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[TowerTalk] Fiberglass UV

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Fiberglass UV
From: "WD4K" <WD4K2@charter.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 22:52:20 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I question if steppir has any miracle to protect the fiberglass..what I do
know is after boating for over 30 years, nothing I have ever seen will
protect the fiberglass antenna from UV damage,wind/sand blasting,acid rain
and constant vibration and movement. The best marine antennas money can buy
all deteoriate, get brittle, expose the glass fibers and are impossible to
touch without gloves..a fiberglass porcupine with millions of tiny needles
to ruin your hands. Trust me..it is painful if you get a handful of those.
They all get nasty and have to be replaced. Gelcoat makes no difference I
can tell other than the length of time before it surely happens. BUT..it
will happen, when is the million dollar question. It is very common for
boats of 5-10 years old to replace antennas.
If they have something to prevent this I would love to know what it is. They
simply have not been in the air long enough for a track record, so for now,
the marine antenna history is the only standard for comparison I would
think. That record is not reassuring if you compare fiberglass in the air
for 20 years vs aluminum. We know about aluminum, we gamble and hope with
fiberglass.
The Corvette comparison is from someone who obviously doesn't own one and is
dead wrong. 73, Tommy

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 9:53 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 15, Issue 62


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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Quad Design... (Paul Playford)
   2. Re: Lightning protection (Paul Playford)
   3. Re: Re:  Static, Lightning, and protection (on4kj)
   4. Steppir VS UV Light (Bernard)
   5. RE: Steppir VS UV Light (Kevin Adam)
   6. Re: Steppir VS UV Light
   7. Re: Steppir VS UV Light (Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604)
   8. Re: Steppir VS UV Light (N6KJ)
   9. RE: Steppir VS UV Light (Joe Subich, K4IK)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 21:42:55 -0000
From: "Paul Playford" <w8aef@worldnet.att.net>
To: "Floyd Sense" <sentek@sprintmail.com>,
        <towertalk@contesting.com>, "Dino Darling" <k6rix@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Quad Design...
Message-ID: <000001c41059$2ee2b640$f269480c@DESKTOP>
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Many years ago I had a 2 element 20m quad on a 6 foot boom at 90 feet.  It
was absolutely worthless on 20m and I am convinced that it was because the
boom was too short.  And I did adjust the driven element for resonance and
the reflector for best Front to Back.

I believe if it had been on a .2 wavelength boom (13.124 feet) I would have
been happy with it.

de Paul, W8AEF

---------------------------------------
ZF2TA  ZF2JI FO8DX  FO0PLA  8Q7AA  XZ0A
---------------------------------------


----- Original Message -----
From: "Floyd Sense" <sentek@sprintmail.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>; "Dino Darling" <k6rix@earthlink.net>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Quad Design...


> No reason to go with a boom that long.  8' is quite adequate and much
easier
> to handle when erecting.
>
> K8AC
>



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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 21:45:07 -0000
From: "Paul Playford" <w8aef@worldnet.att.net>
To: "David Robbins K1TTT" <k1ttt@arrl.net>,
        "reflector -tower" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lightning protection
Message-ID: <000301c41059$2ff4e990$f269480c@DESKTOP>
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Thanks David.  I had a similar reply formulated but it hit the garbage bin.

de Paul, W8AEF

---------------------------------------
ZF2TA  ZF2JI FO8DX  FO0PLA  8Q7AA  XZ0A
---------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Robbins K1TTT" <k1ttt@arrl.net>
To: "reflector -tower" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 6:25 PM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Lightning protection


> > Just think what the power lines are:
> > bunch of towers with spikes on the top, prone to attract discharge.
> > Yes, long wires, but insulated from the towers, grounded where?
> > So they do not form the "umbrella" effect. The "umbrella" has to be an
> all
> > metal structure with good grounding. Power lines are not that.
>
> Obviously you do not work with large power lines.  The top shield wires
> are normally at the highest point and are connected to either the steel
> structure or to a ground wire that runs down the poles for other lines.
> The effect of an approaching downward leader on the power conductors is
> the same as if they were grounded... charge on the wires is attracted to
> the downward moving stepped leader just as it is on the ground and on
> the grounded shield wires.
>
>
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>


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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 23:43:15 +0100
From: "on4kj" <on4kj@skynet.be>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>, "Didier Juges" <didier@cox.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Re:  Static, Lightning, and protection
Message-ID: <00bc01c4105f$104c7440$8ecc88d9@hermansjos>
References: <5.2.1.1.2.20040322070951.0234b8d8@pop3.swtexas.net>
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  Just wonder what the Dutch PA PI & PE think about this.
  They often live below see level.

