The WD0AJG-1 digi is up but on a temporary pole. It may have to remain temporary for some time until we get the rebuilt tower back and get the antennas, coax and other attachments put back on it and raise it up. This is what it looked like before it came down:
Note the sun was peaking under the clouds when I got this pic and it put a pretty strange glow on the rotor, cross, antenna and attachments…
It may be repaired by the end of this week but I will not have time to get it all back together before I leave for work. So this is the temporary tower:
The base is about where the bend was in the other tower (23ft). The APRS is working but that few feet makes a big difference for coverage out on I-35 and locally as well…
I guess I have several things to fix when I get home… and plan to have several days of antenna work. I need take down the antennas from the top of the shop as neither of them are working properly with high SWR… actually the mobile I had up is acting more like a dummy-load than an antenna. I want to get the guy wires run for the new tower and then get the 160 meter Carolina Windom put up on the tower so when it gets cold, I can have some FUN… I might have to make some contacts before it is cold but there will be plenty of work to get the ends tied off and the proper standoff for the lead in, etc.… I also have a new Tri-band antenna to put on the top that will cover 6/2/440. I think that if we have a few more sun spots that 6 meters might open up a little the next couple of years? and at least a vertical will be better than nothing…
When you’re a Ham there is always plenty of projects to work on… I should have been doing some of this earlier but it was just so damn hot. I also have some in shop projects not related to radio that need some attention… a stained glass project and I have told myself I need to get some more of my airplanes built and try to sell a few… I have plenty of cans that need to be cut up and put together. Wish me luck, I am going to need it to get much of this done or maybe it not luck but ambition? so wish me ambition. – WD0AJG