Less Radio,more Summer !

Yes,more Summer. It's not dark here now till about 9:00pm so many nights after work I only am in the shack long enough to check email. It has also been un-seasonably warm, early growing for everything including grass and weeds. I've been giving the mowers and weed wackers a workout most evenings. All things green grow like crazy in the early Spring/summer - almost like playing catch-up from winter.
I really like all the seasons up North and because of Our short Summers by the big Lake, I try to fit in as much outside activities as possible. So therein lies the catch-- outside means some antenna work, in between the necessary chores. This week I have been playing with Television antennas! Ever since the switch to HDTV ,at this location the struggle has been to receive a picture that actually doesn't cut out! Luckily We do have local channels thru our satellite provider but HD over the air is a picture to behold!! I tried to utilize the old VHF antenna in the attic, but even with the old analog channels the ghosting was bad. With Digital its a picture killer. The attic is also now not accessible because of the new addition that We added many Years ago. Lots of Blown in insulation and no access anymore. Rabbitt ears and other variations of inside antennas are only passible, so outside was the next step.
We have many huge pine trees of various species and many other trees between the TV stations and Us. We also have a big hill! Using one of Our square indoor antennas on an aluminum pole temporarily attached and pointed at varying degees clearly showed Us a much improved but not perfect multi channel reception. Next step was to try and find a path without all the pine trees blocking Us. My 50' tower just so happens to be in a location that just might help here. Tywrapping this antenna on a corner leg has given Us a great picture. Looks like 40' of RG-6 and a new Outdoor antenna is just the ticket.
Tomorrow I will order a Winegard Square shooter because of the ease of installation and our proximity to all the TV stations. From the tests I have done I think it will be a winner!!
all for now-- 73 Tim

Another Antenna Project

Last Years project was the Butternut Vertical, year before that was a Comet GP-15 on top of a small tower attached to My pole building. The pole building by coax route- not as the crow flies but as is needed to keep it off My lawn is about 150 feet. Add the tower length and length to have enought to play with inside My basement and I end up needing about 200 feet of coax,rotor cable,etc.
Several years ago I bought an old steel tower, with coax ,rotors and the same year I also was given a Cushcraft ATB34- a tri-bander!! This was also the Year copper prices went thru the roof and I decided to use salvaged cable for the rotor cable run. The salvaged cable was a multiconductor, in a sheath ,but only 25 -35 foot long pieces. This would mean having about 5 splices to reach to a box outside My basement to a box on the nearest corner of My pole building. This is 24 conductor stranded so I soldered,heat shrunk each individual conductor.Then used progressively bigger tubing to encase the entire splice and wrapped with scotch 88 tape and finally used liquod tape over the entire splice. Lot's of work-you bet. But think of the money saved-- NOT!! Luckily My time at My hobby is cheap!!
Anyway that was several years ago and the cable was patiently waiting for Me to finally start this project. Into two boxes,one at each end I connected this cable to some screw terminal connector strips and used two short pieces of actual rotor cable to finish into My shack and attach a rotor temporaily for testing at the pole building end. I'm going to be using an old Hygain tailtwister and CDE control box. In the manual it gives resistance readings between all eight terminals without the control box connected. These all checked ok .so next I hooked the control box and while talking to My kids on the phone, had them watch the rotor. Worked perfectly!!
Next step is to assemble and test the tri-bander, of which I've done lots of measuring and thinking about! I'll explain during another post!!
73 for now---Tim

Vertical Antenna Maintenance

I noticed after the Winter Storms My Butternut HF6V Vertical was not tuning the same and even seemed to not "hear" as before. I eventually traced the problem to this 200pf 7.5kv doorknob Capacitor. I think not having this antenna guyed eventually the constant flexing broke this Capacitor. The metal arm in the picture is attached to a brass screw and it actually is were it is broke--the arm comes out!
I called Bencher Manufacturing- the owner of Butternut antennas and ordered a new Capacitor and a replacement 15m kit. The standoffs for this portion is plastic and after 25 years has deteriorated and broke. I have several held together with tape so time to replace. The price is rather high for the capacitor, next time I'll maybe try to find a generic on the Web.
The new cap and 15m kit arrived in a few days-- but before installation I decided to resolve the flexing issue by adding non-metallic guys. Butternut recommends adding guys at the 12 foot level and I did do this using a plastic sleeve with three holes drilled in it to accept a small diameter poly rope.I used a piece of pipe in the ground and two tree stumps, all about 4 feet high to attach the guys.Simple but effective- just needs to solidify the antenna and keeping it from swaying.
Installing the new Doorknob capacitor was simple and at the same time i tightened any loose hardware.I didn't install the 15m kit yet,but when I do I need to put anti-seize compound on any joints I take apart. I just barely installed this antenna before the snow was flying last year and neglected this step. Not good! The Antenna is definately playing better and I think some improvement will be gained with the rest of My future work on it. In the wind it is looking good!
73--Tim

ARAC Swapfest

The Arrowhead Radio Amateur Club Swapfest in Superior,Wisconsin is the biggest Radio event I attend. I have been to this one for many Years in a row and its a favorite of mine. This Year I almost didn't go and I would have regretted it. Luckily I talked to some of My friends the night before on 146.52 and their enthusiasim convinced Me. One of them even ran the local net in the morning from the parking lot right outside this event.
I was up early this morning to take care of some chores and to check the water heater to see if it was again functioning normally-- don't ask!! I arrived before the "gates" were open and took the above picture of just the vendors and sellers inside. Sorry-a little blurry with My camera Phone.
Once inside , I quickly realized this was a virtual goldmine of great gear this year. More radios and Amplifiers than I had seen before- several amps made My mouth water, one was a Henry and another a AL-80 for a low price! Too bad I was tapped out with any major purchases, but still managed to buy a 5/8 2m mag mount for My company van-- no holes please! :). Also an estate sale of connectors and adapters for twenty five cents each- used but what a deal!
This event also was a goldmine of callsigns I had many QSO's with and had never had an eyeball conversation with till now. Lots of great conversation till finally I absolutely needed to go. Word of the day was-FUN! Reenergized My Ham attitude!
73--Tim