[OKDXA] Ice and Antennas

[N4IJ .]

In Harrah - my antennas had SWR issues due to ice. The beam froze but I was
able to rock it and free it up.
The cure for frozen rotor in my case would be (if I did it) is to put a
boot over the thrust bearing to keep the
freezing rain from getting
in it.

Doug N4IJ

On Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 6:39 PM, Coy Day <n5ok at arrl.net> wrote:

> Kim,
>
> Sounds like a good plan.  Mine didn't freeze up enough to keep the 2800
> from rotating it.  It was sluggish because of the weight of the ice.  The
> temp also reached 32 deg here.  I noticed the ice was falling off the guys
> so I checked the antenna and it was held fast.  So I should the top guy
> wires and was able to shake most of the ice off the SteppIR.  The elements
> immediately sprang up as though nothing had happened.
>
> The bands were good today.  even worked a few on 12m ft8.
>
> Stay warm....   73,  Coy
>
> On Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 1:02 PM, Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
>
> > 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./
> >
> >
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