TailTwister Rotor Problems
K7LXC at aol.com
K7LXC at aol.com
Wed Feb 21 16:32:53 EST 1996
In a message dated 96-02-15 15:29:23 EST, you write:
> I have a TailTwister which is mounted inside Rohn 45 clone, using
>a thrust bearing, and turning a 4-el Cushcraft 20 Meter yagi and a 2-el
>Cushcraft 40 Meter yagi. The rotor is 11 years old, but has only seen
>service for about 7 of those years.
> A couple weeks ago (during a 50 mph windstorm), I was
>disappointed to see my antennas swinging back and forth in a 90 degree
>arc. This seemed like a premature death for the rotator, especially
>since the wind load total is only about 15 sq. feet. Has anyone else had
>similar problems with TailTwisters?
Hiya, Dave --
The load you described is within the specs of the T2X. Unfortunately, ANY
rotator has a limited service life. Any time you have an electromechanical
device holding and turning a round object (the mast), you have asked it to
perform a difficult assignment. My experience has shown that the 7 years you
mentioned is about the typical life of any rotator (with exception of
prop-pitches.) I predict your new Yaesu will give you the same approximate
service.
>I was quite happy with this rotator until this problem. I also went out and
bought the >new Yaesu rotator (forget the model number, but it has similar
wind load and almost >similar pricing as the TailTwister). I was intrigued
at the idea of braking via
>the gears its uses (sort of like trying to turn a gear box from the wrong
end, I guess) >and also was surprised to see it uses a DC motor. Any thoughts
on the cause of the >TailTwister's untimely death? It did successfully
weather a 100 mph hurricane and an >80 mph hurricane a few years back. I
also would appreciate any thoughts on the >Yaesu model - it is probably not
too late for me to exchange it for another
>TailTwister if I made a bad choice.
>
In general, the Japanese rotators appear to be well designed and well
manufactured. In general, parts and service for the Japanese rotators have
been difficult to come by.
BTW, the best kept secret in amateur radio is the fact that Hy-Gain has a
flat fee price for fixing their rotators. For $75 for a Ham IV and $90 for a
T2X, they will fix ANYTHING that is wrong with the rotator. If you've priced
any of the parts recently, this is the bargain of the century. In fact, they
haven't adjusted the price since 1983! Send your T2X back to the factory and
have it repaired - you can't go wrong.
73, Steve K7LXC
"Up The Tower" now appears in CQ Contest magazine
>From richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey) Thu Feb 22 01:06:46 1996
From: richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey) (dfrey)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 20:06:46 -0500
Subject: 4O4
Message-ID: <12b999d0 at maila.harris.com>
Rob,
As far as I know, the only officially recognized stations from BiH
have a T9 prefix. Surely the Serbs would like to think they can issue
their own from their own areas of influence, but they are not the
"recognized lawful >national< authority" for issuing licenses. I also
believe the 4O block still belongs to Yugoslavia?
Dick 9A/K4XU
>From richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey) Thu Feb 22 02:19:48 1996
From: richard.frey at Harris.COM (dfrey) (dfrey)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 21:19:48 -0500
Subject: ARRL DX from 9A1A
Message-ID: <12b99df0 at maila.harris.com>
Call: 9A1A Country: Croatia
Mode: CW Category: Multi Multi
BAND QSO STATES/PROV
160 269 39
80 701 45
40 1132 52
20 1234 59
15 354 36
10 0 0
---------------------
Totals 3650 231 = about 2.5M
Ops: 9A9A 9A5D 9A6D 9A5W 9A2R 9A7R 9A6A 9A2DQ 9A3GW K4XU and about 4
others.
Greetings from beautiful downtown Croatia! The above score is very
preliminary. I took my bin file and merged it with one from the other
side of the loop which was broken for a good part of Sat night and
Sunday morning. CT users note: we do not use a "station #1" in the
network, so there is no timing sent around the loop. This greatly
reduces the traffic on the network, but when I merged the logs I had
about 30% dupes because the times were off by a minute or so.
