[TowerTalk] XM-240 Shorty-Forty: X-Hat Modification

[Michael Ryan]

A lot of the older Cuschraft VHF antennas that had those trigon ( as they
called them ) reflectors had issues with elements falling off due to
vibration in many cases. I would think that idea that they are weak at the
attachment point is probably right.  Would be nice to find some new way of
dancin' that's for sure. That antenna probably gets to singing in the wind
and the vibration ( and possibly the BIRDS ) due those elements no good at
all.  - Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of RLVZ at aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 10:16 PM
To: ve5ra at sasktel.net; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] XM-240 Shorty-Forty: X-Hat Modification

 
Hi Doung & all,
 
In my original post, I stated that some of my "X-Hat rods were falling  
off" so I'd like to lengthen the element and eliminate the X-Hat rods.  
 
A better description would have been I've had some "X-Hat  rods breaking 
off".  I had the new XM-240 in the air for less than a  month and one X-Hat 
rod broke in two and fell to the ground.  I dropped the  antenna and
replaced 
the broken X-Hat and put the antenna back up.  Within  another month I had 
another broken rod.  Each time the rod broke in the  middle where the hole
is 
drilled thru the center casting.  After losing a  single X-Hat rod the 
resonant frequency jumped aprx. 200 khz making the  antenna unusable on the
CW 
portion of the band without a tuner.  By the  way, I did use the antenna
with 
a tuner on the CW portion of the band and now my  Cushcraft Balun has a 
burn mark on it and it's warped!
 
I do not know what is causing my X-Hat Rods to break off.  Perhaps the  
rods center casting material was defective.  But more likely it's  the large

birds landing on my antennas including Ospreys and Owls...  perhaps they are

flying into the X-Hats? 
 
So I'd love to eliminate the X-Hat if possible.
 
73,
Dick- K9OM
 
 
In a message dated 2/8/2010 9:35:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
ve5ra at sasktel.net writes:

X hat  rods falling off - that is unusual.  I've had my XM240 up for
years  and never have the rods fallen off.  I installed them as per  CC.
So what is causing your rods to fall off or do you mean  breaking off?

Doug

I'll run the race and I will never  be the same again. 

-----Original Message-----
From:  towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]  On Behalf Of RLVZ at aol.com
Sent: February 8, 2010 4:44 PM
To:  towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] XM-240 Shorty-Forty: X-Hat  Modification

Hi Guys,

I've had problems with the X-Hat Rods  falling off of my XM-240.   
Therefore, I would like to eliminate  the X-Hat by lengthening the
elements.  I'm 
wondering if anyone  has done this successfully and how  much length must
be 
added to  the elements?  

Or if anyone has modeled the removal the XM-240  X-Hat by lengthening the

elements... please share what element lengths  you came up with.

Thanks!

Dick-  K9OM
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk  mailing  list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk




_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 4849 (20100208) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com


 

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 4849 (20100208) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com
 
 

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 4849 (20100208) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com