[Milsurplus] TBX Field Antenna. Weight?

[Spike Dennis]

I set up my field antenna regularly by myself. It's 21' of MS sections with a base load & a 2' spike in the ground(seldom drove in that deep). Only once did I need any guys & that was because of really nasty weather. See pix of the set on the Milpack site.

Currently I still have up an RC-292 with 18ft radials on it, atop a 15ft mast held up by a 4ft tripod for a 20ft total height(all mil mast sections). I used it with a tuner on 18, 20, 40, & 60mtrs last field day & haven't taken it down yet. This too was erected single handed. You just gotta think things through a little longer when there's just one person.
 KB0SFP
Monitor(all USB): 
3996, 5403.5, 7296, 14342.5, 18157.5 



----- Original Message ----
> From: John J Mccarty <jmccarty at alcatel-lucent.com>
> To: David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
> Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:00:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] TBX Field Antenna. Weight?
> 
> 
> I've been wondering about the weight/strength of the TBX antenna elements
> myself. If you've ever put together 21 feet of the MS-54 type of antenna
> sections and tried to stand them on end, you realize that you've got a bit of
> weight on you hands. Even with the guys and stakes laid out and ready, its more
> than on person can handle, even if your very fast. I set up 21' of antenna in my
> back yard by myself, but I cheated by leaning it up on the chestnut trees while
> I worked. When the AFD demo came along in an open field, I was glad I had a
> bunch of helpers with me. It is amazing how much flex there is in those steel
> sections. Anyway, the TBX antenna is 24' and guyed in the middle. Are it's
> sections more like the AB series in weight? I can't imagine that it's as heavy
> as the MS type and not risk breaking the bottom insulator if the thing starts to
> lean.
> 
> 
> 73
> 
> 
> john n9hrt
> 
> On 7/2/2009 9:23 AM, David Stinson wrote:
> > I recently acquired at a hamfest, 
> > a nearly complete TBX antenna with the bag.
> > I say "nearly" since I don't have a list of everything that goes in there.
> > But it does have the bottom ground stake, insulator,
> > center piece with all the ropes and all the elements.  
> > Some of the elements are pretty thin stuff- look like copper-clad
> > steel.  A couple were rusted through and broken.  I repaired this 
> > by cleaning them, soldering some braid between the two pieces
> > and sleeving them both back together tightly with aluminum tubing,
> > which I epoxied in place.  Have also cleaned and repainted them.
> > Looks very nice.
> > Were all TBX antenna elements this thin, or did I get an early version?
> > Exposure to salt air would certainly raise cain with them, 
> > which is probably what happened here, unless the paint 
> > was perfect.
> > What's the best oil to put on the threads to protect them?
> > Plain motor oil OK?  
> > 73 Dave S.
> > 
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