[TowerTalk] Ham-IV rotator brake noise

[Kim Elmore]

When I lived in Longmont, CO, in a 1200 sq ft house with lots to match. I had an HDBX-48 with a KLM KT-34A and a Cushcraft 40-CD2 all rotated by a T2X. I was stunned that when I gave directions to service people I’d mention the tower, yet they NEVER saw it until I pointed it out after they arrived. I pointed it out to one guy who was amazed that he hadn’t seen it as he drove up, parked in the driveway, and walked up to the house. I was far more sensitive to antennas than any of my neighbors, mainly because I was always looking for them. 

Don’t worry about it: they clearly simply don’t notice it, so count your lucky stars!

Kim N5OP

"People that make music together cannot be enemies, at least as long as the music lasts." -- Paul Hindemith

> On Jan 19, 2021, at 9:00 PM, Dave - W3NP <w3np at atlanticbb.net> wrote:
> 
> Not much you can do about the brake solenoid...just the nature of the beast.  I just spent part of the day fixing up an older Ham IV (Clean, lube, replace the 8 terminal strip with a connector, etc).  With it on the bench and the bells removed it is not that loud. I have found over the years that it is the tower itself that makes the brake seem so loud. The metal tower picks up the noise by conduction and mechanically "amplifys" it. Some installations are noisier than others.
> 
> I just replaced the Ham IV on my larger tower with a Spid RAK that is a worm drive unit and it has no brake....very quiet.  That wasn't the reason I changed it out though. I live out in the woods in WV and don't care how much noise it makes!!
> 
> 73, Dave - W3NP
> 
> 
>> On 1/19/2021 6:49 PM, Ralph Parker wrote:
>> I've often puzzled over my urban neighbour's lack of complaints about my Ham-IV, clanking away day and night as I contest, DX, whatever, over the last 20 years or so. Loud enough to wake the dead, I've often thought. Why aren't they mad at me?
>> 
>> Is there any way to quiet that beast?
>> I've thought of perhaps some gradual application/release of power to the brake, to ease it into/out of position?
>> A different brake material might not stand up to the rigours of constant use.
>> 
>> I know there are tricks to ramp up/down the start/end of the rotation cycle, but I don't think that they affect the application/release of the brake.
>> I've just moved, and don't want to annoy a whole new set of neighbours.
>> Any ideas?
>> 
>> VE7XF
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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