2001 and I have only used it since for SW listening. However, I did transmit on
it today in an emergency situation.          	
	
I am quite concerned about the vandels going after the two verticals 65 feet
south of the house next. I live in a very safe and good neighborhood, or so I
thought!   	
	
This may be an extensive and expensive repair project. Winter is certainly not
the time to effect these repairs, but I have no choice. I will let you know when
the antennas are once again operational. 	
	
Duane W8DBF