> On Apr 2, 2016, at 7:11 AM, towertalk-request@contesting.com wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox? (StellarCAT)
> 2. Re: frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?
> (George Dubovsky)
> 3. Re: frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?
> (Patrick Greenlee)
> 4. Re: frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox? (J Chaloupka)
> 5. Fwd: Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and rotator...
> (Hans Hammarquist)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 08:21:33 -0400
> From: "StellarCAT" <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>
> To: "tower" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?
> Message-ID: <E2DF08FD4949491A9AE6A18231F1F1C1@RXDesignDell>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> I?m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37? for testing and lower it to
> about 8? for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and
> testing showed it to be just that ? a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR
> shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I?m
> at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled... but
> I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the mechanical
> joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn?t appear to be
> taking on water ? there wasn?t a drain hole in the bottom ? there is now ? I
> went out early this morning just after it rained ? SWR up high ? and there
> was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked all connections ?
> they?re tight. Oh ? and the strange thing ? it goes back to normal after only
> about 4 ? 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3 times now. It is now ? 45
> minutes after checking it this morning where it was at 2.33:1, its now down
> to 1.
8:
> 1 and continuing its decent. And further note the SWR seems to be about the
> same ? its just shifted downward when wet. Also I hosed it down ? the
> balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5 minutes ? no change. I hosed down
> the elements at their joints ? no change. It rains: changes! The fact that it
> shifts seems to be independent of height ? it does this if at 37? or at 8?.
>
> Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it
> says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT is
> the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or KNOWS it
> to be bad).
>
> thanks ? I?m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an idea.
> Its holding up the testing of the other antennas.
>
> Gary
>
> ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 08:33:26 -0400
> From: George Dubovsky <n4ua.va@gmail.com>
> To: StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>
> Cc: tower <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also
> Noalox?
> Message-ID:
> <CAALHBrZu0cvpaSzgrHzerzsHNpMYYevKO5Y7720FcJbvpWVAsA@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> I'd look for things that are different, like the coax or balun connections.
> And I've never had any issues with brand-name NoAlOx in joints, either new
> or years later.
>
> 73,
>
> geo - n4ua
>
>> On Sat, Apr 2, 2016 at 8:21 AM, StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com> wrote:
>>
>> I?m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37? for testing and lower it to
>> about 8? for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and
>> testing showed it to be just that ? a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR
>> shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I?m
>> at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled...
>> but I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the
>> mechanical joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn?t
>> appear to be taking on water ? there wasn?t a drain hole in the bottom ?
>> there is now ? I went out early this morning just after it rained ? SWR up
>> high ? and there was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked
>> all connections ? they?re tight. Oh ? and the strange thing ? it goes back
>> to normal after only about 4 ? 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3
>> times now. It is now ? 45 minutes after checking it this morning where it
>> was at 2.33:1, its now down to 1.8:1 and continuing its decent. And further
>> note the SWR seems to be about the same ? its just shifted downward when
>> wet. Also I hosed it down ? the balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5
>> minutes ? no change. I hosed down the elements at their joints ? no change.
>> It rains: changes! The fact that it shifts seems to be independent of
>> height ? it does this if at 37? or at 8?.
>>
>> Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it
>> says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT
>> is the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or
>> KNOWS it to be bad).
>>
>> thanks ? I?m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an
>> idea. Its holding up the testing of the other antennas.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 07:45:11 -0500
> From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also
> Noalox?
> Message-ID: <56FFBED7.3040408@windstream.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> Cue the theme to "The Twilight Zone", Rod, if you please.
>
> You stumped the chump with this situation... I am most anxiously
> awaiting enlightenment from our guru corps on this strange manifestation.
>
> Meanwhile... I think the two anti-seize corrosion prevention products
> are essentially the same and if one were applied to joint A and the
> other to joint B there would be no way to measure an electrical
> difference. In addition if the joint is tightly clamped to make good
> electrical as well as physical connection you would have to get close
> with a powerful jet of eater to wash the compound out. If you did wash
> it out it wouldn't keep giving repeatable results with rain/dry cycles.
>
> As the little Nazi watching from behind the potted palm often said,
> "Very interesting."
>
> Please... somebody... drop the other shoe!
>
> Patrick NJ5G
>
>> On 4/2/2016 7:21 AM, StellarCAT wrote:
>> I?m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37? for testing and lower it to
>> about 8? for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and
>> testing showed it to be just that ? a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR
>> shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I?m
>> at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled...