  Jos

  -____________________________________________________-

  __---- Original Message -----
  From: "Didier Juges" <didier@cox.net>
  To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
  Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 4:22 PM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Re: Static, Lightning, and protection


  > Good point. At higher altitude, the dielectric strength of air is less,
so
  > the voltage cannot build up as much before the strike starts, so the
clouds
  > cannot build as much energy as they can in Florida.
  >
  > 73,
  > Didier KO4BB
  >
  > At 07:41 AM 3/22/2004, you wrote:
  > > From personal experience there is a lot of lightning in CO,
  > >but the intensity is somewhat less since the ground elevation
  > >is at 5,000 ft so the storms have 5,000 ft less elevation to
  > >develop their charge.
  >
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  >
  > See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
  >
  > _______________________________________________
  > TowerTalk mailing list
  > TowerTalk@contesting.com
  > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
  >


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 17:31:02 -0600
From: "Bernard" <wtrone@comcast.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
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    Does anyone know if the fiberglass rods that Steppir uses for their =
antenna elements are specially treated to resist UV sunlight?  I looked =
at their website but could not find the answer.  Maybe it was there and =
I couldn't find it, maybe not.

    Whether they are aren't, would it hurt to paint them with a compound =
that helps fiberglass resist UV radiation?

        73

        Bernard, WA4OEJFrom kb9cry@comcast.net  Mon Mar 22 18:39:44 2004
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Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 17:27:01 -0600
From: Phil - KB9CRY <kb9cry@comcast.net>
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To: Bernard <wtrone@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
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Be careful with painting the FRP.  While it will stop the UV
degradation, and it would be advisable to protect them even if they are
UV resistant, some paints are conductive.  The better solution would be
to wrap them with Scotch 33 tape a few times and be careful to trim the
end so it doesn't flag.  Phil  KB9CRY

Bernard wrote:

>    Does anyone know if the fiberglass rods that Steppir uses for their
antenna elements are specially treated to resist UV sunlight?  I looked at
their website but could not find the answer.  Maybe it was there and I
couldn't find it, maybe not.
>
>    Whether they are aren't, would it hurt to paint them with a compound
that helps fiberglass resist UV radiation?
>
>        73
>
>        Bernard, WA4OEJ
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
>_______________________________________________
>TowerTalk mailing list
>TowerTalk@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:16:40 -0500
From: "Kevin Adam" <n9iww2@verizon.net>
To: "'Bernard'" <wtrone@comcast.net>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
Message-ID: <20040323001636.LRSX28276.out007.verizon.net@webz4yldr9ssmf>
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Message: 5

You want to turn a good antenna into a dummy load if painted with the wrong
paint the color is put in the fiber glass when it's made called pigment
coloring. Thats what protects fiberglass from UV check out the corvette it's
all fiberglass.

N9IWW
Kevin Adam
1239 W. Till Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825-2145

Mobile (260) 704-4080
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bernard
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 6:31 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light

    Does anyone know if the fiberglass rods that Steppir uses for their
antenna elements are specially treated to resist UV sunlight?  I looked at
their website but could not find the answer.  Maybe it was there and I
couldn't find it, maybe not.

    Whether they are aren't, would it hurt to paint them with a compound
that helps fiberglass resist UV radiation?

