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[TowerTalk] KLM KT34-XA Refurbishing

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] KLM KT34-XA Refurbishing
From: Chad_Kurszewski@csg.mot.com (Chad Kurszewski)
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 14:05:39 -0500
At 09:28 AM 10/21/98 , K7LXC@aol.com wrote:
>
>In a message dated 98-10-21 09:06:08 EDT, WBH3@chrysler.com writes:
>
>> Right now, I am using something called "OX-GARD by GB" which I got at Home
>>  Depot to coat the fittings where the antenna elements connect together at
>>  the boom.  I don"t know or have a feel whether it is necessary to do a
>>  complete disassembly and re-coat all the places the assembly manual  says
>>  to put the originally supplied copper paste.   My feelings right now are to
>>  finish the assembly and then stand it on the director end and attach the
>>  coax and see how it plays. 
>
>     Sounds reasonable. Personally I'd rather spend the money on a new one
>than try to refurb one - WAY too may connections, WAY too much work IMO. Re-
>assemble it and see if it works like it did. If it does, put it up and have
>fun.


I recently went through a rebuild of two KT-34XAs.  Yes, there are
a TON of connections that need to be cleaned.

But I'm a ham.  I enjoy doing work and not spending money.

I bought a pair of XA's for $450 total.  I also spent $92 in replacement
parts, for a new total of $542.  A pair of new antennas would have run
me $1582 for a difference of $1040.

I timed myself as to how long it took me to refurb the antenna.  Each
triband element took 2 hours, times 5 elements, times 2 antennas = 20 hours.
Add in a couple more hours for final assembly and tuning = 24 hours.

$1040 saved divided by 24 hours = $43.33/hr

I'm sorry, but I don't make $43/hr.  It would have been worth taking
3 days off of work...I would have still "saved" $500 even after the
lost wages!!!

---
Chad Kurszewski                 email: Chad_Kurszewski@csg.mot.com
Senior RF Development Engineer  phone: (847) 523-8982
Motorola Inc.                   fax:   (847) 523-0078
Cellular Subscriber Sector

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