The pre-tension force can be checked with a Loos guage. You're correct that it is significant. If someone yanks 50 lb on a tag line to a balanced antenna, that's a lot. Tag line forces are likely an
Dick -- Addressing your questions (to the best of my limited knowledge): A snatch block is a pulley (block) whose frame opens so that the rope can be laid into the block; i.e., one does not have to t
Protection from ice shed off the structure in winter? on 06 Dec 21 Thu 00:25 Dick Green WC1M said the following: _______________________________________________ ______________________________________
Some suggestions from my brother, who is very good at mechanical stuff. -- Eric K3NA Is there any way that they can try heating the assembly near the pin to grow the hole? Heat, penetrating lube and
Well, actually, K3NA was just reporting from the "Handbook of Rigging" regarding sheave diameters. To further illuminate the subject, I will just quote from the chapter 10, "Blocks, Reeving, Sheaves,
Hi folks -- At W1KM the 10m stack is rotated by a Yaesu G-1000DXA. The stack is side-mounted so we only get about 300 of azimuth coverage. The control box does not track direction very well. At the f
Hi Bob -- The alignment pots on this unit are at their stops. This is one reason that leads us to suspect an internal electronics issue. -- Eric on 07 Jan 30 Tue 11:58 Robert Chudek - K0RC said the f
Hi folks -- Recently at the W1KM station we tried these trailer light/brake connectors. After two years we had to pull them out of service. They had started to fail. We saw two failure modes: a) Corr
Hi Gene -- Yep, we tried staggering the butt splices and wrapping the bundle, just like you did. Water got between the loose wires of the bundle and under the tape. And the whole splicing procedure w
That only works if one can get enough glue/sealer to squeeze between the 4-7 loose wires that come off the trailer connector to seal the gap between the wires. This is what we had difficulty with. I'
Do not use 19 strand wire rope. It is designed for a different application (runs around pulleys, etc), and comes in many different designs (Warrington vs Seale cross-sections, right regular, right la
"Wire rope" is also a technical term used in the rigging industry. It covers all forms of steel cable that have been discussed in this email thread, including "aircraft cable". Choosing a wire rope d
The main effects of coax choice for the stubs: 1. voltage handling capacity -- The stub terminates in open/short and thus the VSWR will be very high on other than the design fundamental (pass) freque
Hi -- I use high-dielectric silicone for three tasks around the station: a) a lubricant for O-rings on watertight connectors and gasketed boxes. A film spread on with a finger helps make a clean seal
That is the Leesburg FAA control center. I believe that it is a back-up HF facility to talk with FEMA HF facilities, other control centers, and possibly for aeronautical HF communications as well. Th
Commercial sites run out a ground screen, typically long 'radials' of strap or wire. They are anchored to the rock occasionally simply to keep them in place. They form the top of a big capacitor, wit
Hi Tim, Mark -- My understanding was that a properly-chosen thimble (correct diameter, correct shape of the groove, and correct wall thickness) will maintain the shape of the loop under all load cond