[ILQSO] N9JF/M mini-disaster

[n9jfcountyhunter at gmail.com]

"Never let the perfect become the enemy of the good."  Confucius BY1ZZZ  

(If he didn't say it, he should have....)

I've not been particularly happy with the signal I put out as a mobile
during ILQP.  Finishing "back in the pack" doesn't bother me since part of
the reason is no doubt operating skill.  However, I've been told I'm "not
very loud" compared to other mobiles.  The usual arrangement here (lately)
has been three Hustler resonators on a trimount and short mast on the van.
Lately, I've played with a super-long mast under a single resonator when
parked and putting out parks/refuges during Earth Week as N9G.  The
difference on RBN has been remarkable compared to the old system.  Obviously
I can't drive with that much mast (10-11 feet) on the car!  However, a
compromise presented itself:  a 5-foot mast with three resonators mounted
horizontally.  I know some mobiles who have used this with considerable
success.  

I mounted this on the rear portion of the van roof, using a 4-magnet mount
and a quick-detach at the bottom of the mast.  Since I hoped to run one more
park as N9G, I put on 40, 30 and 20 meter resonators.  

I got 10 miles from home, and the mast flipped down, smashing the rear glass
on the van.  

I have never had a 4-magnet mount flip before.  You can barely pry them off.
But that's not what happened.  The 1/8" pin on the quick detach simply
sheared off, and the mast departed.  Of course, it only went a few inches
before the coax stopped it and the resonators went careening gleefully into
the back glass.  

Lessons learned:
1) Guy the mast. I knew this and for some inexplicable reason did not do it.

2) Lessen the wind load.  There was no reason, with the QSO party coming up,
to put the 30 meter resonator on the array.
3) Look for weak points.  Obviously (duh) the 1/8" pin was a weak point. 
4) Marry a woman who won't look at you like the idiot you are, who will
sympathize and offer to help clean up the mess.

I have everything back on the van (yes, and guyed....).  I don't know if we
can put plastic or something over the back window or if we'll try to get
along with an open-ended vehicle.  The high temperature tomorrow is supposed
to be only in the low 50's.....

We'll try to hit the counties on our list and see what happens.

73, Jim N9JF