The View From The Tower

Well, once again, the best efforts (my own) went West, or in some wayward direction, anyhow. I was not able to post while on the road–either while down in Texas, working at NR5M, nor more recently, while up in MD/VA. Here’s a brief recap:

I went to Texas alone this trip. W2GD was heading to VP5, to ready the station there for some FRC friends, in classic multi-op fashion. I spent considerable time getting the “new” crank up tower installed, where it’s intended that we mount the new M2 2M EME array. I am resisting this rather strongly–the tower is simply too small for such an array, but George is adamant, since Mike Stahl suggests that’s the way to go. But with an H-frame support of 3-inch and 4-inch aluminum, and eight (8) 41-ft boom Yagis, it’s just too much moment up there in my humble opinion. But once that was out of the way, work shifted to getting the station ready for CQ WW Phone. I managed to get the needed simple repairs done all right, but the topmost Heliax connector for the new 80M beam apparently failed on Thursday, sometime after I left. They were able to convince someone to climb up and install a new Leoni connector, replacing the troublesome Andrew ones purchased on eBay. I was home only a few hours, then on the road to W3LPL. Did 15M this time out, as in days of old. K3LR and KC1XX topped the M-M pile this year, with 20M and 18M scores; we had 17M. Then N3KS asked if I could replace his rotator before the ARRL SS, and it only made sense to stay over and do the work, instead of trying to come back. Monday’s work got cancelled (don’t ask), and then Tuesday was just rain, rain, and more rain. On Wednesday, we decided (or I did), to press ahead regardless, and so I spent three hours atop Kam’s tower, swapping a 61-D for a larger 71-D Prosistel. Soaked by the end of the day, but successful.
Quick work trips to Annapolis and Warsaw, VA were successful, and then headed home. A speeding ticket in VA ruined the ride….

As did the dismal Yankee performance in Game ONE of the World Series (finally found it on Sirius).

Playing the usual game of catch up with myself once again.

stay tuned…

Despite best intentions…
Despite plans, schedules,
et cetera…
Two solid days of rain have ended working aloft. NC/SC client jobs
have not happened.

Off to Texas again on Friday morning on Continental, for last minute fixes/repairs at NR5M….

stay tuned

With new helper Shaun Pierce’s help, managed to get 100 ft of 25G up out at the old home site in Gaston County. Well, minus the top star guys, anyway. We planned to finish those today, considering the forecast was for 85 degrees–the nicest day of the week! But the sky opened up about 9:15 & it appears like the rain is here to stay. So…that project is delayed (again). Next week, if possible, hope to get to K2SD & K4MK jobs, before going back to Texas once more. That all depends on whether or not Shaun gets a new cell tower gig, or not. I hate to lose a good worker, but also hope he finds real employment. He’s taking his ham exam tomorrow. It’s great to think about someone so young getting in to this hobby.

I’ll use the day to build a crankup tower pulldown cable for W2GD, instead.

Trips upcoming (other than Texas) include AI0O in MO, W4ETO/W4PRO/W4RM in VA, & W3LPL at the end of the month (to include CQWW).

stay tuned

Home @1AM this morning from worktrip to MD–with the main focus repairs @WN3R’s mountain QTH up in Frederick. A newly fabricated plate to hold a K7NV prop pitch had to be hauled up & installed in Dick’s 120 ft Rohn SSV tower. Not a trivial task, & one requiring a 2nd climber. I’d contacted Shaun Pierce, an out-of-work local cell tower guy, had him install some 25G sections at my place to see if & how we worked together, & once I saw there were no problems or issues, took him with me to MD. Oh for the enthusiasm & energy of youth! He scooted up the tower & was way more comfortable cavorting around on the SSV steel angles than I was, & helped me a lot. The rotator’s mounting location had to be shifted about 18 inches higher, which entailed lots of beating & banging on the old, rusted & heavily painted hardware, trying to level things in the ever-present high winds, & pulling the MonstIR on its three inch chrome moly mast higher, too. Nothing trivial about any of these jobs. But they all came off in the end. It was great to finally tighten the clamp, apply power & listen to the 9763:1 motor whir around, turning the big beam effortlessly at long last! This should solve Dick’s rotator problems, once ‘n for all!
New RG-213 came next, then the dreaded splicing of the 16-conductor SteppIR control cable (how I wish he’d purchased new) & matching up the colors & screwing the tiny, tiny parts together aloft. The winds were gusting to 30MPH again when we finished that & we were both literally shivering with cold. Again, a joy to hear the stepping motors start up & find the MonstIR to be working right once more.

We then moved over to the little 25G tower I’d installed on the previous trip, & put up the newly fabricated shunt feed system I;d made, then laid out & installed 60 radials. Dick will have to finish installing the remaining 40, as w/o the sod staples, the wires were getting too hard to work around, et cetera. The old tower (even though I’d been especially careful) required a jumper from top to ground to ensure continuity throughout, something I’ll include at AI0O’s place when I put up his vertical soon….

Then, after dinner, we watched “House,” showered & passed out.

Tuesday, I delivered some 25G to WA2BCK, who’s “borrowing” it to allow him to test his SteppIR, then we headed for the VA Beach area, to scope out W4PRO’s 45G takedown. I was not able to arrange for a small crane (the new home owner agreed that was a good solution) in short order, so we headed back to NC.

Raining right now, so the main order of business will be unloading the 11,000 ft of radial wire left over from WN3R’s job! (An excellent eBay bargain, I must say….)

stay tuned