10/31/05
Yes, it seems that fall is an appropriate time for antenna work to get accomplished. This past weekend's great weather in the Ohio Valley attributed to the fact that a lot of activity was planned.
Locally, in the Dayton area, Lou, N8KXM and Keith, WA8ZWJ had been working on setting up an EchoLink connection between Lou's QTH and the WA8ZWJ Repeater site. As you will see in the photos below, two antennas were needed at Lou's QTH and one additional was needed at the repeater site.
At the N8KXM QTH, a receive antenna for repeater audio was placed on a side arm as well as a small beam for transmitted EchoLink audio. At the repeater site all that was needed was an end mounted beam to receive the transmitted EchoLink audio. This task was accomplished on Saturday, October 29, 2005.
On Sunday, October 30, 2005 Bill, KA8ZBW assembled an antenna party to install a tri band beam with 40 meter extensions at Bill, KB8BKW's residence. The crew consisted of Bill, KA8ZBW (rope anchor man), Lou, N8KXM (top man), Dave, WB8WIQ, Keith, WA8ZWJ (roof man), Bill, KB8BKW and BKW's son. Sadly, since everyone was busy during the erection, no "in process" of lifting the beam pictures are available.
Notice the goofy grin on Lou's face as he prepares to descend from the afternoon's erection activities!
Additional IOOK antenna work was done in WV this past weekend as well. When those photos arrive they will be added here!
N7LMJ Antenna Work
11/14/05
This morning WA8ZWJ and N7LMJ set up a new G5RV antenna at his new digs. The first shot shows the center of the antenna attached to the rope ready to go up. The second shot shows Mike tying the center support rope to a tree. The third shot shows where we had to make a kink (turn) in the ladder line as the tree was not tall enough to fully support the antenna and keep the feed point from getting in the way. The final shot shows where he is tying a rope to another tree to take weight off the ladder line at the feed point balun.
After a quick check with and antenna analyzer, Mike was able to make a contact on Mid-Cars (40 meters) and he received a good report. He then called Hoss (WA5ZAI) on Skype and we had a nice short chat with Hoss in Texas on 20 meters! He hopes to soon get his amplifier hooked up and an antenna tuner installed so he can use the amplifier on the G5RV. His Kenwood HF rig has a built in antenna tuner for barefoot operation!
11/05
John recently put up his tower. The tower base work was started early in October. The tower is located near the southwest end of his pole barn.
Once the concrete set up he continued the process. The tower (below left) now sports a dual band 2 meter/440 vertical on the left and a full sized 6 meter vertical on the right. There are also 2 pulley set ups with rope so he can raise and lower wire antennas. Below on the right is a mast on the east end of the pole barn. This assortment of antennas are used in the workshop as antennas for the test bench.
El Presidente, KBob, W8JUK reports that as of 11/21/05 there is a 442.850 repeater operating on the Outer Banks! In the President's own words
"We now have a 442.85 Repeater on the Outer Banks! It is 480 ft up on a TV Tower. The attached picture shows the repeater and the hard workers who made it happen...heh heh! LONG LIVE THE IOOK! kbob" Golly, that ought to give them GREAT coverage! Congratulations KBob and friends! Hey KBob - how about a picture of the antenna on the tower? Zed W. Jay
If there is any additional IOOK antenna work that has been recently accomplished, please submit your pictures and description to wa8zwj@iook.org and they will be included as well!
Best 73!
