Dave,
I am so sorry to hear this. As already mentioned by someone else, thankfully
there was no one injured. I did not realize you had "so much stuff" up in the
air at FN47mj. Knowing the amount of maintenance required for large antenna
arrays I fully understand your decision. I made a similar decision in 2017.
I did not have near that "much stuff" up as you did, and there wasn't any
incident to prompt a decision. But, when we decided to retire from our day
jobs and sell our farm I decided I was done climbing towers. I hired a crane
to come in and lift each of my 3 towers and antenna arrays and lower them to
the ground for disassembly. I then sold all the towers. Here at my retired
location in FM07, I put up a pair of US Tower crank-up / tilt-over towers. I
also purchased a 38ft reach manlift that I use to do maintenance by lowering
the towers without having to tilt them over except on rare occasions. This
has been a blessing. The manlift is almost always parked under my VHF tower.
The biggest downside to changing to crank-up towers was giving up
hardline/heliax, and the cost of concrete for under the towers! I did end up
buying the best low loss flexible coax I could find for the 222 and up bands.
Messi & Paoloni Hyperflex 13. Not near as good ad hardline, but better than
LMR400 or even LMR600.
I am glad you have decided to stick with 222 and 432. Speaking of 222, I
hope to hear you tonight.
de K3SK
Dave Buckwalter
FM07th
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Hobbs <ve3kh@icloud.com>
Sent: Monday, November 4, 2024 5:41 PM
To: David Olean <k1whs@metrocast.net>
Cc: NEWSVHF@mailman.qth.net; vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Time to move on.
That sux … luckily no one was on the tower !
But … maybe this is a good opportunity to revisit 10 GHz
Thanks, KH
> On Nov 4, 2024, at 5:11 PM, David Olean <k1whs@metrocast.net> wrote:
>
> With a lot of sorrow, I have made the decision to dismantle my VHF/UHF
> station in FN43mj. This move was precipitated by the failure of a rock
> anchor that was part of my new 130 ft Rohn 45 tower. The new tower was only
> up and completed for two days when the failure occurred. I was preparing to
> install the coax and antennas. The tower came down in the trees as the old
> tower had done back in 2021. It fell across some guy wires for my three stack
> of ten meter yagis and that 70 ft tower buckled and came down as well. In
> just a few seconds I lost 200 ft worth of Rohn 45 tower. Two towers were
> destroyed. Thankfully, no one was killed or injured. The 130 ft tower had a
> brand new Prosistel rotator installed, that was destroyed in the fall.
> Surveying all of the damage has convinced me that it is time to stop and
> dismantle what is left there as I am getting too old to maintain everything,
> The amount of hardware is daunting for one old person. I am not happy.
>
> I am going to sell my large stacks of loop yagis for 902 thru 3400 MHz
>
> 4 X 47 element 902 MHz Loop yagis complete with H- frame and LDF4 (1/2"
> Heliax) phasing lines and tower mounted preamp. New price around $2000
> Used $600
>
> 4 X 45 element 1296 MHz Loop yagis with H frame LDF4 phasing lines, power
> divider and tower mtd preamp. $500
>
> 4 X 76 element 2304 MHz Lop yagis with H frame LDF4 phasing lines, power
> divider and tower mtd preamp $500
>
> 4 X 112 element 3456 MHz Loop yagis with UT-141 phasing lines, and power
> divider New price around $1700 Used price $550
>
> around 290 ft of heavy duty neoprene style 8 conductor #12 rotor cable Two
> lengths. $200 ea. One run may be smaller than #12. not sure
>
> 100 Ft Rohn 45 with 4 X 7 el 50 MHz yagis on ring rotors with electrical
> phase steering Feedlines are four phase matched 7/8" Heliax that terminate
> indoors with the antenna selector and electrical beam steering system in a
> wall mounted box. (Tower is still standing with all hardware) Make an
> offer? I will not break up the four yagis. Tower guying uses Pjillystran
> and 1/4" EHS steel.
>
> Assorted runs of 1 5/8" Heliax about 140-159 ft long that fed 902, & 1296.
> N connectors on each end. (two lengths) $300 each.
>
> 120 Ft of LDF7 1 5.8" heliax with grey plastic plenum covering. N connectors
> on each end. $300
>
> 220 Ft of LDF7 1 5.8" heliax N connectors on each end. $500
>
> LDF7-50 Heliax prices are scrap copper price.
>
> For the moment, I am trying to keep the 222 and 432 stuff working, but that
> may change. Let me know of there is any interest. Most of the antennas are
> in the air at this time.
>
>
> 73
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|