[TowerTalk] High VSWR

[Glenn Pritchard]

What in the world happened???? Was the lock mechanism not in place?
I’ve installed many of these over the years for ATC systems but have never seen this happen.

Glenn, VA7UO 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 28, 2019, at 7:14 PM, Wes <wes_n7ws at triconet.org> wrote:
> 
> For those that may have missed the link to Doug's build photos here it is:
> 
> http://w6dsr.com/LP1005AA/index.html
> 
> Doug, I'm sorry about your loss.  But if the mast isn't bent, which the one post-failure photo I've seen (Dave I'd like to see the others) seems to indicate, then you still have tower, rotor, and mast.  I'd put up a less heroic "ham-style" stack and get on the air.
> 
> Wes  N7WS
> 
>> On 8/28/2019 6:32 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>> 
>> That certainly is tragic, although I'm greatly relieved that it doesn't appear anyone was hurt.
>> 
>> It is truly amazing to see the thought and effort you put into that antenna, and a tremendous shame to have it come down like that.  I hope you decide to rebuild instead of finding a different hobby.
>> 
>> This is one case where being able to post the pictures to the reflector would have been desirable.  I'm sure you don't want to be bothered by that, so if anyone wants to see them I will forward them for you.  For those interested, send me a private reply ... not to the list.
>> 
>> Take care,
>> Dave   AB7E
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On 8/28/2019 6:12 PM, Doug Ronald wrote:
>>> I'm too upset to do a complete post mortem, but the antenna lowered to about the point in the attached image, and then there was a failure in either the 1/2" wire rope, or the wire rope slipped out of the 4 clips I had at the antenna end. My calculated tension in the cable was 14,900 pounds with the antenna at the horizontal position, but at 45 degrees, the tension would have been only 11,000 pounds or so.
>>> The clips were to be torqued to 65 ft. lb. but not overtightened such that the wire rope is crushed. I don't have a torque wrench, so I guessed at the 65 ft. lbs. I guess I didn't have them torqued enough, but there was no slippage when I put the antenna up a couple years ago using the same rope, and the same clips.
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Gilbert
>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 16:51
>>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] High VSWR
>>> 
>>> 
>>> That story would be a lot more interesting if you actually explained what happened.
>>> 
>>> Dave   AB7E
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 8/28/2019 3:30 PM, Doug Ronald wrote:
>>>> Hmmm, my VSWR came up a little high this afternoon, see my QRZ page to
>>>> see why.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Actually, I shouldn't joke about it - I'm totally devastated.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 73 all,
>>>> 
>>>> -Doug Ronald, W6DSR
>>> _______________________________________________ 
> 
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