Butternut HF6v antenna trouble

 I struggled with this ground mounted vertical having an intermittent problem over the last winter until it finally totally failed. The upcoming 13 colony special event was just ahead so I decided to fix this issue. My original installation was over 10 years ago and it had lasted very reliably until recently. I used Andrews LDF-50a heliax  run on the ground to the  RG-11 matching stub and at that connection I had weatherproofed  it with first mastic tape and then scotch 88 and finally coax seal. This connection I taped to a coffee can to keep it off the ground.  

  The coax transition is where I assumed the problem is so this is where I carefully cut through the coax seal and tape to reveal a nice shiny female "N" connector and brass heliax "N" connector. The RG-11 "N" connector came apart with a gentle tug. Problem found !! With a little patience I was able to temporarily put this connection back together to test. The center pin solder had failed for some reason--maybe not good to begin with?? This RG-11 had this connector on before I used it so who knows!

  The temperature outside was getting very uncomfortable so I decided to leave this temporary until later and just tape a bag around it for now. It tested very good with the antenna analyzer and when i hooked it back up to the radio the signals where great. I believe I'm now ready for 13 colony special event. I will do a write up of my endeavours!

  Tim 

 This was written in June!

Bella

 Our sweet Bella was about 4 years old when we adopted Her from the shelter. She immediately settled into Our household and let our cats know who was in charge. We also said her behavior was a little ruff and not exactly lady like but she became our much beloved fur kid in time. The next 12 years she made us laugh and appreciate her superb awareness of her surroundings through her sensitive nose and hearing abilities. Typical of most dogs she liked routine and having her people close by.

  Bella became my exercise buddy when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. We had many frequent walks and later as she slowed down they became smell journeys. She also was my constant companion after I retired and during the recent lockdown of the Covid pandemic.

  Life is always too short for a beloved pet and so too with Bella. Her old age health issues at 16 years old became too much for her and us so in April we had to say good bye. We are getting use to the new normal of losing our last pet. It is quiet and many simple tasks trigger a Bella memory but We will always be grateful for her life spent with us. We loved her very much. Goodbye Bella your not forgotten!!

    

 I participated in the 13 colonies special event in july of this year.I managed to contact 12 of the 13 colonies only missing K2D-Connecticut. I also did not contact the two extra stations. Conditions were just okay and my vertical antenna was intermittant again--sad face.Need to fix that issue before winter.

All operators were good and as always very dedicated.

73---Tim

Butternut vertical antenna trouble

I have a butternut HF6V vertical antenna that until recently was working very well. It was installed many years ago with only occasional issues- bad capacitor, broken guys,etc. I had noticed in the last several months not as many signals but since I’ve not been very active on the air it really hadn’t pushed me to really investigate.
 With winter fast approaching in the northland, I decided to check this antenna out a little more. Imagine my surprise when the antenna analyzer showed very high SWR and the ohmmeter basically shows open..this summer has been very wet and consequently I neglected trimming a perimeter around the base of the antenna like I normally Would.
  After trimming around the base I found the shield ground broke plus several secondary grounds to the metal base and ground rods  also broke.the most obvious problem and the reason for the damage was the base,which is a 20x24 metal base was sinking and covered with mud/grass from some animal which had dug underneath it and deposited all the wet ground on top of it.
  This location is very good for a ground mounted vertical because of the swampy location which makes it all the more surprising an animal would try to burrow underneath..Maybe when it was drier?? Whatever- after some excavation and filling in I was able to repair all the bad ground connections and test first with the ohmmeter then analyzer. It was now a happy working vertical antenna again with lots of signals .
 My winter operating now can happen on not only this antenna but several others which I also tested.
73- Tim

13 colonies special event 2019

I was able to be on air for the first and last days but had limited time for each day.This is the 8th year I've participated and as always it was fun chasing the stations around the bands. The first day I contacted two stations and managed 6 more on the last day. I imagine I missed some good propagation days but as always the fourth of July week is very busy for Me.Conditions seemed fair but when I was able to be active,the higher bands were not open to Northern Minnesota.A typical occurance! I did not manage to contact any of the bonus stations but at least on 20m I was able to hear the GB13COL station from England although He was extremely light and the Eastern wall of operators prevented Me having a QSO opportunity.
   This special event is always fun and well run and I will donate and send for the certificate.Would be nice having a clean sweep but need to spend more time-maybe next year!
    73's--- Tim