Since I operated only 160, 20, and 15M, all I know about the other
bands is interpretation of the gab and network traffic - when it was
working. The ARRL DX from Europe is a neat contest. It is a
nighttime thing until dawn, some sleep, an afternoon foray, then
another nap until starting over. A 48 hour contest and about ten hours
of sleep. Wonderful!
160M: Looks like 9A1A is finally out of the "alligator class". There
were a few short outbreaks of line noise but the wx was clear and dry.
Bigger problem was that most of the local autos do not have suppressed
ignitions. The snow was too deep for us to use the driveway. With
three or four of our cars parked on the road in front of the
schoolhouse where the towers are installed, the local traffic had to
navigate the remaining half lane very carefully. The first station
worked was K1ZM followed by W3LPL. Never touched my dial after laying
claim to 1833.5. Once or twice I thought about it after TM1C or UA2F
opened up next door. Some of those stations are rather broad.... 124
contacts and 30 mults the first night ending with a dupe on N2RM at
0622. The second night started with K3NZZ at 2226Z. If anything it
was better than the first night, but not as many stations available
since we had already worked all the big signals. Again, no S&P. Just
lots of CQ on 1834. I did tune around a bit with the sub receiver on
the 950SDX to see if there were any stations we missed, but we had
already worked anyone strong enough to be calling CQ. The last
station of Sunday AM was N4KG in AL at 0610. Niksha, 9A5W worked
three more stations before packing it up Sunday night, though he was
plagued by high line noise. Except for KB5UL in NM, nothing to the
west at all. The whole station, amplifiers, radios, rotor controls,
VHF/UHF radios, TNCs, power supplies, cots, sleeping bags, all have to
be packed up and put in the closet or the cars before leaving.
Remember, the contest here ends at 1AM on Monday. The 160M station is
a TS950SDX + 77DX to a sloper from the top of the 15M tower at 110'.
Rx help from a 1 wave Beverage. Final 160: 255/39.
80M was the place to be. The operator was Emil, 9A9A, who installed a
300 degree "stealth" beverage the day before using TOW antitank
missile wire. It ran from the corner of the building and across the
road at 6M high then continued another wavelength at 3M high to the
termination. Worked like a champ, just ask N9JF. At the end of the
first night, Emil was 220 QSO ahead of 40M. Rig: Just like 160 into
a pair of full sized phased verticals over 48 radials each. Final
about 700/45.
40M: I'm not sure who the operator was, but he was an unhappy dude
missing the rates more typical of this band. Reasonably good long path
openings to the west coast both days during the 15Z hour: 39/4 the
first afternoon and 17/0 the second including N0DH/7. Gear: TS950SDX
with an old semi-homebrew amp that died early Saturday AM and was
replaced with a 77DX, into a 4el KLM at 80 feet. Final tally, about
1130/52.
20M: Using a 6/6 stack on this band at 120/60' gives you an edge when
working to a specific area of the world. The TIC ring on the top is
sure an improvement over the weather-beaten and SLOW tailtwister!
Saturday Robie 9A3GW and Braco 9A2R had 20M. It started slowly
(except for a single 0004Z Q with W1OO) with K1KI at 0923. Less than
20/hr until 12Z. A 100/hr feeding frenzy for the next seven hours
then nothing, like someone flipped a switch at 1910Z. Ditto for
Sunday but only 75/hr. I did 20M after 15M cooled each day at 1530Z.
Its fun to say hi to the occasional friend in the middle of a pileup.
Maybe some thought we were using N6TR-log in the name mode. I really
enjoyed operating with Robie who types a helluva lot better than I.
On Sunday there is no reason for us ever to S&P except with the sub
rx. We stay in one spot (get it?) and defend it against all comers...
including N3AD and K0RF who both made concerted but futile attempts to
steal it. Similar equipment on 20M: 950S and Alpha into 6/6.
1230/59. Missed Lab, VE8 and YUK, hello VY1JA?
