[RTTY] AA5AU Tower/Antenna rebuild complete

[Don Hill AA5AU]

Yesterday I finally completed my tower/antenna project.  I started on November
3, so it took me 47 days to build 2 towers and install 4 antennas.

First was a small 40 footer with an A3S rebuilt from three separate A3S yagis
that fell during Katrina.  I used one of my two Yaesu G-800 rotors.

The next tower is a 65 footer which includes a Cushcraft D40 at 74' and an A3S
at 66' guyed at 35' and 65' with 4000 lb Phillystran.  They are rotated by an M2
Orion rotor which I received free back in March 2004.  I also installed my 80
meter inverted vee at 60' on this tower.  It was the only antenna to survive the
fall in August.  The end of the project was slightly delayed when I had to take
the M2 rotor off the tower last week to repair it.  The internal reed switch had
gone bad.  M2 sent me a replacement kit for $20 and it was repaired Monday and
re-installed on the tower yesterday in a three hour job.  I had temporarily
re-installed my other G-800 rotor after the M2 failed.

This morning I worked 9N7JO on 40 meter CW for #306 on that band.

I really enjoyed the project, but I'm glad it's over.  Now I can start repairs
on the house!  Click on the link below for pictures and story.

http://aa5au.com/antennas/antennas.html

Plans are to replace the top A3S with a 3 element SteppIR in the spring,
depending on what's left of the insurance money and whether or not I find a job
in January (after the Roundup of course).

73, Don AA5AU