[Lowfer] EAR and more in NE IL

[Mitch Powell]

Garry:
Checked the mail this morning and couldn't understand why no 'MP'.
Then I glanced at the amplifier current  meter - and saw 100 mA instead of 9 amps !
Everything on frequency - but the phase meter indicated no current to the load.

We have had close to 3 feet of snow since last Saturday ( most of it in three days.)
The snow on the antenna tuning unit (at the center of the loop ) was over 30 inches
high - for the week. This morning - it was gone - and it pulled the roof right off the
antenna tuning unit - exposing it to snowfall all night and 10 deg F (-12C). 
The snow completely filled the tuning unit - and then froze solid - a nice big lump
of ice and snow about 15" x 10" x 10".  Weighs about 30 lbs.
I have cut the antenna wires - brought the unit into the house - and the melting process
has begun. I think I'm on my way to Home Depot or Lowes to pick up a nice new
plastic electrical box, because I will have to disassemble ( when thawed ) and rebuild.

Thanks for the report - and note - 
M P is temporarily off the air - due to icing and a 3 feet of snow.

I hope my wife's hair dryer makes it through the process ! All for science !

Mitch

 
On 2010-12-13, at 10:12 AM, Garry Hess wrote:

> Despite the bitter cold and snow, lowfer EAR continues to come in well 
> from 575 km on 188.8307 kHz, QRSS30. Looked for MP around 137.38 kHz 
> this morning too but didn't see it. Over night there was some early 
> enhancement to Alaska as the Kodiak Navtex station $12J,X on 518 kHz 
> decoded and DGPS station #889 on 323 kHz from Annette Is., AK was in 
> there too. This despite lightning crashes from the big storm just off 
> the US east coast.
> 
> 73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
> ______________________________________________________________