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[TowerTalk] Rebuilding a 3-el SteppIR

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Rebuilding a 3-el SteppIR
From: Fredrick Matos via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Reply-to: Fredrick Matos <blainefred@icloud.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2019 13:12:31 -0500
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Excellent post and the WA4PSC blog on rebuilding the Force 12.

I am going to buy a used 3-element SteppIR,  and I want to rebuild to minimize 
future maintenance.  

I would appreciate advice.  

73,

Fred W3ICM

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 22, 2019, at 12:00 PM, towertalk-request@contesting.com wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Re: Force12 rebuild (Bryan Swadener)
>   2. Re: Force12 rebuild (Howard Hoyt)
>   3. Force12 rebuild (Jim Thomson)
>   4. Re: Force12 rebuild (Richard Smith)
>   5. Coil  3.77  software (Jim Thomson)
>   6. Source For Antenna Materials (Jim Brown)
>   7. FW: Re:  Force12 rebuild (Gary K9GS)
>   8. Re: Force12 rebuild (N4ZR)
>   9. Re: Force12 rebuild (Chuck Tifft)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:37:26 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Bryan Swadener <bswadener@yahoo.com>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <1169730302.1469574.1576949846216@mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> I'm using nickel-copper wire rope on the 40m linear loaded elements of my F12 
> C-4XL. McMaster-Carr has 7x7-strand 1/16" diameter for $1.24/ft (#3453T32).
> Bryan WA7PRC: 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> the past due to years of vibration.
> 
> Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Kris N5KM  
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:59:37 -0500
> From: Howard Hoyt <hhoyt@mebtel.net>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <fb5e9e5e-f058-0001-048a-393984b48ca6@mebtel.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> Hi Kris,
> 
> I went through this a few years back and published a blog on the process 
> including links to materials:
> 
> https://proaudioeng.com/force-12-c-4sxl-rebuild/
> 
> Good luck and have fun!? I did...
> Howie / WA4PSC
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:13:06 -0800
> From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <DF68363E78854A25B4AF943B8B8D8DEF@DESKTOPSV54DBH>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>
> To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> 
> 
> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> <the past due to years of vibration.
> 
> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
> 
> <Kris N5KM
> 
> ##  replace the  LL alumoweld  fubar  with hb  coils...  like  either  al  or 
>  cu.  Use  dacron  rope  for the
> new  truss supports. 
> 
> ##  Dont   even  think  about using SS  wire..... the losses are beyond  sky  
> high.   It  will  break  anyway,  cuz  of  metal fatigue. 
> Stranded  CU wire  would  work,  but hb coils are simpler. 
> 
> Jim   VE7RF  
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 22:26:59 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Richard Smith <n6kt1@sbcglobal.net>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <2072892177.2383792.1576967219856@mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> Hi Jim,
> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
> 73, Rich, N6KT
>    On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson 
> <jim.thom@telus.net> wrote:  
> 
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>
> To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> 
> 
> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> <the past due to years of vibration.
> 
> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
> 
> <Kris N5KM
> 
> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like? either? al? 
> or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
> new? truss supports. 
> 
> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are beyond? sky? 
> high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue. 
> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler. 
> 
> Jim? VE7RF? 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:32:01 -0800
> From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>
> To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Coil  3.77  software
> Message-ID: <5113EDC308D746DDBBD0445A90FC4B1F@DESKTOPSV54DBH>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> 
> Coil  3.77  is  now  available....  replaces coil  3.72 
> 
> http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/coil.zip
> 
> 
> Jim   VE7RF
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 15:04:58 -0800
> From: Jim Brown <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> To: towertalk reflector <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Source For Antenna Materials
> Message-ID:
>    <a37794d8-93af-9a46-097f-290d5b39a792@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> A member of the VHF Slack group recommended this source for antenna 
> materials.
> 
> https://www.onlinemetals.com/
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 20:58:52 -0600
> From: Gary K9GS <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com>
> To: "towertalk@contesting com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] FW: Re:  Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <mailman.33.1577034004.30226.towertalk@contesting.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> Sorry all..I replied off list by mistake.73,Gary K9GS
> -------- Original message --------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>                    On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 10:03:29 AM PST, GaryK9GS 
> <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
>                I asked a friend who has had a?EF-420/240 up for probably 20 
