[Lowfer] lowFER Beacon " XR " ... A trace in history

[Ralph W5JGV]

> I hope everyone is well. Due to a " freakish " thunderstorm
> today; I had to drop the lowFER antenna...

That's scary - having to drop the antenna, as in "Let 'er go, boys!"

The only times I have done that was when the company I was working for
replaced a 100 foot mast with a taller one.  There was nothing near the
antenna, and since the steel was pretty rusted, it was decided just to fell
it by cutting the guy lines.

When you do rebuild the antenna, you might consider using a couple of
lengths of aluminum irrigation tube, similar to what I did with my 72 foot
vertical antenna.  The pipe comes in 20 - 30 foot lengths.  I can tell you
how to make a simple but strong splice that will hold up during the hoisting
process.  The pipe is available in diameters from 4 through 10 inches.  4
inch diameter should work FB for your antenna.  It's really light and very
stiff.

You can see how I raised my antenna in my Youtube video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmdqvQk5aV8

To avoid having to make a hinged insulated base mount, you can simply make a
temporary hinge assembly staked to the ground.  After erecting the mast,
lift the base off the temporary mount and place it on the base insulator (A
big wine bottle.)

If you use Dacron guy lines (Synthetic Textiles is the manufacturer,) they
won't rot, and are almost unbreakable.

Good luck, and thanks for all the good signals.

73,

Ralph  W5JGV - WD2XSH/7