At last….a couple of rain-free days, along with client Dr. N4REC not working, something which has been next-to-impossible to schedule. With KI4TZ unable to make this trip, I knew I needed some ground crew help while climbing, plus some assistance shoving 7/8-inch Heliax in the trench & putting in all the multiple control cable runs (Peter wanted extra lines available for possible additions or mods later, so there were 12 lines total!).
Installed the homebrew sidearm mount & the Hustler 2M vertical; everything fit perfectly. Then went up top & re-oriented the T-12 log periodic, which had moved a bit on the mast, despite the Tennadyne Slipp-Nott being used. I truly torqued the shit out of it once the beams were re-aligned, & mounted my own “no slip” device above the Slipp-Nott.
Then it was time to calibrate the Yaesu rotator. I think I’ve installed three Yaesu rotators in my entire life. I admit to not liking them. The control box compass rose is quite nice, but the instructions…well, they leave something to be desired. I assume it’s merely a case of bad
translating. In any case, we were never able to coordinate the settings with the little stamped case markings (per instructions). The overlap, which I assume should be in the center of the rotation, always came out North-oriented. After a hour of fooling with it, Peter allowed as how he could live with it, especially considering the rotator provides 450 degrees of motion. I did NOT pin the mast, as I never like that idea, regardless.
The new DX Engineering switchbox is very, very nice. I truly like these switches. Despite the manual’s statement to use a specified cable, when Peter tried ordering it, they told him to use “sprinkler wire,” which we did. I was a tad apprehensive, but all seems okay. Nice
18 gauge solid conductor, direct-burial cable.
Spent some time hanging out with old film school prof David Prince & his wife, Bonnie, over in nearby Athens. Always good times…
Next up: local work & then back on the road, to IN, or MS, or FL, or whatever/wherever we can
arrange or schedule first!
stay tuned…
