Spy Cam - 40M Yagis getting beat up

[K1JJ]

I took some pics during and after the hurricane.   This homebrew 40M triple stack of Yagis uses full-size 66'-70' long elements and they act like pole vaulting poles in the wind.

They were designed to survive about 110 mph, though at 190' high I think the top one saw some 90 mph gusts.   They survived, but the top one's boom spun 90 degrees in its cradel - so now its vertically polarized. Look closely at the last pics.

In pic #2 notice the 160M inverted vee, just below the top Yagi, is blowing around like a sail.

I dread doing so, but tomorrow I's gots to climb up there to 190' and unbolt and realign the boom.   All the other antennas got away unscathed. Got power back today.

T

[K1JJ]

This same thing happened about three years ago.  I added a second arm strut and clamps to keep the booms from spinning. Evidently it's still not enuff....


T


The aftermath:

[Steve - K4HX]

Awesome shots. It's amazing how those things flex. Bend but don't break at its finest. Hope you get that thing fixed or I'll have to whip up on you on 40 meters!

[K1JJ]

Awesome shots. It's amazing how those things flex. Bend but don't break at its finest. Hope you get that thing fixed or I'll have to whip up on you on 40 meters!

Heheheh...  it was quite the thang to watch, Steve. I stood out there for over an hour and watched them all. The 20M Yagi 60' booms were swinging around like snakes. All the wire antennas were FB.  The self supporters really did some swaying with the heavy loads on them.

BTW, I'm curious what the 40M stack pattern looks like with the top one vertically polarized.  I let my old DOS ant program go, so need to upgrade. If you do a model before tmw, let me know and if it looks good, maybe I'll keep it as is -  I mean, WTF....  

T

[W1AEX]

There's nothing like watching something you worked hard to build getting whacked by Mother Nature. Those are very impressive shots Tom. Be careful up on that tower tomorrow. Don't want to see you on Action News!