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

13 colonies special Event 2018

This year the band conditions seemed more difficult than previous years. I also did not have the same time available so chasing stations was more hit and miss.I did manage the WM3PEN bonus station although conditions were very difficult.He was lonely calling CQ and it still took many tries to exchange information.Most of the other 13 colony stations were much easier although about half were extremely busy with callers trying to be heard.
 I only managed 8 of the thirteen colony stations and the 1 bonus station--never hearing the GB13COL station from overseas even once.Fun time as always-no clean sweep! Maybe next year!
 I want to again thank the operators for a fun and well organized event.10 year anniversary so I will be sending for the certificate with a small donation included.
73---Tim

13 Colonies special Event 2017

I've participated in this special event since 2012-only missing the first three years. I have achieved a clean sweep three years ( contacting the original 13 colony stations) and have been hit or miss with the bonus stations-WM3PEN and W3FT. The most recent bonus station from the United Kingdom -GB13COL I have not contacted much less heard! Band conditions at My QTH for any contact with them other than CW or Digital lately seems very tough. If 10 or 15m was open--probably increase My chances alot!
  Several Years I forgot about the Event until it was almost over so I needed to play catch-up. Not this year--in fact I had 8 contacts within the first 24 hours so I expected a clean sweep was going to happen.The band conditions during the next several days and time limitations kept the clean sweep goal distant.I managed a contact every so often and even snagged the  WM3PEN station thru the noise on 40m one evening.
 The last twelve hours I tried to add the last two stations I needed eventually contacting  K2H from Massachusetts but never making it thru the noise and pile ups to K2I ( New Jersey). He did stay a little longer on CW - conditions maybe?? By time He was on SSB the band was very iffy and I finally gave up towards the end.Twelve stations plus the one bonus is all I could manage!
  This is always a fun event and since I take some vacation around the 4th of July I have extra time to participate. My hat is off to all the superb operators who are willing to give their time and energy to make this event on the radio so successful.It seems to be growing bigger every year.A job well done--God Bless America, Happy July 4th
and---73s---Tim
 

Las Vegas trip 2017

The last week of March was Our trip to Las Vegas and we looked forward to more seasonal weather and a relaxing time with a small bit of gambling too. Very small-- not much of a gambler! Our flight was leaving Duluth Sunday evening with a connection at MSP airport. As luck would have it the weather did not cooperate.Duluth does tend to have its share of fog and late Sunday afternoon the fog settled in around Duluth and Lake Superior. Our daughter was dropping Us off for Our flight and continuing to College for the week.
At the airport it soon became apparent Our flight was going to be delayed enough to miss our connection at MSP airport.What to do? We hated to have Our daughters evening spoiled coming back to get Us and besides the Fog was very thick.After consulting with the airline we decided to change flights and catch a very early flight Monday. Rented a car for transportation home and back and about 5 hours later, and away We went.Figured We wouldn't be the only sleep deprived tourists in Vegas!
Arrived nice and early at Las Vegas with the time change, checked into the Stratosphere Hotel and started exploring. We saw a broadway style show,visited the titanic exhibition ( it was great) and toured the Hoover Dam.
Thursday we decided on some pool time and were enjoying the pool by 10am. Later We noticed the wind was really starting to pick up.Weather reports the night before had predicted a very strong wind by noon. They were right and We decided to check out the Stratosphere tower and maybe find a restaurant.
The Stratosphere tower is about 110 stories high. Impressive. I don't relish heights but was willing to accompany My wife.While up at the gift shop at 108 story level we noticed movement back and forth. We were told the tower was engineered to move several feet to accomadate extreme winds.Yup-enough for Me! Down We went and found a ground floor restaurant. Later we went up to our room and relized the Las Vegas area was having a rather significant sand storm with winds in Our area gusting to 60-70mph! Yikes!!
With the weather being less than stellar, thought maybe some guests would be concerned. Nope.Casino operating like it was a nice summer day. Nobody concerned in the least! Eventually towards dusk the winds calmed down and strip returned to normal--well except for the 50 some thousand without power!! We had power so we ate supper, gambled some and had an enjoyable evening. Flight back to Minnesota was the typical hurry up and wait and feeling like cattle being hearded! Like I said-typical!
All in all a fun but interesting trip.We're ready to do it again !
73---Tim