15M: We exercised the rotator on the top 6el looking for an opening.
Swinging from skew path over Africa to direct on every signal heard
coming out of the noise. Never anything big on Saturday. 70 Qs with
a rousing 38 hour at 14Z. On Sunday I started with a personal goal
to break 150Qs and 25 mults. It began just like Saturday, slowly with
skew path signals 10, 20 an hour when all hell broke loose at 1515Z.
78 in that hour, 139 the next, then nothing. Stations would come in
waves as spots hit clusters in different parts of the country. No
problem making the goal. Gear: the 160M station with 6/6/6 starting
at 120'. Final: 354 and 36.
10M: We tried! The 5/5/5/5 stack was sweeping the ether both skew
and direct. Operators Pero 9A6A and Darko 9A6D made a brave effort,
but all they could hear was the occasional Italian making it across.
The Croatian DX Club, 9A1A, has made a big effort to improve
conditions at the primary school in Kozjaca. This time there was
running water for the first time in four years. A pipe in the
foundation had burst from frost and the school system had no funds for
repair. That makes teaching the 15 students in grades 1-4 hard, but
life for the teacher's family who live in the attached apartment must
have been really difficult. The kitchen even had hot water! Braco
proved to be a superior cook: bean soup and sausages without
flatulence. The kitchen also serves as a shack for 9A1KOZ, the local
school club. The kids are all age 8-14 and come from several of the
small schools in the area where 9A1A teaches radio classes twice a
week. Even with running water, we polished off two cases of
Karlavacko Pivo (the local beer in 0.5 liter bottles)....
There is nothing quite like starting the contest after having had a
shot of the local homebrew called rakia. About 120 proof and
administered with gusto by Bozho, the schoolmaster. It seems to
improve my resistance to loud static crashes....
It looks like I'll be here for another two weeks. Listen for me as
9A/K4XU in the WW160 SSB and again with 9A1A in ARRL SSB.
My apologies to the gang at K4VX. I hate to leave you short handed.
Just pay their ransom demand and I'll be available by WPX.
Dick
>From Igor Sokolov" <igor at sokol.pssr.e-burg.su Tue Feb 20 22:48:17 1996
From: Igor Sokolov" <igor at sokol.pssr.e-burg.su (Igor Sokolov)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 03:48:17 +0500 (ebg)
Subject: Voice keyer with Sound Blaster
Message-ID: <ADn-aAnKp6 at sokol.pssr.e-burg.su>
Does anybody use Sound Blaster as a Voice Keyer with CT or N6TR contest
loggers. If so, how do you do that. I would be greatful for any help.
--
Best regards,
Igor Sokolov, UA9CDC , (N3TOD)
E-mail: igor at sokol.pssr.e-burg.su
Phone/Fax: 3432 229621
>From Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Wed Feb 21 23:00:58 1996
From: Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Charles H. Harpole)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 18:00:58 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Power Line Noise-Part III
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960221175944.5109C-100000 at Pegasus>
I find the cool or cold days are the worst noise 'cause the pwr lines
shrink and some little sparks start up. Damp is even worse 'cause damp
hi resistant paths conduct better than dry ones. 73 K4VUD
>From k7fd at teleport.com (John Nicholson) Wed Feb 21 23:04:41 1996
From: k7fd at teleport.com (John Nicholson) (John Nicholson)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 15:04:41 -0800
Subject: IC775DSP Failures
Message-ID: <199602212304.PAA22601 at desiree.teleport.com>
Here's my 2 cents worth...
I don't know how delicate or dainty the radio is and I hope I don't find out
BUT...
When I first got the radio, I didn't really appreciate what I had. Only
after a few weeks
of operation and learning how to tailor the dsp did I begin to understand
what the
Icom 775DSP was capable of and now...
