[TowerTalk] Water in my XM240

[Tom McAlee]

> I did have a wasp nest in one of my lower antennas once, but that really 
> never caused any problem.

My concern wouldn't be for the operation of the antenna, but what might 
happen if I attempted to work on it with the nest there.

I've disturbed a nest and had them come after me and it wasn't much fun, and 
that was when I was on the ground.  I sure wouldn't want to be at the top of 
the tower and have that happen.

Tom, NI1N

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kk9a at arrl.net>
To: <TOWERTALK at contesting.com>
Cc: <RadioIR at charter.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:50 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Water in my XM240


>I never use end caps on elements or the boom.  I just see them as a 
>moisture
> trap and I really haven't seen any problems with not using them.  I did 
> have
> a wasp nest in one of my lower antennas once, but that really never caused
> any problem.
>
> The usefulness of an aluminum to aluminum compound probably varies 
> depending
> on how corrosive of a location you are in.  I don't think northern Alabama
> is that corrosive.  I have not used it on the majority of my antennas in
> Illinois and I've never had problems disassembling the antennas or noticed
> any corrosion problems.  In fact it was more difficult for me to 
> disassemble
> an antenna that I used Penetrox on because the compound hardened.  I also
> purchased a used antenna that once belonged to AA6TT/0 and it was a little
> bit of a job cleaning off the hardened compound before reassembling it. 
> The
> compounds do however help keep a good electrical connection - especially 
> in
> a corrosive environment.  I use it on all of my antennas in Aruba.
>
> 73,
> John KK9A / P40A