Dave
I am real sorry to hear this. When I heard you describe your situation
Thursday evening I sort of thought you might have some wind related issues but
this is far worse than I imagined. Repairing unexpected damage like you have
is not fun at any time, yet alone when it gets cold. Take your time and be
safe.
Dave - K3SK
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+k3sk=buckwalter.co@contesting.com>
On Behalf Of Dave Olean
Sent: Friday, November 7, 2025 5:16 PM
To: 222Activity@Groups.io; VHF Contesting <VHFcontesting@Contesting.com>;
newsvhf@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [VHFcontesting] 222 mhz and the eme contest
We had very high winds here in the last few days and a bad wind gust managed to
snap one of my 222 MHz yagis in half. It broke right at the boom to mast plate
where the boom had been double walled with 1 1/2 and then 1 5/8" tubing
overlapping. It still snapped and wrecked the array.
To make matters worse, I did not see the damage when I went up there on
Thursday night. In trying to turn the array, I managed to drag the broken
aluminum around the tower and it destroyed my fixed 222 array or at least the
top two yagis rear mounted on the tower. So I am off the air indefinitely on
222 MHz. I am very discouraged. The same wind also wrecked a ten meter six
element yagi as it broke the boom to mast plate in half. When I went up there
this morning I found that yagi hanging by one loose u-bolt. It looked so bad, I
did not want to be under it. I spent the day rigging the tower and then
removed the six element yagi along with one of two five element ten meter yagis
located under my 222 MHz EMe/tropo array. I figured they would be in the way
when I try to lower all the damaged 222 Mhz parts. What a mess. so no eme
contest this time. I will have to sit it out along with some Tuesday night
activity periods. I have to remove the damaged yagi and then re build it and re
i
nstall it on the tower. The wx here next week looks awfully cold and windy so
I am not expecting a quick turn around.
I am sorry to miss the last weekend 222 MHz activity in the contest. I was all
set to have some fun.
73
Dave K1WHS
ps never build an EME antenna 100 ft up in the air.
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