[TowerTalk] Rebuilding a 3-el SteppIR
Fredrick Matos
blainefred at icloud.com
Sun Dec 22 13:12:31 EST 2019
Excellent post and the WA4PSC blog on rebuilding the Force 12.
I am going to buy a used 3-element SteppIR, and I want to rebuild to minimize future maintenance.
I would appreciate advice.
73,
Fred W3ICM
Sent from my iPhone
> On Dec 22, 2019, at 12:00 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Force12 rebuild (Bryan Swadener)
> 2. Re: Force12 rebuild (Howard Hoyt)
> 3. Force12 rebuild (Jim Thomson)
> 4. Re: Force12 rebuild (Richard Smith)
> 5. Coil 3.77 software (Jim Thomson)
> 6. Source For Antenna Materials (Jim Brown)
> 7. FW: Re: Force12 rebuild (Gary K9GS)
> 8. Re: Force12 rebuild (N4ZR)
> 9. Re: Force12 rebuild (Chuck Tifft)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:37:26 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Bryan Swadener <bswadener at yahoo.com>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <1169730302.1469574.1576949846216 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I'm using nickel-copper wire rope on the 40m linear loaded elements of my F12 C-4XL. McMaster-Carr has 7x7-strand 1/16" diameter for $1.24/ft (#3453T32).
> Bryan WA7PRC:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> the past due to years of vibration.
>
> Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>
> 73,
>
> Kris N5KM
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:59:37 -0500
> From: Howard Hoyt <hhoyt at mebtel.net>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <fb5e9e5e-f058-0001-048a-393984b48ca6 at mebtel.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> Hi Kris,
>
> I went through this a few years back and published a blog on the process
> including links to materials:
>
> https://proaudioeng.com/force-12-c-4sxl-rebuild/
>
> Good luck and have fun!? I did...
> Howie / WA4PSC
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:13:06 -0800
> From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom at telus.net>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <DF68363E78854A25B4AF943B8B8D8DEF at DESKTOPSV54DBH>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>
> To: "towertalk at contesting.com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>
>
> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> <the past due to years of vibration.
>
> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>
> <Kris N5KM
>
> ## replace the LL alumoweld fubar with hb coils... like either al or cu. Use dacron rope for the
> new truss supports.
>
> ## Dont even think about using SS wire..... the losses are beyond sky high. It will break anyway, cuz of metal fatigue.
> Stranded CU wire would work, but hb coils are simpler.
>
> Jim VE7RF
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 22:26:59 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Richard Smith <n6kt1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <2072892177.2383792.1576967219856 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Hi Jim,
> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
> 73, Rich, N6KT
> On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
>
> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>
> To: "towertalk at contesting.com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>
>
> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
> <the past due to years of vibration.
>
> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>
> <Kris N5KM
>
> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like? either? al? or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
> new? truss supports.
>
> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are beyond? sky? high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue.
> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler.
>
> Jim? VE7RF?
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 14:32:01 -0800
> From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom at telus.net>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Coil 3.77 software
> Message-ID: <5113EDC308D746DDBBD0445A90FC4B1F at DESKTOPSV54DBH>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> Coil 3.77 is now available.... replaces coil 3.72
>
> http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/coil.zip
>
>
> Jim VE7RF
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 15:04:58 -0800
> From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> To: towertalk reflector <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Source For Antenna Materials
> Message-ID:
> <a37794d8-93af-9a46-097f-290d5b39a792 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> A member of the VHF Slack group recommended this source for antenna
> materials.