...after 4 months with my '775, all I can give it is a big thumbs up. I run
the transmit
DSP at 350 hz and 2.7 Khz and the processor and mic gain at 10:30a - this
gives me
the punch I need on the high end and I have received many unsolicited "great
audio"
reports. On the receiver side, it's a gem. I have a very quiet location to
begin with
to be sure, but then on top of that, if I crank in a touch of Noise
Reduction then
basically I have no noise floor at all - just signals! This is where this
particular
radio excels in my opinion: it receives the weakest of signals. Especially
on cw,
where I can actually boost a light signal with the Automatic Peak Filter.
...and whether Icom's are 'delicate' or not, all I can say mine seems to
roll with the
punches. I haven't abused the radio intentionally or otherwise; however a
couple of
power outages here associated with the Oregon floods and 110 mph winds did
hit the
radio while I was operating. These were the short outages of a second or two,
of the flickering type. The radio took those in stride.
If you get a chance, go to HRO like I did and operate the three dsp rigs
side by side.
I did and chose the Icom. All are excellent radios, of course. My personal
preference
for the receive 'sound' and the simplicity of the 775's frequency and
function readout
sold me on this particular rig.
73, John K7FD
Web Page http://www.teleport.com/~k7fd
>From WYLIE at colloquium.co.uk (THOMAS GILLIES WYLIE) Wed Feb 21 23:09:12 1996
From: WYLIE at colloquium.co.uk (THOMAS GILLIES WYLIE) (THOMAS GILLIES WYLIE)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 23:09:12 GMT
Subject: UK COUNTY CODES
Message-ID: <9602212309.AA00405 at hippy.colloquium.co.uk>
UK COUNTY CODES FOR US IN SOME RSGB CONTESTS
ALD Alderney GU
ATM County Antrim GI
ARM County Armagh GI
AVN Avon
BFD Bedfordshire
BRK Berkshire
BDS Borders GM
BUX Buckinghamshire
CBE Cambridgeshire
CTR Central GM
CHS Cheshire
CVE Cleveland
CLD Clwyd GW
CNL Cornwall
CBA Cumbria
DYS Derbyshire
DVN Devon
DOR Dorset
DWN County Down GI
DGL Dumfries and Galloway GM
DHM County Durham
DFD Dyfed GW
ESX Essex
FMH County Fermanagh GI
FFE Fife GM
GNM Mid Glamorgan GW
GNS South Glamorgan GW
GNW West Glamorgan GW
GLR Gloucester
GRN Grampian GM
GUR Guernsey GU
GWT Gwent GW
GDD Gwynedd GW
HPH Hampshire
HWR Hereford and Worcester
HFD Hertfordshire
HLD Highlands GM
HBS Humberside
IOM Isle of Man GD
IOW Isle of Wight
JER Jersey GJ
KNT Kent
LNH Lancashire
LEC Leicestershire
LCN Lincolnshire
LDN Greater London
LDR County Londonderry GI
LTH Lothian GM
MCH Greater Manchester
MSY Merseyside
NOR Norfolk
NHM Northamptonshire
NLD Northumberland
NOT Nottinghamshire
ORK Orkney
OFE Oxfordshire
PWS Powys GW
SPE Shropshire
SRK Sark GU
SLD Shetland GM
SOM Somerset
SFD Staffordshire
SCD Strathclyde GM
SFK Suffolk
SRY Surrey
SXE East Sussex
SXW West Sussex
TYS Tayside GM
TWR Tyne and Wear
TYR County Tyrone GI
WKS Warwickshire
WIL Western Isles GM
WMD West Midlands
WLT Wiltshire
YSN North Yorkshire
YSS South Yorkshire
YSW West Yorkshire
All counties in England unless marked.....These County Codes are good for
1996 but will change due to Government changes in 1997. New Codes in RSGB
Magazine Radio Communication later this year.
