[KL7AA] Bad week at the N5XZ superstation - but could've been worse

[Allen R. Brier]

Thanks as always!

Allen Brier N5XZ / KL5DX
1515 Windloch Lane
Richmond, TX 77406-2533
281-342-1882
713-705-4801 (Cell)
n5xz at arrl.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Perry [mailto:ken at paratex-pp.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2010 4:34 PM
To: n5xz at earthlink.net
Cc: ak-contesters at googlegroups.com; kl7aa at mailman.qth.net; TDXS Reflector;
bvarc at bvarc.org; ctdxcc at kkn.net; nars at mailman.qth.net; clarc at clarc.org
Subject: Re: [KL7AA] Bad week at the N5XZ superstation - but could've been
worse

I am so glad you are enjoying your time at home!

AL7GA  Ken

On Sat, Sep 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM, Allen R. Brier <n5xz at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Monday I was cranking up the motorized crank-up tower when it started to
> bind and about half way up it eventually even stalled the motor - in both
> directions! I was finally able to get it back down, jerking about 6 inches
> at a time. Just as I got it all the way down, the right angle gear box
> failed completely (very lucky on my part there). I have now removed the
> winch - motor - gearbox assy and next Tuesday I will take it to a friend
of
> mine to have it rebuilt.
>
>
>
> So Tuesday comes along and we have some huge lightening storms.I did have
my
> antenna disconnected but the radio, computer, etc. was still plugged into
> the wall. I was away from home at the time (picking up parts to fix my
pool
> cleaner which also crapped out just as I got home) when the big one hit
> either at the tower or very close by. My wife said there was a flash and a
> bang simultaneously. So now my USB interface is dead and the beam won't
> turn. The rotor controller in microprocessor based (Green Heron) so that's
> probably the damaged unit but I haven't had time to swap it out with a
> standard controller yet (I have a spare HAM-4 and box which is about 25
> years old but never put into service). Cross your fingers that it is the
> controller and not the rotor itself (a Tail-Twister), as I don't relish
the
> thought of trying to remove the rotor from the tower. To do so requires
> extending at least the top section about 2 feet or so.
>
>
>
> As if that wasn't enough, I was on the air Thursday night and everything
is
> working (other than what I described above). Friday morning the SWR is
>3:1
> on all bands! Did the SteppIR controller fail? Did the SteppIR itself
fail.
> Attaching my antenna analyzer showed resonance at 112 MHz! What the.?
>
>
>
> Turns out one of my compression type PL-259's on the LMR-600 was no longer
> making a good connection. Maybe it was marginal all this time and the
> lightening strike made some difference so it finally let go. What a
> coincidence, though. So I fixed that but the station is till a bit
crippled
> until I get the USB interface and rotor system repaired. I'm lucky nothing
> else went, which is surprising a bit since the USB controller is powered
> from the computer's USB port and it's still working just fine. The SteppIR
> still works, as does the rig and amp. Nothing else in the house seems to
> have been affected.
>
>
>
> I put a lot of emphasis into grounding the station and hopefully it at
least
> helped to prevent more damage from the hit. I haven't found any evidence
of
> a hit on anything, no burned marks inside or outside, but this tells me
that
> I need to do more grounding of shields, bonding of the AC ground to the
SPG
> and, it the rotor controller got fried, probably replace the lightening
> suppressor on the rotor cable. Always more work to do. Never enough
> grounding down here.
>
>
>
> The SteppIR is pointed SE (and NW with the 180 degree feature). Still able
> to work some EU on 30 and 40, R1ANP on 30, so I'm not completely off the
> air. But there was some 10 meter openings to 9X spotted the other
> day.nothing doing. I would like to work the ZS8.hell if Frosty can work
him,
> I should be able to, right!? Maybe I can get him LP.
>
>
>
> Anyway, see you in the contest!
>
>
>
> 73,
>
>
>
> Allen Brier N5XZ / KL5DX
> 1515 Windloch Lane
> Richmond, TX 77406-2533
> 281-342-1882
> 713-705-4801 (Cell)
> n5xz at arrl.net
>
>
>
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-- 
Ken Perry

Kenneth J (Ken) Perry   mail at paratex-pp.com
General Manager
PARATEX Pied Piper Pest Control
2440 E 88th Ave   Suite A     (907) 344-2538
Anchorage, AK  99507          (800) 478-2538