>
> https://www.onlinemetals.com/
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 20:58:52 -0600
> From: Gary K9GS <garyk9gs at wi.rr.com>
> To: "towertalk at contesting com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] FW: Re: Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <mailman.33.1577034004.30226.towertalk at contesting.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Sorry all..I replied off list by mistake.73,Gary K9GS
> -------- Original message --------
>
>
>
>
>
> On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 10:03:29 AM PST, GaryK9GS <garyk9gs at wi.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I asked a friend who has had a?EF-420/240 up for probably 20 years.? His reply:"I have not changed the wire. Should I need to in the future, I would use #14 copperweld as I think this wire would be as strong as the aluminumweld used by F12. Might be good, however, to check on mechanical specs of the copper clad steel wire.This loading wire also acts as truss wires to physically support the elements."Climate is southern WI so plenty of snow, ice, and temps from below 0 to 100 degrees.73,Gary K9GS-------- Original message --------From: Bryan Swadener via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com> Date: 12/21/19 11:37 AM (GMT-06:00) To: towertalk at contesting.com Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild I'm using nickel-copper wire rope on the 40m linear loaded elements of my F12 C-4XL. McMaster-Carr has 7x7-strand 1/16" diameter for $1.24/ft (#3453T32).Bryan WA7PRC: ----------------------------------------------------------------------Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600Fr
> om: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuildHi all,I'm rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacementfor the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped inthe past due to years of vibration.Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elementsin order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.73,Kris N5KM? ______________________________________________________________________________________________TowerTalk mailing listTowerTalk at contesting.comhttp://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2019 22:14:16 -0500
> From: N4ZR <n4zr at comcast.net>
> To: TowerTalk <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <b0128dfa-515e-895e-55a1-713b609b4faf at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> In fact, I believe F12 in later years made the 40M single-band antennas
> (called the Delta line) with coils in place of the linear loading.? That
> said, I had one up at 104 feet for 15 years with the original alumoweld
> wire, and zero issues
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
>
>> On 12/21/2019 5:26 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
>> Hi Jim,
>> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
>> 73, Rich, N6KT
>> On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
>>
>> Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
>> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>
>> To: "towertalk at contesting.com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>>
>>
>> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as replacement
>> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have snapped in
>> <the past due to years of vibration.
>>
>> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3 elements
>> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>>
>> <Kris N5KM
>>
>> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like? either? al? or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
>> new? truss supports.
>>
>> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are beyond? sky? high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue.
>> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler.
>>
>> Jim? VE7RF
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2019 06:23:34 -0800
> From: Chuck Tifft <chuckw6rd at yahoo.com>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
> Message-ID: <96971ca5-5b96-fe66-5401-ff0c3f665d3d at yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> Converted mine? a couple years back to Coils from N6BT Antennas. He also
> supplied the needed tubing for the conversion and I think it all came to
> less than $300.
>
> Chuck W6RD
>
>> On 12/21/2019 7:14 PM, N4ZR wrote:
>> In fact, I believe F12 in later years made the 40M single-band
>> antennas (called the Delta line) with coils in place of the linear
>> loading.? That said, I had one up at 104 feet for 15 years with the
>> original alumoweld wire, and zero issues
>>
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
>> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
>> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
>> For spots, please use your favorite
>> "retail" DX cluster.
>>
>>> On 12/21/2019 5:26 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
>>> ? Hi Jim,
>>> Sorry to sound dumb, but what is an hb coil?
>>> 73, Rich, N6KT
>>> ???? On Saturday, December 21, 2019, 02:13:15 PM PST, Jim Thomson
>>> <jim.thom at telus.net> wrote:
>>> ? ? Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2019 14:01:20 -0600
>>> From: N5KM - Kris <n5kilomike at gmail.com>
>>> To: "towertalk at contesting.com" <towertalk at contesting.com>
>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Force12 rebuild
>>>
>>>
>>> <Im rebuilding my Force12 40m yagi. What would you recommend as
>>> replacement
>>> <for the alumoweld linear loading wires? Some of these wires have
>>> snapped in
>>> <the past due to years of vibration.
>>>
>>> <Note: as part of the rebuild I am adding truss supports for the 3
>>> elements
>>> <in order to remove the stress on the linear loading wires.
>>>
>>> <Kris N5KM
>>>
>>> ##? replace the? LL alumoweld? fubar? with hb? coils...? like either?
>>> al? or? cu.? Use? dacron? rope? for the
>>> new? truss supports.
>>>
>>> ##? Dont? even? think? about using SS? wire..... the losses are
>>> beyond? sky? high.? It? will? break? anyway,? cuz? of? metal fatigue.
>>> Stranded? CU wire? would? work,? but hb coils are simpler.
>>>
>>> Jim? VE7RF
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
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>
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>
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