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- Thread starter Martlet
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Mine didn't but I'm repairing it now,
Good luck getting it repaired. I posted earlier that all my antennas made it through the storm. They did. So I get home today about 5:30 and decide to crank up my tower. I had it nested during the storm. Just as I get it fully extended I hear a pop and the tower starts making its way back to the nested position in a big hurry. I ran because I didn't really know what to expect. I suspected the tower was going to bend into a pile of junk metal. Luckily the tower seems ok. Except of course for the cable which needs to be replaced. Im building a new steppir and I had planned to replace the cable when I install that in a week or so. Oops! Turns out the antennas can handle a hurricane a lot better than they can a sudden stop. I need parts
cockpitbob
NES Member
Yikes. Get the crap scared out of you and the stuffing nocked out of your wallet all with one broken cable. And there goes all your spare time too. Good luck with the repairs, and I can't wait to hear your reports on the Steppir. Those are supposed to be the outstanding antennas.Good luck getting it repaired. I posted earlier that all my antennas made it through the storm. They did. So I get home today about 5:30 and decide to crank up my tower. I had it nested during the storm. Just as I get it fully extended I hear a pop and the tower starts making its way back to the nested position in a big hurry. I ran because I didn't really know what to expect. I suspected the tower was going to bend into a pile of junk metal. Luckily the tower seems ok. Except of course for the cable which needs to be replaced. Im building a new steppir and I had planned to replace the cable when I install that in a week or so. Oops! Turns out the antennas can handle a hurricane a lot better than they can a sudden stop. I need parts
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Yup. I thought the tower was going to basically implode. As I was getting out of the way I was thinking that I was going to be buying a new tower. Luckily that's not the case. The antennas got banged up. Basically bent when the assembly stopped I think I can order parts from cushcraft and have them back operational. Plan was/is to sell them once the steppir is up. So if the parts are reasonably priced I'll repair them.
I'm about 2/3 of the way through the assembly of the steppir. I got the db18. Amazing quality of parts and design. The downside is the number of moving parts that will be up on the tower. I'll let you know how it all goes. Hopefully I can getmworking in the tower this weekend.
cockpitbob
NES Member
We keep trying to get everyone at their shacks at the same time, but it rarely happens. We don't have anything regular on HF or VHF. We should get better at it as the colder weather keeps us inside.
For prepping for SHTF communications, I want to play some kind of game on 2M simplex where someone starts a message and we see how many of us we can get it to. If half the state is without power and comm it would be good to have a simplex frequency, a standard check-in time and some idea of who we can hit and who can help hop-scotch a message far enough away to where the phones work.
I'm upping my level of prepping. Things are getting weird. My house got approached by dozens of zombies last night. I didn't have to kill any though. For some reason they wanted candy instead of brains. What a relief.
Were they wearing Obama tee shirts and demanding all your candy?
Mine didn't but I'm repairing it now,
That sucks.
The Waltham 449.075 antenna on Prospect Hill got trashed in the storm.
There's talk of maybe getting a replacement up this weekend.
Until then, most normal activity has moved to the other Waltham machine (KC2LT) on the Antico Tower @ 443.050+, PL 107.2
What you need is someone to patch in a CB and an FRS into the 2M, so you can reach a MUCH broader audience. Those of you who know a lot about this stuff and have the equipment could probably pull it off. Imagine someone talking into an FRS walkie-talkie in Pittsfield, having it go through a HAM, and then back to another FRS or a CB up in Salem? That would be SO cool.
cockpitbob
NES Member
Good thought. The rules don't allow that kind of band mixing, but when the SHTF the rules go out the window.
I know this was last year but I say we get it going. I agree with Cockpitbob with getting Ecomms going.
This. Ill be down to play once I get a little better set up here.
Got 2 tin cans and some string. What else do I need?![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
Just make sure your string is set up for 20 meters. Then you should be good.
![[laugh2]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/014.gif "Laugh at above [laugh2]")
Will do.jim/boston
NES Member
That would be about 103 feet long![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
Not necessarily.
You can't resonate a full wave, so the string would have to be cut into lengths that are multiples of the wavelength, such as 1/4, 1/2 and 5/8.
I gotta get my General so I can play. I'm stuck on the Tech bands right now.
It's worth it! But be prepared to spend $$
Yeah. 2m radios are readily available for $2-300. HF starts at like 6 grand
You can get a good mobile rig for around 800 and a good Base station for about 1400
Hyperbole, man. Its like, the greatest thing EVER.
You can get very decent HF stuff used for less than $1000. Check ebay and reviews at eham. Antennas are cheap too cause you can make them yourself.
This one looks cool. It's a mobile but could be used as a base of course. 160m-2m all mode.
Yaesu 857D HF Six Meters Two Meters and 440 Used Less Than 1 Week EXTRAS | eBay
This one looks cool. It's a mobile but could be used as a base of course. 160m-2m all mode.
Yaesu 857D HF Six Meters Two Meters and 440 Used Less Than 1 Week EXTRAS | eBay
cockpitbob
NES Member
Used gear is good. Transistors don't get rusty or wear out over time.
QRZ.com
swap.qth.com
eham.net
eBay (last on the list)
and I'm sure there are others.
QRZ.com
swap.qth.com
eham.net
eBay (last on the list)
and I'm sure there are others.
- Joined
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- Messages
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- 2,916
Agreed~ The Bands have been poop the past few days. I have not been on 40m how has it been?
I just got a new (to me) HF mulitband antenna, I was given it and now I need to run the wires. I need to get this and my dipole up as my end fed SUCKS and doesn't work well.
I need help. Who wants to come to North and help me put up two antennas?
I need help. Who wants to come to North and help me put up two antennas?
