On 9/14/2010 6:17 PM, ac9s@mchsi.com wrote:
> I am a little behind, but I thought I would offer my Skyhawk observations. I
> had one for a few years - worked very well, but the boom broke in an ice
> storm. I have a 3el Steppir on the ground now for electrical repairs and am
> considering either a TH7 or Skyhawk in the near future. If I do the Skyhawk
> again I am going to put a DX Engineering Boom Truss on it.
A boom truss is one of the easiest things you can make. Two saddle
clamps (plain U-bolts will work) to fit the boom and one to fit the
mast. 4 eye bolts (two for the boom and two for the mast) three
relatively shot pieces of Aluminum angle (2 to fit the boom and one to
fit the mast), and a cable to use for the truss. I used Phillystran but
wire rope would work as well. I do not trust aluminum tube used in this
application.
The two pieces of angle for the boom only need be long enough to
securely fit the U-bolt that goes around the boom. The center of the
angle is drilled to take the eye bolt. The angle that goes on the mast
needs to stick out far enough so the two eye bolts will line up with the
boom.
> I suspect I wouldn't have lost the first one had the boom been trussed.
> The other sore spot with the Skyhawk is the elements are a bit on the wimpy
> side. All the 20 meter elements took a permanent "set" (were drooping
> excessively downward)after the boom broke.
Many years ago I had KLM monobanders on 20 and 15. We had an ice storm
that took out over a half mile of power line to the West of us. The
feeder coming into the back of our yard was stretched to the point where
the power line was less than "chin high" and I'm only 5'7". The
elements on the 20 meter KLM had the tips almost pointing straight down
as they were loaded with over 3" of ice, yet when the ice dropped off
the elements went back to looking normal. I spent over a week with out
power and had a basement full of water, but never lost an antenna.
73
Roger (K8RI)
> Actually the front half was on the ground, but the driven elements and
> reflectors were on the tower. Right now I am using the driven elements from
> the Skyhawk while the Steppir is under repair. I managed ZS8M with the
> driven elements, so don't knock a simple rotatable dipole - @90'.
>
> Keith
> AC9S
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