Friday, July 25, 2025

Summer Happens

The blog has been quiet for a few weeks. I've been here and getting things done but, well, summer. 

We've had a lot of unusually hot weather which makes it difficult to work outside. Although most of the hay has been harvested, making room for antenna work to resume, there are other considerations. I enjoy non-radio activities in the warm weather, and when I get on the air it is usually to check for 6 meter sporadic E.

My primary antenna season is the fall when it turns cool and the bugs diminish. Which is not to say that nothing is happening at the moment, just nothing worth its own blog entry. I have been up the towers numerous times in July and I'm not done. Mostly I am investigating problems, making minor fixes and planning for upcoming antenna work. 

Working alongside the hay, even after harvest, is uncomfortable due to the heat, humidity and ferociousness of the insects. They are attacking anything on 2 or 4 legs to prepare for winter. However, once you are 20' above ground they miraculously vanish. But most of the work is done on the ground and that is uncomfortable and occasionally painful. I won't ask friends to endure that when they volunteer as ground crew. There will be enough time later in the season.

To break the silence I decided to describe the projects I've been working on. With a big station there is always work going on, even if each job isn't worthy of its own article.

30 meters

I have no antennas for the WARC bands (30, 17, 12 meters). After 9 years at this QTH that is about to change. A 30 meter omni-directional antenna that was simple to build and won't interact with contest band antennas. Expect an article shortly about this antenna. You can see enough in the picture above to guess what it is.

Rotators

I can sympathize with the many contesters and non-contesters that have opted to forgo the difficulties of rotatable yagis. Since the tradeoff, for my station objectives, is more towers and antennas pointed in various direction, I put up with rotators and their inevitable failures. 

The direction indicator for one my prop pitch motors is misbehaving. The fault took time to recognize and isolate since it occurred at the same time I completed my new controller. It should not be difficult to fix now that I've isolated the fault location. 

The chain drive on the other prop pitch motor needs attention since the chain has more slack than I'd like. It's an alignment problem that has been there since it was installed in 2017. The momentum of a 3-element 40 meter yagi rocking back and forth puts unwanted stress on the system. I will attempt a solution this year.

40 meter Moxon

Regular readers may have wondered why there was no promised article on the antenna's performance. The reason is that there are internal wiring errors that were undetected in the rush to get it out of the hay field this spring. The repairs are simple but must be done on the ground. It is likely that we can lower it, do the repair and raise it again the same day. I am waiting for the heat and bugs to abate and for the last of the hay to be harvested.

XM240

It is sitting on the ground and awaiting judgment. That is, to sell it or put it back on a tower. If it goes up it'll probably be fixed south as a multiplier antenna. The TH6 fixed south serves the same purpose on the high bands. You can never have enough antennas! Should I decide to sell it, there is a buyer standing by.

IARU contest

The station was active in this 24-hour contest in mid-July, but not operated by me. Vlad VE3TM attempted to surpass his CW low power score from last year. Although conditions didn't cooperate he appeared to have a good time. More guest operations are in discussion for future contests.

Beverages


Problems have been cropping up over the summer. Since the antennas are off in the bush they have been effectively inaccessible, and will remain so until October. They'll be repaired in time for major fall contests such as CQ WW. I am thinking more seriously about an alternative low band receive antenna system that is less vulnerable to the depredations of nature. Beverages are great antennas but the frequent maintenance and repair is becoming a burden.

Amplifiers

The Acom 1500 is still out of service. I've been trying to diagnose and repair the amp without success. I suspect damage somewhere in the measurement and protection circuits. Unless I resolve this shortly I'll have to ship it for repair. That will not be cheap since there is no commercial Acom service centre in Canada. I have two other amps so this issue is not impacting my ability to operate.

Portable power

A couple of years ago I purchased a portable power station for power outage emergencies. These events are not common but when they occur they can last for many hours. For example, in stormy weather it is vital to run the sump pump. I have since found it handy for many household chores and for antenna work. Rather than having to buy a set of battery powered tools I can carry the power station into the field, far from power outlets, and use my existing corded tools. It came in handy this week for trimming and soldering antenna wires.

Everything else

As sporadic E propagation fades on 6 meters and poor prospects for a high MUF this fall my thoughts are reluctantly returning to HF earlier in the season than expected. Since I am now less likely to miss openings, there is more time to go cycling, follow the Tour de France and otherwise enjoy the great outdoors. 

I am also reflecting on the future. I am human and age brings its challenges. While I remain physically strong there are signs of creeping old age. Two cataract surgeries this spring and other small issues feature among those. I am becoming accustomed to using more lighting and magnification to do close work. Tower work continues to be a non-issue, for which I am thankful.

I hope for many more years of working of sustaining and growing the station, and writing for the blog. Never stop learning and striving for personal improvement.

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