[K6BW] Saturday's Antenna Project at Hamilton

[Bill Smith]

If you weren't there, you missed a real party!  And we missed you,
too!  

Our 80 meter sloping dipole had developed an affinity for mixing up
broadcast stations with amateur signals, which we found was due to a
loose connection and corroded antenna terminals at the antenna's center
insulator.  Tony, KI6MIB, "just happened" to have a spare Alpha Delta,
which very nicely replaced the old part.  The antenna is back in working
condition, works great, with contacts were made across the country later
in the evening.

Jack, WA6JYU, David, KB1NDE, and Tony worked on the TH7 beam.  The coax
had twisted around the mounting pole so severely that the coax cover had
warn off and damaged the coax shield.  A large section of coax was
removed and connections re-established to the beam.

We all worked on the Moseley tri-bander beam, (we have two beams
installed at the clubhouse) and wondered how Dave, N2NL was able to get
it up in the air by himself.  He built many of the antennas, and I know
he was very proud of this feat, but didn't realize what he was talking
about until all of us tackled the job of re-attaching an element.

One of the three elements had fallen off the end of the center beam
during storms last winter, and we tacked the project to put the antenna
back together this last Saturday.  Alan and Dave put a rope through
local trees, and the antenna was lowered.  I wish I had a picture!
Dave, Jack, Michael, KI6UJX, and Tony were able to manhandle the
supporting mast in the air even without the help of the rope.  We found
needed hardware in the clubhouse, but again, Tony came through with new
fittings which we applied to the aluminum to better hold it in
position.  

Up went the beam, and with a few in-the-air tweaks to straighten the
elements, it is now back in service.  Tony used his MFJ antenna bridge
to verify the operation of all the antennas.  He also donated a couple
of handfuls of tie-wraps to the club.  Thank you Tony!

Gary, KI6UKB, arrived later in the afternoon, in time to help with
stringing up the 160 dipole, which included a journey by yours truly up
the big tower.  Our 160 dipole has been resting in the trees all summer.
It had fallen before and was back in the air last January, but the rope
holding the antenna separated in only a couple of weeks, and down it
came again.  It is an amazing antenna, it stretches all the way from the
top of the radio tower, across the parking lot, and down the hill to a
giant pine tree on the other side of the road below the hill.  Needless
to say, the average height above terrain is very high.  At any rate,
with a visit to the top, a temporary line of parachute cord was attached
so Gary could haul the antenna back into the air.  It is great to have
it back in service again.

Jack brought briquettes, home-made sweet pickles for hamburgers, a giant
bowl of chili beans, and Tony supplied the beverages.  An attempt to
raid Costco for hamburgers and buns in the early hours was thwarted by
the fact the store was closed, so a later trek to the new Safeway (it is
within eyesight of the clubhouse) finished off the food run.  Michael,
ALan and Jack tended the fire, and we feasted on Hamburgers, beans and
a bit of potato salad.

Special thanks to Alan who took the initiative to free the road from
debris that had backed up on the road during the last rain storm.
Apparently there was a real gully-washer up there, because it clogged
the gullies along the side of the road in several places.  Alan also
used his stealth eye to spot a plugged drain, which was opened and
should dissipate the volume of water that otherwise races down alongside
the road. 

My apologies in advance for any errors or omissions, we all had a great
day and a lot of fun!  And congrats to Gary and Michael for obtaining
their new Amateur Radio licenses.

73 de Bill, AB6MT
hbco2 at sbcglobal.net