[Lowfer] MBD testing QRS30 mode Now

[Stan, W1LE]

Thanks Jay.

I get a LOB to of 277.5 degrees.

I am in the midst of setting up the K9AY antenna system and I am scoping
out LOB's that are needed.

The support tower of military masting finally got to be vertical, guyed 
at three levels.
Height is ~36', 2 haul ropes and pulleys at the top.

Plan #1:
I started off laying out the guy lines and the assembled tower, on the 
ground,  horizontal.
Intent was to pivot the mast up, supported by 2 guy sets, then snug up 
the third guy set to vertical.
The base is a AB-154/u with a 1' spike driven into the ground and a 
swivel section.
Upon lifting, a fiberglass section split where it mates another section.
Originally the fiberglass sections are stackable and about 0.125" wall, 
about 44.5" long when stacked.
Mine were reinforced at the bottom with a fiberglass ring, which added 
little strength.
Also too much mast flexing, trying to lift from horizontal to vertical.
The fiberglass masting sections were painted a flat green color to blend 
in, stopping UV degradation.

Plan #2:  (wait for a low wind day)
assemble 2 sections of the thin wall aluminum mil masting and anchor the 
spiked base end.
connect 2 sets of guys at the top guy ring. guys are 120 degrees apart.
Assemble three top sections and make almost vertical, leaning away from 
the 2 guys.
lift up the bottom and add a guy ring w/ guys and another fiberglass 
section, then 2 more sections...
I loosely connected the third top guy to the anchor. All looked OK.
Add 2 more sections, one at a time and the masting is still almost 
vertical, looking good.
The assembled masting is still leaning away from the original 2 guys.
Add the third guy ring w/guys and another fiberglass section. Still 
looking good. adjust the 2 used guys.
Now is a critical point and I have to stack the assemled masting onto 
the lower 2 assembled aluminum section.
I lean the lower anchored sections at the right angle to mate the upper 
sections and insert.
Lotsa flexing. As I go to adjust the guy lines, there is a loud crack as 
another fiberglass section splits
and all comes crashing to the ground. Too much assembled mast flexing.

Plan #3 and Plan #4  ditto.
  just different fiberglass sections spilt another at the bottom and one 
at the splice joint.
Too much flexing of the fiberglass.

Plan #5 replace some of the fiberglass sections with similarly sized 
aluminum sections of mil masting.
Upper section are still fiberglass, but all below the middle guy ring 
are Aluminum.
Assembled masting is significantly more rigid and all gets assembled OK.
Make vertical and snug/balance up all 9 guy lines.

Problem area:  Most of the masting is now a conductor and grounded with 
the spiked base.
K9AY support mast should be non metallic or an ungrounded metal mast.
last night I made a insulated base section and now I will install that.
loosen the guys, lift up the asembled masting, slip out the old base, and
insert the new insulated base section.

Will probably take me a few days to figure it out.... Maybe I can use my 
gin pole....

Half the fun with antennas and tower is how to do all the work myself...

Stan, W1LE     Cape Cod      FN41sr



On 12/8/2010 11:47 PM, JD wrote:
> Stan, MBD is in square DM79ku, according to our information. (
> http://lwca.org/sitepage/part15/index.htm )