OK Don (and All),
The antennas were stacked in 'normal' Christmas tree fashion. There was
about 1/4" to 3/8" (measurements were taken on the ground AFTERWARDS) of ice
after the freezing rain, which then turned into heavy wet snow. There were
no compensators on the antennas and they were pointed into the wind. Winds
were steady at 55-70MPH with gusts reaching 90MPH. ALL elements failed at
the swage points. 20M boom broke on one side of the re-inforcement at the
center near the mast. 10 & 15m booms bent at the same point. One side of the
driven element on 15 & 20M beams broke at the insulators. Several element
pieces (don't know which antenna they came from yet) appear to be twisted
radially.
I really am amazed that the T6 escaped any damage at all. Its elements were
sagging badly and waving around in the wind when I last looked at them,
while the HG antennas elements appeared to be handling everything pretty
well. I took a rest break from the contest and went to bed to find this mess
of aluminum laying on the ground when I awoke and couldn't tune the
antennas.
I have to figure out something different because I cannot afford this to
happen again.
73,
Ron, KA9ALC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Havlicek" <n8de@thepoint.net>
To: "Major Ron" <majrabsr@rconnect.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: February 11, 2002 21:40
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Antennas down
> Ron
> Educate us!
> What was the orientation of those antennas to the wind direction when
> they 'failed' the stress test?
> What was the amount of radial ice on them?
> Were they stacked in a Xmas tree?
> If so, was the Xmas tree 'ordinary' or 'inverted'?
> Where did the 205CA boom fail?
> Where did the 155CA boom bend?
> Where did the 105CA boom bend?
> Which elements on which beams failed?
> Did you have 'compensators' on the booms?
> Very interested in the answers to these questions, as I am about to
> erect an 'inverted' Xmas tree of 20 over 15 over 10 .. 204BA instead of
> 205CA.
> Thanks in advance.
> Don
> N8DE
>
>
> Major Ron wrote:
> >
> > We here in SW MN had freezing rain and high winds SAT night & SUN
morning.
> > My HyGain 205CA, 155CA and 105CA are history. Broken elements on all of
them
> > and broken boom on 205. 155 & 105 booms are severly bent. Guess I'll be
in
> > the market for some new antennas after I find a new job. Only surviving
beam
> > is Tennadyne T6.
> >
> > Ron, KA9ALC
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________________
> > Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
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> > Order online at http://store.eham.net.
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > -----
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________________________________________________________________________
Where do you get ICE bandpass filters & beverage matching boxes? The
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Order online at http://store.eham.net.
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