73 es guud luck in the Contest
de Tom GM4FDM
WYLIE at colloquium.co.uk
Colloquium Internet
>From Del Seay <seay at alaska.net> Wed Feb 21 22:47:03 1996
From: Del Seay <seay at alaska.net> (Del Seay)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 14:47:03 -0800
Subject: Power Line Noise-Part III
References: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960221175944.5109C-100000 at Pegasus>
Message-ID: <312BA0E7.1926 at alaska.net>
Charles H. Harpole wrote:
>
> I find the cool or cold days are the worst noise 'cause the pwr lines
> shrink and some little sparks start up. Damp is even worse 'cause damp
> hi resistant paths conduct better than dry ones. 73 K4VUD
It isn't possible to say one or the other. It depends on what is causing
the "noise". There are too many different sources on all lines conducting
power. The most usual on wood poles is loose hardware, and again that
can be more than one thing happening. Vibrations caused by the magnetic
field, arcing in a splice, etc.
Obviously, the higher the potential, the more likely you will have
radiation. (And re-radiation)
The very best thing to do, is buy where there is only buried lines
for miles! Then go solar power! Then, be sure to pay the priest!
de KL7HF
>From Thomas J. Wall" <0006130613 at mcimail.com Wed Feb 21 23:46:00 1996
From: Thomas J. Wall" <0006130613 at mcimail.com (Thomas J. Wall)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 96 18:46 EST
Subject: PJ9G in ARRL SSB TEST
Message-ID: <71960221234617/0006130613DC1EM at MCIMAIL.COM>
Once again K2NG and K2TW will be operating in the ARRL SSB contest from
Bonaire. Our call this year will be PJ9G (QSL as usual via WA2NHA). Hope the
bands will be in good shape and cu in the contest! 73 K2TW at mcimail.com
>From Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Wed Feb 21 23:09:40 1996
From: Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Charles H. Harpole)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 18:09:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: KT-34A
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960221180651.5109E-100000 at Pegasus>
I live about 5 miles from the Sommer Antenna plant, i.e., Mr. Sommer's
house and workshop behind it. He's a very private man. But, if I can be
of assistance to anyone because of my location, let me know.
73, K4VUD Geneva, FLA
P.S. No one, but no one, has mentioned the Sommer antennas on this
reflector, correct? Are you'all tellin' me sompthin?
>From Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Wed Feb 21 23:12:15 1996
From: Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Charles H. Harpole)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 18:12:15 -0500 (EST)
Subject: TailTwister Rotor Problems
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960221181152.5109F-100000 at Pegasus>
Steve is correct, again, abt the goodness of the T2X. K4VUD
>From Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu Wed Feb 21 23:04:40 1996
From: Charles H. Harpole" <harpole at pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Charles H. Harpole)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 18:04:40 -0500 (EST)
Subject: KT-34A
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.960221180404.5109D-100000 at Pegasus>
You gotta be kiddin! Select a 34A or XA over a TH-7, no way!
73, K4VUD
>From Takao KUMAGAI <je1cka at dumpty.nal.go.jp> Thu Feb 22 00:57:38 1996
From: Takao KUMAGAI <je1cka at dumpty.nal.go.jp> (Takao KUMAGAI)
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 09:57:38 +0900
Subject: RUFZ Top List(02/20/96)
Message-ID: <199602220057.JAA16931 at dumpty.nal.go.jp>
=== International RUFZ - Top List === (last revised Feb,20 th 1996)
total entries: 96 including Scores by JE1CKA/INTERNET
Points Call highest CW-PARIS-Speed (* - new, I - Initialspeed)
(at Score, (at any other attempt) )
