[SixClub] Band open

[Roger on six]

Sorry about the long post.

I gotta get that 7L C3i back up.

I was surprised to find that the solder on the coax connector and both 
ends of the hairpin had dissolved.  I had given them 3 or 4 coats of 
clear Krylon, but it and the solder were gone in less than 10 years. 
Both 12L 2-meter Yagi antennas are in the same condition.  I may use 
epoxy covered with liquid electrical tape over the solder joints this 
time although the liquid electrical tape alone has worked well where I 
have used it.

About the only industrial area that places us down wind is Chicago and 
the very SW corner of lower Michigan. (160 to 220 miles) So apparently 
we receive a lot of acid rain from somewhere.

At 2 weeks the concrete in the base for the LM470 is to the point where 
we can mount the tower raising fixture, but another two weeks before the 
tower goes up.  I still have to build a control box, connect the limit 
switches and check their operation.  THEN, maybe I can get the tribander 
(C19XR) up and get the 7L C3i 6-meter ant up on the 45G.  The goal is to 
put it 12 to 15' above the top of the tower where the 3L 40 meter Yagi 
will go.  Probllem is, I have to hire all that done or depend on 
volunteers and I'm a bit uncomfortable havig volunteers do that kind of 
work.

I'd really like to replace that 45G with a heavy duty crank up, but I 
think even a used one is out of my budget.  THEN AGAIN last summer the 
back yard never dried enough to get the equipment back there to dig the 
hole.  The base for the 45G is no where near large enough to support a 
crank up the size of the LM470, let alone a  BIG crank up.  Had I known 
I would no longer be able to climb, I'd have installed a major crank up 
instead of the 45G. Back then the yard dried enough to support a 
concrete truck with a 10 yard load.  I also had a good job and could 
have afforded the tower.  A pension and SS don't quite cut it.

Times change: We've been here since 84. Until about 6 or so years ago, 
the yard would dry up and turn brown around the first of August.  Since 
then we've had to mow the grass until it gets too cold for it to grow. 
(late September or even well into October)

The contractor had to hand dig the 4 X 4 X 7' D hole for the LM470 and 
"wheelbarrow" the concrete about 150 feet.  They dug the hole and filled 
it with concrete (two separate operations and days) in an almost 
unbelievable time.  Spec called for a 2500 psi mix. We used a very 
stiff,  3500 psi mix.  As for slump test, a pile made, cured with no 
noticeable slump.

We ended up putting the base on the N side of the shop which is too 
close to the woods for comfort.  Those trees are "trash trees". They are 
very soft and fast growing trees.  They only reach 6 to 8 inches in 
diameter and 70 to 80 feet tall and then die.  The wood deteriorates 
quickly and they fall in one or two years after dying.  With the tower 
extended, they can't reach the antenna, but with it retracted because of 
wind, they could easily remove elements.   I wish we'd have put it to 
the W of the shop, but that ground turns to peat "somewhere".  That 
would have been about 30 feet from the NW guy anchor for the 45G and we 
had to form up that hole because of the poor soil.   I think we would 
have needed a base at least twice the normal size at that Western 
location although I may end up having another rerod base built and 
install a base out there.

The new, larger base comes with several problems.  A truck with 5 yards 
did a number on my driveway.  What would one with 8 to 10 yards do 
although the base would be much drier.  The base will be drier, but we 
would moving nearly twice as much  concrete almost another 100 feet. So, 
we'd need at least 5 on wheelbarrows instead of 3.  So I figure that new 
base might cost more than what I have in the entire 100' 45G 
installation.  Thinking of it in that light, iI think I just convinced 
myself not to do it unless I win the lottery (If I buy a ticket) and 
then I'd build a new, larger home on 10 or more acres for an antenna 
farm.probably won't get done.  So I hope I can get permission to cut 
enough of those "trash trees" to make the current location safe.

73

Roger  (K8RI)


On 4/17/2015 12:43 PM, Benedict Cruise wrote:
> Good opening in west moving nw
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