Radio W4KAZ

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N4A Antenna Support Hardware

I added more N4A photos to the N4A website. The last few frames at the bottom of the N4A photos page show some close ups of the gear we used on the beach for the Iota expedition.

I was a bit surprised at just how well the 21 inch stakes worked as guy anchors. They really held firm. These stakes were cut from 42 inch”deck balusters” I got from the local big box for about 75 cents each. They are just pressure treated 2×2 material. I cut each baluster in half, so two vampire killers are obtained per baluster. I expected to need to back these up with additional stakes, but they held the 36 foot mast with just dipoles very well. It took only one stake to hold each guy. The second surprise was how easily they came out when pulled straight up rather than at the 120 degree guy angle. Continue reading N4A Antenna Support Hardware

IOTA

Planning to operate IOTA with N4YDU at the end of the month.

Cleaned up and tested the SWR on a couple of vertical antennas today. One is a hy-gain ATV18 I got on loan from NT4D. This antenna has seen one too many field days. The so-239 on the base is broken, but I can use a short coax jumper to feed it. The 10 metertrap seemed intermittent at first, but is working for now.

The other is a 20 meter quarter wave that I made from parts of a broken CB 5/8 wave. The base was sound, but I needed to do a bit of surgery on the upper elements. I also replaced the bolts with hose clamps, and some of the rusted hardware with stainless parts. This is a project that had been laying around, but a trip to the beach moved it up the list.

FCP Photos

A few photos of the FCP(folded counterpoise) at the W4KAZ QTH.

W4KAZ post about the FCP.

Picture of W4KAZ junction box

Picture of W4KAZ junction box

Picture of FCP transformer in its mount at W4KAZ

Picture of FCP transformer in its mount at W4KAZ

Picture of center junction of W4KAZ FCP

Picture of center junction of W4KAZ FCP

Picture of center junction of W4KAZ FCP

Picture of center junction of W4KAZ FCP

Poor quality scan of W4KAZ FCP drawing, missing juntion detail on three conductor side

Poor quality scan of W4KAZ FCP drawing, missing juntion detail on three conductor side

Picture of PVC spreader

Picture of PVC spreader. Nails inserted through holes demonstrate intentional mis-alignment

Picture of PVC spreader on FCP

Picture of PVC spreader on FCP

Picture of cable tie used as spreader on FCP

Picture of cable tie used as spreader on FCP

Picture of PVC spreader on FCP

Picture of PVC spreader on FCP

Picture of 2-wire leg of FCP as hung at W4KAZ

Picture of 2-wire leg of FCP as hung at W4KAZ