A couple of weeks ago, we were in Hawaii for the first time, and visiting
the famous "Diamondhead" Crater on the edge of Honolulu.
There is a military installation inside the crater, and the main tourist
attraction is to climb the inside of the crater to the old military bunkers
that are built along the rim of the crater overlooking the ocean and Honolulu.
<snip>
Just thought I would throw it out for any info or if anyone had ever been
assigned to that Diamondhead installation.
73
Bob _ww4t@aol.com_ (mailto:ww4t@aol.com
-------------
Bob,
That installation is the log periodic HF antenna used by Hawaii State
Civil Defense for its HF communications with FEMA. The equipment is
tied to Harris ALE HF equipment, in a EMP-proof vault. The vault is
located within the Emergency Operating Center, which is a converted
World War I artilery ammo bunker. On your visit, you saw the gun
emplacements along the shore side of Diamond Head crater, and there are
some other old gun emplacements on the ridge line opposite -- towards
the mountain ridge.
http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/travel/d-head.html
If you look at the photo of the fish-eye lens, it would be on the far
side of the crater.
I am the head of State CD RACES, and our operating position for HF and
VHF/UHF voice is along side the HF vault.
http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/hawaii/scd.html
That log periodic is unusual, in the sense that it is not just a flat LP
antenna like most installations. There is an LP on the top, angled
down, and an LP on the bottom, angled up. They meet at a vertex. I'm
not 100% sure of that particular design. My understanding was that it
was salvaged and reused from a military radio station.
The antenna sits on a tower, with a rotator. I'm not positive if its
sitting on a thrust bearing.
You can see a similar antenna at this site. It appears to be a Collins
antenna.
http://jproc.ca/rrp/inuvik.html
Hope this helps. Thanks to Kimo, KH7U for notifying me of this posting.
Ron Hashiro, AH6RH
Honolulu, HI
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