[Hallicrafters] With Any Good Fortune -

[Duane B. Fischer, W8DBF]

Regarding the HCI Sunday Net on March 13th: 	
	
The new Hustler vertical should be here tomorrow. The antenna wizard is picking
it up, taking it home, putting it together, testing it on his ground mount,
breaking it down into two sections, bringing it back, putting it up and checking
it with his antenna analyzer. If the weather holds, it should be operational for
this coming weekend. Hence, there will be a HCI Net with better coverage than
yesterday. 	
	
I dropped down from the Hustler 6BTV to the 4BTV, as I never use thirty or
eighty meters on the Hustler vertical anyhow. It was sixty dollars less money
and according to New-Tronics, the makers of Hustler, the same identical antenna
specifications as the 6BTV. It is 3.5 feet shorter, instead of 25 feet it is
21.5 feet in height. Less area for the winds to blow on and stress.	
	
Let the buyer beware! yes, it is true. However, in the case of these two Hustler
antennas I purchased from the dealer in FL, there was absolutely no way to know
the actual age of the antennas. Because both boxes were still sealed, they
'appeared' new from the exterior. The parts were shiny, no discoloration or
corrosion and so forth. But rubber and some plastics deteriorate over time no
matter how they are stored. Hence time takes its toll. They were 'new' in the
sense of 'never assembled and used', but not in the sense of manufacturing age.
Which is where the legal issues begin. New-Tronics turned my situation over to
their legal department, who contacted me. They were going to revoke the dealer's
license, among other things. However, the man involved was no longer a
registered dealer, so licensing was of no concern. But giving New-Tronics
product the Hustler antenna was and is.	
	
Thanks to an incredibly helpful and well trained tech support young lady, she
told me which numbers she needed and the manufacturing and sales dates of both
antennas were found on her computer. The Hustler G7-144 two meter vertical was
made in 1979 and was nineteen years old when it was sold to me 'new' in August
1998. The Hustler 6BTV, a mere baby, was made in 1987, it was only eleven years
old! The failures happened at ages 25 and 18 respectively.	
	
I apologize to all who tried to check in yesterday and could not be heard. now I
know it was a real zoo with the contestors screaming their neurons loose, but
without the ability to use the vertical it greatly hindered my overall ability
to hear stations I normally use that antenna for. If all goes well, hopefully
the station will be back to normal this coming Sunday. Thanks for your patience
and tolerance.