[TowerTalk] Suggestions for antennas for a Caribbean contesting station

[john at kk9a.com]

I have used temporary antennas from a number of countries in the Caribbean
and they worked pretty well with no issues. I even tried the verticals on
the beach from Cayman Is. For a decade I owned a station in Aruba with two
towers http://www.qrz.com/db/p40a and I quickly learned how damaging salt
spray can be. Steel towers and guy cables require regular painting in an
attempt to slow down corrosion. You will still lose the corrosion battle,
but at a slower pace if you paint it. Most of my antennas were homebrew,
built very heavy duty with 100% stainless steel hardware. Unfortunately in a
corrosive environment, the stainless steel destroys any aluminum it is in
contact with. Steel hardware quickly rusts away. If you intent to keep
something up for a few years or longer you will have some maintenance
issues.  I do not think there is any way around this. Quality Yagis hold up
fine with the constant wind for a while however I am not sure that a quad
would last long.  The good news is even a little antenna produces a big
signal from the Caribbean!

GL,
John KK9A - P40A



-----Original Message-----
From: Rudy Bakalov [mailto:r_bakalov at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 8:50 PM
To: <john at kk9a.com>
Cc: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Suggestions for antennas for a Caribbean contesting
station

John,

That would be a permanent installation. On the flip side, I don't want to
grow a forest of towers.

Rudy N2WQ

Sent using a tiny keyboard.  Please excuse brevity, typos, or inappropriate
autocorrect.


> On Jun 9, 2014, at 8:23 PM, <john at kk9a.com> wrote:
> 
> Is this a permanent or temporary installation?  
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> To:     "towertalk at contesting.com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject:     [TowerTalk] Suggestions for antennas for a Caribbean
> contesting    station
> From:     Rudy Bakalov via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Reply-to:     Rudy Bakalov <r_bakalov at yahoo.com>
> Date:     Mon, 9 Jun 2014 14:47:15 -0700 (PDT)
> List-post:     <towertalk at contesting.com">mailto:towertalk at contesting.com>
> Seeking suggestions/ideas from anyone with relevant experience owning and 
> maintaining antennas on the Caribbean. Specifically, I was wondering what
> would 
> be a good set up on the upper bands- 2 or 3 el yagi/tribander, a quad, hex

> beam, etc. Primary consideration is the ability to withstand strong 35-50
> mph 
> winds (thankfully, no hurricanes!) and the harsh weather. Proximity to the

> beach is about 500 yards and about 100' above sea level.
> 
> 
> Rudy N2WQ
>