>> but I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the
>> mechanical joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn?t appear
>> to be taking on water ? there wasn?t a drain hole in the bottom ? there is
>> now ? I went out early this morning just after it rained ? SWR up high ? and
>> there was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked all
>> connections ? they?re tight. Oh ? and the strange thing ? it goes back to
>> normal after only about 4 ? 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3 times
>> now. It is now ? 45 minutes after checking it this morning where it was at
>> 2.33:1, its now down to 1
.
> 8:1 and continuing its decent. And further note the SWR seems to be about the
> same ? its just shifted downward when wet. Also I hosed it down ? the
> balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5 minutes ? no change. I hosed down
> the elements at their joints ? no change. It rains: changes! The fact that it
> shifts seems to be independent of height ? it does this if at 37? or at 8?.
>>
>> Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it
>> says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT is
>> the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or KNOWS
>> it to be bad).
>>
>> thanks ? I?m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an
>> idea. Its holding up the testing of the other antennas.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 12:48:39 +0000 (UTC)
> From: J Chaloupka <boltsnutspins@yahoo.com>
> To: George Dubovsky <n4ua.va@gmail.com>, StellarCAT
> <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>
> Cc: tower <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also
> Noalox?
> Message-ID:
> <1429792093.1277744.1459601319743.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> Did something change with the ground under/around the antenna?
> JIM ? ? w4qbq From: George Dubovsky <n4ua.va@gmail.com>
> To: StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>
> Cc: tower <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 2, 2016 8:33 AM
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> I'd look for things that are different, like the coax or balun connections.
> And I've never had any issues with brand-name NoAlOx in joints, either new
> or years later.
>
> 73,
>
> geo - n4ua
>
>> On Sat, Apr 2, 2016 at 8:21 AM, StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com> wrote:
>>
>> I?m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37? for testing and lower it to
>> about 8? for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and
>> testing showed it to be just that ? a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR
>> shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I?m
>> at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled...
>> but I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the
>> mechanical joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn?t
>> appear to be taking on water ? there wasn?t a drain hole in the bottom ?
>> there is now ? I went out early this morning just after it rained ? SWR up
>> high ? and there was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked
>> all connections ? they?re tight. Oh ? and the strange thing ? it goes back
>> to normal after only about 4 ? 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3
>> times now. It is now ? 45 minutes after checking it this morning where it
>> was at 2.33:1, its now down to 1.8:1 and continuing its decent. And further
>> note the SWR seems to be about the same ? its just shifted downward when
>> wet. Also I hosed it down ? the balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5
>> minutes ? no change. I hosed down the elements at their joints ? no change.
>> It rains: changes! The fact that it shifts seems to be independent of
>> height ? it does this if at 37? or at 8?.
>>
>> Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it
>> says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT
>> is the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or
>> KNOWS it to be bad).
>>
>> thanks ? I?m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an
>> idea. Its holding up the testing of the other antennas.
>>
>> Gary
>>
>> ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on.
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2016 09:11:17 -0400
> From: Hans Hammarquist <hanslg@aol.com>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and
> rotator...
> Message-ID: <153d7195d3b-603e-70cc@webprd-m60.mail.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> You need a stronger U-clamp.
>
>
> In one way the U-clamp works as a mechanical fuse. You don't want that too
> strong as you can break the rotor (rotator). I think "better a coax or so
> that the rotor.".
>
>
> Just my dime.
>
>
> Hans - N2JFS
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Douglas Ruz / CO8DM <co8dm@frcuba.co.cu>
> To: 'TT' <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Sent: Fri, Apr 1, 2016 11:40 pm
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Need install a BRAKE to protect antenna and rotator...
>
> Hi,
>
> I installed a modify spiderbeam few days ago. Spreaders are 7m long because
> I added 2 elem (shortened) on 40m.
>
> Few days ago, during a windy day, both U bolts with saddle clamps in the
> rotator fail...the antenna mast (aluminum tube) rotate inside the saddle and
> broke both coax cables.
>
> I quickly tie a pipe between the center hub and one leg of to tower until I
> find a solution.
>
> Maybe I need a Brake mechanism to protect the rotator. Some kind of
> mechanism to operate with a rope from the bottom of tower.
>
> It is very interesting...the center hub is connected with an U bolt with
> saddle clamp to the alum mast...I think strong winds will turn the center
> hub, so, I need protect the center hub too.
>
> Any idea ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Doug, CO8DM
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 160, Issue 2
> *****************************************
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