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
62098 HA3NU 520
60925 HA3OV 520 (567)
55353 DF4PA 520
48907 N8RR 480
47532 W2UP 446
47028 S51AY 480 ( I=300 )
42759 DL2HBX 416
40582 S57AD 390 (446)
39510 DL8WAA 416
37463 DF1LX 390
36807 KC5NWX 367 (=KR0Y)
35317 RA9AA 390 (416)
34493 HA1AG 390
33930 T94EU 367
* 33839 OH7JT 367
33199 DL1EFD 367
32973 CT1BOH 367
32070 K1AR 367
31943 SM0TXT 347
31710 DL3DZZ 367
31688 K1DG 367
31665 DL3JAN 367
31200 DL4MM 367
31101 JE1JKL 347
29778 K3WW 347
28859 JH0KHR 347
28361 HA3OU 328 (390)
27822 DL9GOA 328
27596 KE2PF 328
27566 G4BJM ???
26980 AD5Q 328
26351 IT9VDQ 347
26120 DL5LYM 347
25500 SM3JLA 328
24977 K5ZD 312
24855 T94TU 347
24785 SM3OJR 328
24713 DL8LAQ 312
24267 JH0NZN 312
23915 N3RS 312
23813 RA9ATW 312
23386 KI3L 312
23021 T94NF 312
22840 IT9ZGY 312
22736 ND3F 376
22385 IT9XUC 367
22255 K4XU 297
22049 KU4J 297
21948 KR2Q 284
21654 ZS6EZ 297
21281 KJ4VH 284
21133 JA0FVU 284
20796 F5NLY 297
20744 JE1SPY 312
20576 5B4WN 297
20571 AD1C 297
19646 RA9AEW 297
19643 DK8LV 312
19262 G0SYP 297
19260 T94NE 297
19119 SP7NJX 284
19076 K1IU 271
19029 DL4KG 271
18974 K3SA 284
18940 DJ6WD 284
18217 DL8DYL 271
17977 DK5JI 271
17344 DL1ATO 297
16597 DL1VDL 271
16468 K0OD 284
15846 DL1KBB 250
15392 DK1WI 250
15318 RA9ANR 260
15306 DL7AVE 271 (284)
15246 T94TF 250
13926 UA9AR 240
13821 DK5QN 240
13255 DL6RDE 240
13040 RA9ATU 240
13007 DL6ECA 240
12850 DL1YAW 240
12631 DL1DSA 260
11632 WA1ZUH 223
11305 DL2SDS 240
11013 UA9AU 240
10605 WM1K 215
10592 T95LIG 231
10096 HB9HFN 215
9742 DL8DCY 223
9097 DK5IF 208 (215)
8526 DJ3AK 201
8218 DL7DE 189
8201 RA9AUC 201
7356 DJ5KX 201
6184 DL4JWU 178
4725 DL1ELY 138
4441 DH4KW 168
Where to send the score
1) DL4MM at DB0TUD.#SAX.DEU.EU
3) Mathias Kolpe,DL4MM, Breitscheidstr. 17, D-01237 Dresden, GERMANY
4) Tel: +49 -351 254 00 44 Fax:+49 -351 252 63 13
5) E-Mail to: je1cka at nal.go.jp or
NEW! KOLPE at t-online.de (DL4MM)
How to get "RUFZ" CW-callsign-practice-program/contest simulation
1) search for RUFZ at @IBM in any PR-Mailbox or
mail a request to DL4MM at DB0TUD.#SAX.DE.EU for personal 7PL-files
2) INTERNET:
ftp://ftp.eskimo.com/u/o/oolon/rufz.zip
ftp://kgise.geo.tu-dresden.de/pub/hamradio/incoming
http://www.access.digex.net/~k3sa/pvrc.html
3) EMAIL info-server
mailto://info-contest@dumpty.nal.go.jp
with the command in the body: #get rufzpack.uue
if you get the reply, you uudecode the body then rufzpack.exe will be
generated. Run "rufzpack" at the DOS prompt, you'll get all RUFZ-files.
4) free disc from DL4MM (cover handling/mailing costs only) / ask for info
How to use RUFZ for Top-List
1) use RUFZ version 2.12 or higher at DOS (not under Windows or DOS-Emulat.)
2) use 50 Calls per attempt
3) initial speed is up to you !
4) use original callsign-file
New scores will be issued every tuesday in PR-Mailboxes at @CONTEST
and in DX-Cluster ..
---------
Tack Kumagai JE1CKA/KH0AM
TEL:81-30-066-6408, FAX:81-423-93-4449
Internet: je1cka at nal.go.jp
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