[HiDARG-MEMBERS] Pine Mt UHF Antenna Issues.......

[maxv at horizonps.com]

Went to Pine today to do a basic check on the system.

Found the UHF antenna with one end on the ground and the other on the roof
of the building.  

This is a 16 element folded dipole antenna about 16ft long.

IT was bolted to a pipe mast that was then bolted to the framework that
holds our other antenna and

YellowKnifes dishes...One of their dishes is attached to the pipe mast.

 

A bracket that held the pipe mast to the framework failed and the antenna
toppled over and snapped the other bracket.

This could explain the issue with Mt-S not getting into Pine Mt. Which
appears to be resolved now.

Antenna was still working, hard line had enough slack that it stayed fully
connected along with YellowKnifes dish.

However, a few of the folded dipoles on the antenna were bent pretty bad at
the top and bottom of the antenna.

 

Current Status:

Disconnected Antenna from its mounting mast.

Removed the Wireless dish from the mounting mast.

Secured wireless dish back onto frame work and in general direction it was
pointing.

Moved the antenna to the north side of the building and leaned it up against

the building and secured it to the building.  8 elements below the building
and 8 above the roof line.

SWR showing 1.25 on its transmit of 444.750 and 1.75 on receive at 449.750

 

Next Steps: Work Party.

If we chose to put it back up, we need to mount the support mast to the
framework

Mount the antenna to the support mast, back in business.

The original method of mounting is not going to work as the brackets are
severely damaged.

Drill new holes and enlarge a few holes on the framework.

Secure the support mast and antenna to the framework.

This is going to take at least 3-4 people to do correctly.

Back in Business.

 

Other option is to not put the Folded Dipole back up and locate a UHF
collinear like what we

currently use for VHF and replace the FD antenna... we would lose some gain,
but the FD is showing some 

signs of wear and tear from many harsh winters.
Research is under way to see what that option would cost us. 

PRO: able to survive harsh winters. True Omni Directional.

CONs: A bit less gain.

 

Input suggestions direct to me please.

.>Max

 

73 

Max Vaughan KF7MAX  Secretary

High Desert Amateur Radio Group

PO Box 723

Bend, Oregon USA   97709

541-706-1475

 

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