[OKDXA] Ice and Antennas

[Kim Elmore]

That last round of convection certainly added more ice because the 
mismatch on all antennas is considerably worse, but my QTH is now at 32F 
so no matter what comes over, they aren't going to accumulate much more ice.

We don't get cold enough here to render the grease a solid: my problems 
come directly form ice accumulating around the thrust bearing at the top 
of the tower. The next time I go up there, I need to take a cone of some 
sort, perhaps a roof seal, or a toilet tank flapper with the center cut 
out, and put it over the thrust bearing such that freezing rain and 
sleet can't accumulate between the thrust bearing and the top section 
surface. That way, I can still rotate my antennas after a bit of 
freezing rain. Of course, that assumes I'll have antennas to rotate...

73,

Kim N5OP


On 2/22/2018 11:05 AM, GARYLM at kiamichiwb.org wrote:
> IN ALASKA WE WOULD TAKE ROTATOR APART AND WASH ALL THE GREASE OUT OF THE BEARINGS WITH SOLVENT THEN USE GRAPHITE IN THE BEARINGS TO KEEP IT FROM FREEZING UP IN WINTER.  SOMETIMES THEY WOULD STILL FREEZE WITH TEMP DOWN TO MINUS 50 TO 70 BELOW IN ARTIC.
> GOOD LUCK WITH THE ANTENNAS.
> 73  WQ5R  GARY
>
> --- cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>
> From: Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
> To: Oklahoma DX Association <okdxa at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [OKDXA] Ice and Antennas
> Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2018 12:16:27 -0600
>
> 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./