K4IDC built a Sidewinder for us at N6RO last year. It’s supporting a 10m and a 6m Yagi, not
a heavy load. Robin did a nice, clean fabrication job. All his work is custom, to-order.
He’s very easy to work with and delivered on time in spite of his ongoing cancer treatment
at the time. His welding technique is top-notch and the kit mounted up with no problems. So thumbs
up for Robin and http://idctechnology.net/ <http://idctechnology.net/>
His basic version is not really meant for heavy arrays like your big 4L 40m but
discuss it with him. I suspect he can beef it up. His default tubing is 6061-T0 (1.5
in rigid aluminum conduit, 1.95 in OD) but says he can order T6 mechanical tubing for
the more demanding jobs. I’d ask if he can go to 3 inch...
We turned our Msquared 4L 40m with a regular Spid RAK for a few years until it totally
self-destructed… split the case open. A BIG-RAK is doing well after about 6
years, other than crushing the water pipe mast. Swing arms are definitely worse than
straight antenna installations because of the added torque! We also have a 20m 5L with
a 42-foot boom on a swingarm that was a rotator eater. Finally installed a medium prop
pitch there and that solved the problem once and for all.
Another reason we like the Spids is that, like prop pitches and some other
modern rotators, it uses a pulse counter so if the mast ever slips a bit you
just re-zero it.
-Gary NA6O
From: John Webster NN1SS <nn1ssnh@gmail.com <mailto:nn1ssnh@gmail.com>>
To: towertalk@contesting.com <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Ring Rotors and Swinging Gates
All:
First, many thanks again for all of the great responses. As a result, my
way forward at this time is the swinging gate solution. The IDC Technology
"Sidewinder" is at the top of the list. It seems beefy enough and looks
like it will maintain a vertical position under a load which in New
Hampshire can mean more than just the weight of the antenna. Heavy wet snow
really piled up on the 404C a week or so ago. It also has an optional
thrust bearing shelf to make rotor replacement simple. I like that.
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk