[SixClub] Now that was an opening

[Roger (K8RI)]

Went out tot he shop when the tower crew (WAyne (KD8MRC) and Bob (W8LSS) 
arrived about 12:30 EDT. Turned the rig on while grabbing tools and six 
sounded like 20 meters on a Sunday afternoon DX contest. I could only 
see the bottom 200 KHz on the scope, but it was packed.

Unfortunately I never made a contact, but fortunately we did get the 
rest of the masting out of the tower and all the required accessories 
off the tower. We finished up at 6:00 PM. I wanted to show Wayne what an 
opening on six looks and sounds like, but what did I find...absolute 
quiet with the noise floor at the bottom of the scope and s-meter. Nada. 
Not a signal and they'd been there most of the 5 hours we spent working 
on the tower.

Next step and they may not run in this order... Use the 2" X 3/16" 
6060-T6 for a longer and MUCH lighter gin pole. Make up new mounts and 
clamps to go on DOM tube.  Make end caps for DOM, weld in place, treat 
inside with rust proofing, make coupling and install. Once these are in 
place the 7L C3i Yagi can be installed and raised to the operating 
height while the rotator can be installed.

In the mean time I need to finish the 5' dirt base for the 25G, 
including painting, Take down the 40' aluminum tower with the AV-640 on 
it, dig up the base, install the 5' dirt base in its place, move the 3 
sections of 25G to that base, add 2 sections for 50', insert 2 1/2 
sections of 2" DOM with 1/8" wall holding the Force 12 C-19XR and WARC 
12 stacked above it. Mount rotator near base of 25G at maybe 3 or 4' 
above ground, or rather store friends rotator at 3 to 4' and use it to 
hold the mast to the two above antennas.<:-))

While all of this is going on I still have to assemble the 40M3-125 M^2 
3L 40 meter beam and get it installed

This project which started out as a project to fix the boom truss on the 
C3i, AND replace the pigtails to the arrays has taken on a life of its 
own much like remodeling a kitchen or bathroom.<:-))

Of course I'd be remiss if I didn't say that all of the "to do stuff"  
falls in a rather nebulous gray area that may or may not get done 
depending on weather, my health, and the availability of helpers and 
climbers and the coincidence of their schedules with mine in addition to 
the availability of both materials and something called cash or its 
equivalent.

So added to all of this which I've probably said before, is the testing 
of 4 3CX800A7s, 4 8295As, one PL172, two 8874's, an Alpha 76A two holer, 
a Henry 2002A (uses a 3CX800A7), and a rebuilt Hallicrafters HT33B, 
sending in a Yaesu FT897D and having the CW portion repaired (only one 
side of the keyer input works), but I can reverse it, or use the mike 
buttons and the CW generator works.  Then get all of the above sold. I 
have had people waiting for most of them, but I sure hope they are patient.

Tomorrow, or rather today is turn up the shop airconditioning and weld 
up the 25G dirt base and maybe make the end caps for the DOM tubing.

I'll skip the story about losing oil pressure on take off night before 
last. Now that could have been expensive.

73

Roger (K8RI)