On a casual DXpedition to C6A some years ago I took a vertical with me...I
was just going to take it as it came to me from the factory, in the carton
as shipped, but then I decided I had better make sure everything was shipped
and that I understood and could assemble the antenna...
I created a tool kit with el cheapo import nut drivers and screwdrivers that
were the right size for all the needed adjustments....mebbe ten bucks worth
of tools...
I then put the antenna together and color coded the joints with a rainbow
pack of electrical tape...
After it was assembled and tested I took it apart, and marked the overlaps
with a Sharpie permanent marker....
Fired up I knew there was something else I could do...
I then went to home depot and purchased a length of 4" Schedule 40 PVC which
was about 6" longer than the longest piece of tubing in the antenna...got a
cap and glued it on one end...got a cleanout flange which had internal
threads and glued it on the other, and a threaded plug that mated it,
installed some eye bolts at each end (for the carry strap) and voila I had
everything I need for the antenna in a highly transportable container -
probably smaller than most snow ski carriers, and cheap, too...the only
thing which wasn't in the tube were the radials and coax which were in with
my clothes...my paddle was inside a sneaker, etc...
By having the familiarity with the antenna and the color coding it I was
able to assemble it once I got to the beach in about a half hour, I only had
the needed tools (plus a vise grip and adjustable wrench just in case) so it
was easy knowing which nut driver was needed - seem to remember there were
three sizes only...that half hour included my unwinding some radials which
were tossed into the Atlantic and driving the short mounting pipe into the
beach (used a fallen limb as a mallet - knew I forgot something!)...
Proceeded to spend the next week swimming and sunning in the AM, going to
the casino until the last shuttle bus left at 1:00 AM and then got on the ai
r til dawn...it was a blast!
I think a lot can be said for having familiarity with the antenna by having
put it together before...some things you can leave pre-assembled (smaller
diameter section which when nested are shorter than the longest piece, etc.)
also - saving that much time, making that sub-assembly, when you want to be
making QSOs!
Have fun - seeing as you will be in Europe - I assumed you will be skiing!
Break a leg...ooops
Jim, K4OJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "ABowenN4OO" <abowen@nettally.com>
To: "TowerTalk Post" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 9:13 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] C3SS Assembly
> At 05:49 PM 1/4/2001 -0500, RCARIELLO wrote:
> >Jim, Why not use the Force 12 C3SS. 12 foot boom, 2 elements each band
and
> >it fits in a 4 foot box.
> >Should take about an hour to put together and it works great. Rich/AA2MF
> ======================
> I just put together a C3S, which is not much different than a C3SS. Best
to
> allow 4-6 hours assembly time. There are a lot of pieces and a lot of
> motions required to complete the job properly.
>
> Even if you do the "quickie" assembly with single rivets and tape, it
still
> will take additional time to read the instructions, find the pieces, align
> the pieces and so on. I would also have concern about the short term
> reliability of such a procedure, depending on the climate and how long the
> antenna will be exposed. You also have the additional complexity of
> assembling the linear loaded element. Either procedure will take much
> longer than one hour.
>
> For proper assembly or even the short procedure, the tool kit will have to
> have a pop rivet tool, a drill motor, a couple of 1/8" drill bits and an
> awl for alignment of holes. The rivets have to be drilled out to correct
> mistakes or change dimensions and to disassemble the antenna for travel.
> An adjustable wrench is required for the boom to mast assembly. Consider
> also the load of 27 lbs plus balun, plus coax at the end of whatever mast
> is to be used.
>
> INK N4OO
>
>
>
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>
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