[VHFcontesting] 222 mhz and the eme contest

[K3SK at buckwalter.co]

Dave 

I am real sorry to hear this.    When I heard you describe your situation Thursday evening I sort of thought you might have some wind related issues but this is far worse than I imagined.    Repairing unexpected damage like you have is not fun at any time, yet alone when it gets cold.   Take your time and be safe.

Dave - K3SK

-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting-bounces+k3sk=buckwalter.co at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Dave Olean
Sent: Friday, November 7, 2025 5:16 PM
To: 222Activity at Groups.io; VHF Contesting <VHFcontesting at Contesting.com>; newsvhf at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [VHFcontesting] 222 mhz and the eme contest

We had very high winds here in the last few days and a bad wind gust managed to snap one of my 222 MHz yagis in half. It broke right at the boom to mast plate where the boom had been double walled with 1 1/2 and then 1 5/8" tubing overlapping. It still snapped and wrecked the array. 
To make matters worse, I did not see the damage when I went up there on Thursday night. In trying to turn the array, I managed to drag the broken aluminum around the tower and it destroyed my fixed 222 array or at least the top two yagis  rear mounted on the tower. So I am off the air indefinitely on 222 MHz. I am very discouraged.  The same wind also wrecked a ten meter six element yagi as it broke the boom to mast plate in half. When I went up there this morning I found that yagi hanging by one loose u-bolt. It looked so bad, I did not want to be under it.  I spent the day rigging the tower and then removed the six element yagi along with one of two five element ten meter yagis located under my 222 MHz EMe/tropo array. I figured they would be in the way  when I try to lower all the damaged 222 Mhz parts. What a mess.  so no eme contest this time. I will have to sit it out along with some Tuesday night activity periods. I have to remove the damaged yagi and then re build it and re install it on the tower. The wx here next week looks awfully cold and windy so I am not expecting a quick turn around.

I am sorry to miss the last weekend 222 MHz activity in the contest.  I was all set to have some fun.


73

Dave K1WHS

ps never build an EME antenna 100 ft up in the air.


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