Yesterday we lifted four more tower sections. Weather was perfect, and ground crew well up to speed.
We stopped at the 62 meter level, and next is to put up another guy wire level, and the the top part. As always Anders and Peo was managing the winch and wires. The SK3W Prospects SA5BDS Patrik and SA5BJM Johan was on site and showed their different skills. I am sure they are close to “Full-Patch” soon.
Since last post the new guy wire level is in place at 48 meters, and also some more sections.
Work has been slow, mainly because of missing ground crew, but also due to limitations in the winch and wire. On Saturday we will try to continue work, if we find more ground crew. There are a few section left until next guy level, and the top sections with antennas can be mounted later in September.
During the weekend lots of antenna work was done. This time with a new tower crew member, SM5PHU Jonas.
Only a few people have been higher than 2 meters above the ground at SK3W. If I remember: SM3GUE, SM3UDH, SM3XIK, SM5HJZ, OH1JT and SM3SGP. Jonas is now member in the 42m+ club.
Work will hopefully continue on Wednesday, but only Anders XIK has volunteered so far.
We also logged two rare DX(ers) at the station during Saturday, SM5TXT and SM3EVR.
Also a vintage photo of SM3UDH from 1997:
This weekend lots of people joined the tower party in Fernebo.
The 3 element 40m yagi is now lowered to the top guy wire level, and fixed. Also the top mast and antenna rotator is down on the ground. Next weekend we will start adding the recently purchased extension kit for this tower. The new white and shiny K600 sections from the man with the blue ambulance, say no more…
Below are some photos from this weekend and also from the SM2 Road trip with EPO and XIK.
On Saturday the middle 5 element yagi in the 60m tower was repaired. Parts of the driven element had fallen down during a storm some weeks ago.
Ground crew this weekend was Christer H, COP, XIK and HBV.
The same antennas was repaired last year, at that time a loose director. Some video and photos from that session is found here on this blog.
Today I got some help from Tony SA3BGM. We moved all cables for the 60m tower to a new housing, where all control cables were terminated and feeders from the house will be connected to cables coming down from the tower.
The wire 4 square for 160 meters has been repaired. Maintenance crew were SG3P, SM3XIK and SM5IMO.
Yesterday I cleaned the chain for the 60m tower rotator. The bottom bearing need some new grease, but it is difficult to apply. Later this week we will use high pressure air to clean the bearing, and the cut or drill a hole were it is possible to add new grease.
Today finally I got some help to start with antenna work. SM3XLY Erik came to the station and helped me with the middle 20m yagi in the 60m tower.
The front director of the antenna was loose, and a guy wire for the boom was broken. The winch was mounted on the tower and the antennas was hanging in the wire while it was tilted verically to be able to reach the director, and the loose guy wire. Active tower time was about 3-4 hours but some extra hour to prepare the winch as well.
In the morning Jan and Wolfie helped to clean up the old antenna storage that had broken during winter.
Total man power at the station today, three. (XIK also visited but he arrived to late for the antenna party…) Dog count was two.
The weekend was dedicated to feeder work and putting up a new antenna for 40m. The new vertical is located about 100 meters from the house, and is made of a wire in a tree. This will be a great complement to the stack and the single 3 el yagi. The single yagi has mostly been pointing south the recent years, since the rotor box has not been connected. Hopefully this will be done before CQWWCW.
The new 80m dipole got a new feeder, and the 4 square is now QRV again (only 80m, not 160m) after lots of trouble shooting Saturday night. Two relays were changed in the comtek box, and also the dummy load but the antenna was still behaving strange. No good front/back and some SWR. It was found that the control box was delivering same output in all directions, and a new box was connected. Not even that helped, and finally a bad cable was found close to the feed point at the SE antenna.
In Sunday afternoon Anders SM3XIK helped to move three wooden poles, to be used in future projects. Thanks Anders!
People on site: SG3P and SM5IMO
