[HCRA] Getting ready for Field Day?

[Jim - KK1W]

Hey folks,

 

Just a quick update from the 1W shack.

 

After Ed’s FD equipment party a few weeks back I returned with a pile of
coax needing new PL259’s and the KB1JVF memorial antenna launcher that
needed some TLC. Along the way our original AA1YW launcher also found its
way into my shop for repairs.

 

Both launchers needed new pressure gauges and leak repair. The gauges
arrived yesterday and the JVF gun is up and running. I’ve got to pick up a
few PVC parts to fix the YW gun and that will be ready for Field Day too.
Still to be done on both guns is to fabricate a support clamp to stabilize
the barrel against the reservoir to reduce the stress on the guns plumbing
components. I have little doubt we will be able to have some ‘double barrel’
launching going on when the need arises.

 

A word of caution to the antenna launcher users (besides the obvious like
don’t point it at your friends unless you mean it). The guns are made out of
sturdy PVC plumbing components. PVC is easy to work with and inexpensive but
it isn’t light in these sizes. The actual mechanical parts of the gun are
small plumbing parts varying between 1/8” and ¾” pipe sizes. Dropping the
gun on the end with these parts places a huge amount of stress on them and
usually results in breakage of something sooner or later. The fact that both
guns had broken pressure gauges is testament to this fact.

 

Soooo, to keep repair costs down we really need to be careful when handling
the launchers.

 

The coax, not yet. I do so much like soldering on PL259’s, don’t you? I
should get to them, make the repairs and re-test the cables within the next
few days.

 

I understand there may be a Field Day meeting scheduled for June 2nd? Watch
your emails for a message from Kx1x about it. Location still to be
announced.

 

Less than four weeks to go – are you ready for some FUN!

 

’73


 

Jim, KK1W