[TowerTalk] Re: What is the largest 20mtr monobander you have ever seen?

[Jan Erik Holm]

Hmmm, maybe it was 48 el however my memory says 36.
I´v been standing under those antennas but darn it
if I can be sure, it was a long time ago, remember
it was a 200 ft rotating tower.
Well, if Simon was the only signal on the band I was
asleep!! Sure he did beat me bad but thats life.
Don´t know if it was an ice storm that took care of
the array, I´ve heard some other stories, in any case
as far as I know Simon isn´t in to ham radio any more.

73 Jim SM2EKM
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Eric Scace K3NA wrote:

>    During the 1980s OH8OS built a rotatable stack system on 20m that was truly impressive.  As best as I can recall from a technical
> report, the array contained 48 or 64 elements (I can't remember which) on a single, rotatable tower.  At each height there was a
> cross-arm that supported two yagis with the elements lined up.  I think the system had 4 heights and 8 yagis with 6 or 8 elements
> per yagi.  OH8OS had a custom micro-processor system that would attempt to select the correct phasing arrangement to maximize the
> received signal.  Because of the parallel yagis at each level, the beamwidth was relatively narrow -- but appropriate for his QTH
> when beaming to North America.
> 
>    The system was awesome both mechanically and electrically.  As a 20m operator during W3LPL's early years as a multi-multi
> station, I remember many hours listening to OH8OS running USA stations in the middle of the night on 20m... his signal heavily
> modulated by auroral flutter... and OH8OS being the ONLY signal on the band.
> 
>    Sadly, I heard that an ice storm caused serious damage.  It is difficult to muster the same level of enthusiasm to rebuild as one
> has in the initial ground-breaking creation.
> 
> 73,
>    -- Eric K3NA