[ILQSO] N9JF/M mini-disaster

[Eric Lorenz K9LGE]

Hey Jim,

I don't know about the rest of the state, but up here in Northern IL
there's a good chance of rain tomorrow. I didn't see what your route is,
but let that guide your cover/no cover decisions accordingly.

Eric K9LGE

On Sat, Oct 17, 2020, 2:33 PM <n9jfcountyhunter at gmail.com> wrote:

> "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
>
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