[SixClub] Something else to fix

Sun Oct 21 22:57:12 EDT 2007

> Roger,
>
> You are in a fix.

And as I get older there's more stuff that needs fixin' <:-))

Hi Joey,
I hope you are doing well.

73

Roger (K8RI)
>
>                         Joey
> Mr Richard J. Fiero II
> A.R.S. W5TFW
> Em-40  DXCC VUCC
> www.w5tfw.com
> www.6mt.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Roger (K8RI)" <50MHz at rogerhalstead.com>
> To: "World Wide Six Meter Club" <sixclub at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 9:13 PM
> Subject: [SixClub] Something else to fix
>
>
>> My gripe for the day, <:-))
>>
>> Wellll... I knew finding one of the boom trusses for my 7L 6-meter yagi 
>> on the concrete apron in front of the shop this afternoon was not a good 
>> sign. Then I noticed the 50, 144 and 440 antennas were windmilling and 
>> the tri-bander was not. That the tri-bander wasn't was a good sign as 
>> it's temporarily setting on the 45G top plate. However the only way the 
>> others could windmill would be if the 3/8" through bolts holding the mast 
>> togeter have sheared.(or fallen out) So the only thing stopping the 
>> rotation are the LMR 400 Ultraflex rotator loops.
>>
>> We've had some very strong winds over the last week with one day of 
>> severe weather where we were under a tornado watch for nearly 12 hours.
>>
>> So, at any rate it looks like the 6-meter yagi is going to have to come 
>> down for maintenance as are the 144 and 440 arrays.
>> I'm building a 50 or 60 foot,  rotating, fold over pole to go on the back 
>> (West) end of the shop so the 6-meter yagi may go there as it really 
>> doesn't need to be at 115 feet. OTOH I do want the 144/440 arrays as high 
>> as I can get them. Actually 50 feet should be good for the tribander as 
>> well. Then I could put a 3 or 4 L 40 up on top of the 45G. I said 50 or 
>> 60 feet and that depends on the price of steel. Going from 50 to 60 feet 
>> doubles the cost (or a bit more) of the pole and adds almost 30% more 
>> weight to the pole and to the base/raising fixture. It also requires more 
>> concrete.
>>
>> A 40 meter yagi might be just a bit much as I'm just getting back to 
>> climbing. I did make it "up there" last week which aint bad considering I 
>> needed help to stand April 4th.  I'm not quite up to the old "stay up 
>> there all afternoon though. <:-))
>>
>> This leaves me back to using the AV-640 on 6 until I get the rotating 
>> pole finished, installed and running. Hopefully I can get the base in 
>> before the ground freezes and the pole up before the snow gets too deep 
>> to haul nearly 400# of steel through the yard to the back of the shop.
>>
>> At this point though, I'll be happy if I can get the antennas down, fixed 
>> and at least get the 144/440 array back on top with the rotator 
>> installed. (and hope I have enough *good*  LMR 400 Ultraflex for the 
>> rotator loops). Getting the pole up would be gravy and having it working 
>> with the 6-meter yagi on top would be fantastic. I say that as this has 
>> not been a good week for radio gear around here.
>>
>> In addition to having the problems with the antennas, my FT-897 has a 
>> broken CW key jack, my DR610T duo band rig had the socket for the A/B 
>> band selection switches break off the circuit board, and the power supply 
>> for my 756 Pro blew up.(I have an Astron RS-50M for a spare). Oh, 
>> yah...The speaker in my VX7R needs to be replaced and it has to be sent 
>> in for that. (the speaker is bonded in the case.  Oh, I've been saying 
>> this is the first year since the tower went up that it hasn't been hit by 
>> lightning. I think I lied. The Comet duo-band vertical that is side 
>> mounted at around 40 feet has a split about 8" long in the base section 
>> about 3' above the radials. I've seen this in the Diamond version of the 
>> same antenna and that one I know was hit by lighting. I won't know for 
>> sure on this one until I get it apart.  I just happen to have a brand new 
>> Diamond in the shop that is all ready to go up. Of course I had planned 
>> on using it for digital...
>>
>> I shouldn't say this out loud, but so far the Icom IC-7000 out in the 
>> shop is running fine. OTOH it is one of the most difficult to use/set 
>> up/program rigs I've ever used. The 897D is a bit easier to use with a 
>> more logical layout to the menues, but I think the 7000 is better built. 
>> The 897D and the 7000 make good mobiles, but are not very convenient when 
>> it comes to the flexibility needed for rapid changes as an all band, all 
>> mode base station. I could write a disertation on those two. <:-))
>>
>> That socket for the DR610T is only 1/4" X 3/16" and the only thing that 
>> holds the volume/squelch/AB switches in place so it takes all the force 
>> from pressing to select either the A or B side and any bumps in the car. 
>> I'd guess breaking it off basically renders the control head beyond 
>> echonomical repair.
>>
>> Ah, well, back to planning out tomorrow's tower work.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger (K8RI)
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