        73

        Bernard, WA4OEJ
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:24:05 EST
From: DMartin560@aol.com
To: n9iww@verizon.net, towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
Message-ID: <6d.250dc4ae.2d90dda5@aol.com>
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The Corvette doesn't have pigment in the fiberglass....it's painted.
Dwayne
You want to turn a good antenna into a dummy load if painted with the wrong
paint the color is put in the fiber glass when it's made called pigment
coloring. Thats what protects fiberglass from UV check out the corvette it's
all fiberglass.

N9IWW
Kevin Adam
1239 W. Till Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825-2145
------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:27:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 <faunt@panix.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Cc: sales@steppir.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
Message-ID: <200403230027.i2N0Ral27939@panix2.panix.com>
In-Reply-To: <20040323001636.LRSX28276.out007.verizon.net@webz4yldr9ssmf>
        (n9iww2@verizon.net)
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Message: 7

I suspect that this is one of those case where actually asking the
manufacturer might be useful.

It'd also be useful to paint the antenna to make it less visually
obtrusive.

73, doug

   From: "Kevin Adam" <n9iww2@verizon.net>
   Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:16:40 -0500
   Thread-Index: AcQQZccFzXjIQVcATvu4s2gbiaVI/AABfonw

   You want to turn a good antenna into a dummy load if painted with the
wrong
   paint the color is put in the fiber glass when it's made called pigment
   coloring. Thats what protects fiberglass from UV check out the corvette
it's
   all fiberglass.

   -----Original Message-----
   From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
   [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bernard
   Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 6:31 PM
   To: towertalk@contesting.com
   Subject: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light

       Does anyone know if the fiberglass rods that Steppir uses for their
   antenna elements are specially treated to resist UV sunlight?  I looked
at
   their website but could not find the answer.  Maybe it was there and I
   couldn't find it, maybe not.

       Whether they are aren't, would it hurt to paint them with a compound
   that helps fiberglass resist UV radiation?

           73

           Bernard, WA4OEJ
------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 17:17:02 -0800 (PST)
From: "N6KJ" <kelly@thejohnsons.ws>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
Message-ID:
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Unless you are planning to paint the elements battleship grey to better
match the sky, I wouldn't paint the SteppIR elements to make them more
visually pleasing.  The SteppIR elements are a very nice shade of green
which is perfect for many situations (like mine).  The elements blend in
perfectly with the trees in my yard, esp. when there are leaves on the
tree.  In the fall, you can't see the antenna unless you know it is there.

I DID paint the boom of my SteppIR.  I painted it a "forest green" to match
the elements as closely as possible.  It looks pretty good and the antenna
still functions beautifully (as expected).

The one thing SteppIR should do, though, is include more of the tape they
use to waterproof the telescoping element sections.  They don't supply
enough of it.  Anyone know where to get more?  Also, it would be nice
if you didn't need the tape at all.  If you ever want to break the
antenna down and take it someplace all that tape is a real pain!



On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:27:36 -0500 (EST), Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604
wrote:

>
> I suspect that this is one of those case where actually asking the
> manufacturer might be useful.
>
> It'd also be useful to paint the antenna to make it less visually
> obtrusive.
>
> 73, doug
>
------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 22:52:59 -0500
From: "Joe Subich, K4IK" <k4ik@subich.com>
To: "'N6KJ'" <kelly@thejohnsons.ws>, <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Steppir VS UV Light
Message-ID: <008801c4108a$59004e20$c080a8c0@laptop>
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<20040322171702.27658.h010.c001.wm@mail.thejohnsons.ws.criticalpath.net>
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> The one thing SteppIR should do, though, is include more of
> the tape they use to waterproof the telescoping element sections.
> They don't supply enough of it.  Anyone know where to get more?

>From Fluidmotion:

  "In event you need more silicone wrap, Home Depot carries Model
   HTP-1010 Garden Bender Silicone Rubber Fusion Tape in their
   electrical department, UPC code 032076560102.  Radio Shack and
   Wal-Mart are authorized retailers for the brand we buy, Tommy
   Tape.  You can also purchase extra from us at $7 per 20 foot
   roll."

73,

   ... Joe, K4IK


------------------------------

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End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 15, Issue 62
*****************************************


_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather 
Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions 
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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