Topband: [TowerTalk] Farming and Ham Radio don't mix too well.

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

My experience has been that if you need to mow a property
that has "hazards" (tree stumps, logs, fence posts, wires,
coax, golf balls, etc), you need to avoid belt driven "lawn mowers" and
instead use a gear box driven "rotary cutter" of the "bush hog"
or "stump jumper" type.  These have pivoting blades that
fold back upon hitting an obstacle.  This not only protects
the mower, but in many cases minimizes damage to the
object being hit.  In the rare case where the blades
are actually stopped, the engine simply stops harmlessly.
As opposed to the drive belt burning up.  For examples, see:

https://www.landpride.com/product-search/rotary-cutters

Rick N6RK


On 5/9/2019 11:44 AM, terry burge wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> 
> I have been using the good weather here in Oregon to get quite a bit of mowing done and the thought has occurred to me that farming and ham radio don't mix. With my little Cub ST-100 I cut the 3 wire lead to my big tower that goes to the Comteks 80 meter switch box; caught one of the radials for the K9AY receive antenna; and wrapped up some of the temporary elevated radials I had tried on my Hytower. All because I was cutting the grass and weeds that are up to 2 feet tall or more. I like 'trying' to grow Cherry trees and others as well as grape vines but with only 1 1/2 acres you know I'll run into an antenna some where along the way. Luckily I knew immediately about the Comtek switch box lead and that is a simple repair. The others were obvious right away too.
> 
> 
> Oh well, that's ham radio as some small size farming here in Oregon for me. Loving this weather but of course we do need the rains too. Seems like Calif. and NM have been getting Oregon weather and visa versa. But in Oregon if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change....sometimes.
> 
> 
> Terry
> 
> KI7M
> 
> 
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