[OKDXA] Ice and Antennas

[Roger Simpson]

=========================
RE: ICE STORM and ANTENNA DAMAGE

I had some antenna damage during the big ice storm in 2013. There was so 
much ice loading on my 30-40m Inverted V that the balun mechanically 
broke causing the antenna to crash to the ground. I had to replace the 
balun to get that antenna working.

Also, I had some issues with my beam. My beam is a Cushcraft ASL-2010 
log periodic. The elements sagged a lot and I thought they would break 
but they returned to the normal position several days later when the 
temperature rose above freezing. Also, for a few days my rotator "frooze 
up" but it started working OK once the ice melted. I have pictures of 
the antenna damage on my web site. Go to "simpsonfamilyokc.com" and 
select the "December 2013 Ice Storm" section.

Also I have some pictures of my ham radio stuff dating back to the 
1950s.

Hopefully we won't have a bad ice storm that wrecks our antennas.

73    Roger   K5RKS
=========================

------ Original Message ------
From: "John Geiger" <af5cc2 at gmail.com>
To: "Oklahoma DX Association" <okdxa at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 2/21/2018 12:23:16
Subject: Re: [OKDXA] Ice and Antennas

>Cameron University is closed today also so I am hope and might try a 
>catch
>a few satellite passes and DX but really need to get caught up on 
>lecture
>material for tomorrow in case we are open tomorrow.
>
>I hope everyone makes it through with no antenna damage. This is about 
>the
>only time I am glad I don't have a large beam and tower.
>
>73 John AF5CC
>Lawton
>
>On Wed, Feb 21, 2018 at 6:16 PM, Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
>wrote:
>
>>Both OU and NSSL are closed today due to impending weather, so I'm 
>>home
>>and can play radio a bit. So far, may antennas are fine, if a bit 
>>droopy,??
>>but more ice is on the way. I'm hoping most of it comes as ice pellets
>>(sleet) and not freezing rain.
>>
>>If you'd like to look at the different types of precipitation that are
>>occurring around your area (or the whole country) in real time, look 
>>at
>>https://mping.ou.edu/display. This displays data that are part of a
>>project I head at the National Sever Storms Laboratory to better 
>>detect and
>>forecast precipitation type. It shows precipitation type observations 
>>from
>>regular people (dubbed citizen science) and is submitted via a (FREE!)
>>smart phone app. You can check it out at https://mping.ou.edu and get 
>>the
>>app form either Google Play or the iTunes App Store.
>>
>>Back to antennas: Even though the antennas are (so far) only a bit
>>mistuned due to dielectric loading I'm having trouble rotating my 
>>antennas,
>>however. I've rocked them back and forth enough that I can gr from 
>>about
>>170 to 350 degrees, but haven't gotten them much farther. More ice is
>>likely on the way and I made sure my ARRL insurance is paid up. I've 
>>not
>>yet lost any due to ice, but without doubt my day will come. I hope 
>>it's
>>not today...
>>
>>73,
>>
>>Kim N5OP
>>
>>--
>>
>>Kim Elmore, Ph.D. (Adj. Assoc. Prof., OU School of Meteorology, CCM, 
>>PP
>>SEL/MEL/Glider, N5OP, 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, GROL)
>>
>>/"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But, 
>>in
>>practice, there is." //??? Attributed to many people; it???s so true 
>>that
>>it doesn???t matter who said it./
>>
>>
>>______________________________________________________________
>>OKDXA mailing list
>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
>>
>>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>______________________________________________________________
>OKDXA mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/okdxa
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:OKDXA at mailman.qth.net
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html