[TowerTalk] Force 12 going away

Mon Jan 30 00:57:22 EST 2017

In mid MI it's rare to not do antenna repair.  I used to be the one 
climbing so had a lot of first hand experience.
The F12 antennas are good and well built, but: ice is a big problem in 
the spring.  There are no bullet proof commercial antennas when it comes 
to ice.  At one location the ice took down over a half mile of power 
line. Mid span of the line coming to our transformer was about 3' above 
the ground. From the transformer was an underground feed.

Although Ice and lightning do take a toll around here, particularly ice, 
not all required repairs come from normal use <sigh>  I had the C19XR 
assembled and ready to go up as soon as the  LM470 tower was ready, when 
my wife managed to stick the end of the 20 meter reflector into the 
wheel well on our zero radius turning lawn mower. She thought I might be 
able to straighten it. <:-)  It was bent 90 degrees!  Then I had a group 
of hams reads to move the antenna from the back yard over to the N yard 
on the N side of the shop, by the LM470.  I think I was in the hospital 
when my wife had them do that move. At any rate they managed to break an 
element.  Hence the need for repairs.

I had a group of cormorants decide to overnight on my 7L C3i 6-meter 
yagi.  They broke the boom truss. One half made it to the ground,  (It 
pointed straight down) From around 115 feet it went over a foot into the 
yard) the other half had one end drop onto the driven element of my TH5 
at the boom http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/Tower29.htm It wore a 
hole through the TH-5 boom. This effectively left the whole stack 
pointed to the SE and unable to turn.

As I could no longer climb, I had to wait until KD8MRC (commercial 
climber) could take them down.
BTW the station is set up for SO2R with legal limit amps.  Some of the 
photos are a bit out of date.

SO2R (160 - 440), two towers, 7 antennas.  Used to chase a lot of DX.

The only poor antenna I've ever  had was a trap vertical. I never did 
get it to work right.  I don't remember who made it as that was 36 years 
ago.

73, Roger (K8RI)

On 1/28/2017 9:25 PM, Mike via TowerTalk wrote:
>   
> All well and good Roger....
>   
> But... a well built and sturdy bullet proof antenna shouldn't need to be
> repaired?...40 plus years on the TA-36 and no repairs...I bought it 2nd hand
> and  now it has a new owner going into its 5th decade....with nothing
> needing  repair other that 2 new insulating blocks..that I made myself.
>   
> How many Force 12's or any other "new and improved" have been here 50
> years or will be around in 2067?
>   
> I didn't need to search out data on which antenna does what and how
> where...I got what I knew would be the best bang for MY money...alleged
> performance issues aside...I got what I wanted...8 bands on 1 antenna for  1 tower
> that will take what Ma Nature and Father time could throw at it for  decades
> and still just keep on working.
>   
> If I had a super contest station sure...other stacks of antennas of
> different designs would be ideal...I'm sure...but I do not...I work what ever I
> hear and do OK in the contests.
>   
> All the bashing I have heard in the past sounds a lot like the crap you see
>   from MSNBC and CNN lately.
>   
> 73
>   
> Mike W2GR
> -----------------
>   
>   
>   
>   
> In a message dated 1/28/2017 7:53:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net writes:
>
> The  design is simple and easy to repair  Dimensions are critical. Make
> Tubing replacements the same as those being replaced.  DX Engineering
> has the correct size tubing in stock.  NOTE: The tips of the 20 meter
> reflector on the C19XR are longer than three feet.  Overlap on joints  is 3"
>
> 73,  Roger (K8RI)
>
> On 1/28/2017 5:26 PM, Mike via  TowerTalk wrote:
>>       
>> And all this also makes  me glad I have a non-performing Mosley
> antenna...Pro 67-C3...5 el 6m beam and  430 beam...classic 33 antenna in my shop
> being cleaned and ready for  summer...it's 40 years old...and my old TA-36 was
> new in 74...had 40m on it  too and sold it 5 years ago and its still going
> strong.
>> What other  antenna maker has been around for nearly 70 years? With all
> parts still  available?
>> It takes wind,snow,ice loading....and all abuse WNY can  throw at
> it...and still keeps working...for decades.
>> Flame suit on and  ready for a other round of  useless Mosley bashing..I
> find it amazing  people slam something and praise something they have never
> owned...
>>   Small lot and 1 tower and beam for 10-40m...(works on 6 too).
>> Mike  W2GR Niagara Falls NY
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G  LTE smartphone
>>   _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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>
> --
>
> 73
>
> Roger  (K8RI)
>
>
>
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)

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