> years.? His reply:"I have not changed the wire. Should I need to in the 
> future, I would use #14 copperweld as I think this wire would be as strong as 
> the aluminumweld used by F12. Might be good, however, to check on mechanical 
> specs of the copper clad steel wire.This loading wire also acts as truss 
> wires to physically support the elements."Climate is southern WI so plenty of 
> snow, ice, and temps from below 0 to 100 degrees.73,Gary K9GS-------- 
> Original message --------From: Bryan Swadener via TowerTalk 
> <towertalk@contesting.com> Date: 12/21/19  11:37 AM  (GMT-06:00) To: 
> towertalk@contesting.com Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild  I'm using 
> nickel-copper wire rope on the 40m linear loaded elements of my F12 C-4XL. 
> McMaster-Carr has 7x7-strand 1/16" diameter for $1.24/ft (#3453T32).Bryan 
> WA7PRC:  
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 
> Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600F
 r
> om: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuildHi 
> all,I'm rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as 
> replacementfor the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have 
> snapped inthe past due to years of vibration.Note: as part of the rebuild I 
> am adding truss supports for the 3 elementsin order to remove the stress on 
> the linear loading wires.73,Kris N5KM? 
> ______________________________________________________________________________________________TowerTalk
>  mailing 
> listTowerTalk@contesting.comhttp://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 8
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 22:14:16 -0500
> From: N4ZR <n4zr@comcast.net>
> To: TowerTalk <TowerTalk@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <b0128dfa-515e-895e-55a1-713b609b4faf@comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> In fact, I believe F12 in later years made the 40M single-band antennas 
> (called the Delta line) with coils in place of the linear loading.? That 
> said, I had one up at 104 feet for 15 years with the original alumoweld 
> wire, and zero issues
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
> 
>> On 12/21/2019 5:26 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
>>  Hi Jim,
>> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
>> 73, Rich, N6KT
>>     On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson 
>> <jim.thom@telus.net> wrote:
>> 
>>  Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
>> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>
>> To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>> 
>> 
>> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
>> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
>> <the past due to years of vibration.
>> 
>> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
>> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>> 
>> <Kris N5KM
>> 
>> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like? either? al? 
>> or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
>> new? truss supports.
>> 
>> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are beyond? sky? 
>> high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue.
>> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler.
>> 
>> Jim? VE7RF
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 9
> Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2019 06:23:34 -0800
> From: Chuck Tifft <chuckw6rd@yahoo.com>
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <96971ca5-5b96-fe66-5401-ff0c3f665d3d@yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> Converted mine? a couple years back to Coils from N6BT Antennas. He also 
> supplied the needed tubing for the conversion and I think it all came to 
> less than $300.
> 
> Chuck W6RD
> 
>> On 12/21/2019 7:14 PM, N4ZR wrote:
>> In fact, I believe F12 in later years made the 40M single-band 
>> antennas (called the Delta line) with coils in place of the linear 
>> loading.? That said, I had one up at 104 feet for 15 years with the 
>> original alumoweld wire, and zero issues
>> 
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
>> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
>> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
>> For spots, please use your favorite
>> "retail" DX cluster.
>> 
>>> On 12/21/2019 5:26 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
>>> ? Hi Jim,
>>> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
>>> 73, Rich, N6KT
>>> ???? On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson 
>>> <jim.thom@telus.net> wrote:
>>> ? ? Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
>>> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike@gmail.com>
>>> To: "towertalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>>> 
>>> 
>>> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as 
>>> replacement
>>> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have 
>>> snapped in
>>> <the past due to years of vibration.
>>> 
>>> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 
>>> elements
>>> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>>> 
>>> <Kris N5KM
>>> 
>>> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like either? 
>>> al? or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
>>> new? truss supports.
>>> 
>>> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are 
>>> beyond? sky? high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue.
>>> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler.
>>> 
>>> Jim? VE7RF
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>> ?? _______________________________________________
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> 
> 
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> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 204, Issue 20
> ******************************************

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