added 9/26/10
A few months ago, Johnny, KF8KK added a repeater near Harrietta, Michigan. On Saturday, September 25th two tower work parties were planned. The first was Johnny and Mike, N7LMJ and they went to the Harrietta site to add a link antenna to the tower system there to link the repeater into the repeater system in Empire. The second tower work party went to Big Al, KB8FJB's. This group consisted of Big Al, his friend, Ron, W8TVC, WA8MSD and WA8ZWJ.
As far as I know no photos were taken at the Harrietta site because it was cold and rainy. So, their objective was to get the work done and get in where it was warm.
Thankfully, the weather cooperated a bit better for the gang at Big Al's because, other than some light drizzle, conditions were pretty good. The task at Big Al's was to take a dual band vertical antenna off the pole barn, lower the Hazer arrays, remove the 6 Meter Ringo from the top and then install a new cross member section with the 6 Meter Ringo mounted to it as well as the dual band vertical.
Here you see the Hazers have been lowered and the Ringo has
been removed.
Finding an appropriate washer...
Mounting the antenna mounts to the cross member...
Here the group begins assembling the cross member set up to
the antennas...
The Ringo has been installed and preparations to add the
dual band vertical are being made....
Still installing the vertical...
Final adjustments on the vertical...
Now we are moving the array up to where it will be
mounted...
The array is in position and being mounted...
Mounting the array...
WA8ZWJ installs the zip ties to secure the new coax to the
group...
More zip ties...
Yep! More zip ties...
Here both Hazers are being cranked up while more zip ties
are installed...
There it is! All back up in position! Yee
haw...but the work is not done...
Here Dave and Big Al make final adjustments to the guy
system...
Next the gang fed the coax in through the underground PVC and then installed
the coax connector to the end after it was cut to length.
Here Dave and Ron work on feeding the coax into position...
Once Johnny and Mike have completed their efforts, tests
were made and now Big Al can get into the Harrietta repeater with much improved
reliability. Yee haw! Now, with the link to the Empire system, Big
Al can chat with the guys over 50 miles away just like he was sitting there!
Dave, Lee and Keith met John and Mike at the Bucksnort
Saloon in Mesick for a few brews and burgers!
Mike, N7LMJ on the left and Johnny, KF8KK on the
right! We all wished Johnny a very Happy Birthday! Yes, he planned
the tower work on his birthday!
Now you know how part of the Michigan contingent of the IOOK spent their last Saturday of September!
Many thanks to Johnny for all his efforts to coordinate, link and keep everything running! It truly is a labor of love!
