| Author |
Message |
    
Sinker
Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 78
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 7:37 pm: | 
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Put together the Top One antenna today and had it of 15' of mast to the tripod for mounting on the roof. Kinda cool looking, well until my kid kicked her soccer ball and knocked it over. YEP, it busted. My own fault not hers as I should have had the tri-pod staked to the ground but didn't and the wind could have blown it over just as well. Makes me wonder how durable it really is though.
So frustrated I am just going to go with one antenna on top of the roof with the tripod and 4 guy lines.
Guess I will have extra coax, guy rope, turn buckles, push up pole etc., etc.
Maybe when I calm down and get the system working I can add another antenna but for now it's ONE antenna and only ONE ground rod.
Right now I am ready to just go ahead and use the A-99 instead of getting the Maco V-5000, also heard a lot about eh I-Max 2000 as well so who knows. Just a little ripped right now.
Thanks for letting me vent here a bit... |
Tech833
Member
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 71
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 11:17 pm: |
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What broke? |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 625
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 1:50 am: |
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man thats too bad!!!
let me tell you an embarrassing story. my top one fell over standing on 30' of mast. it's the same top one that is in the air right now. the hoop had to be straightened out, and two of the radials got bent. i bent everything back very carefully after about two hours of just sitting still with my head in my hands.
not sure how yours broke but it might be fixable.
i do understand if you just want to stomp on the thing at this point.
dont put that antron up in the air. even though you have good intentions of changing it out later, once you have an antenna in the air its a lot harder to justify all that work.
get the V5/8 wave and put it on the roof with the tripod. i would still use the 15' of mast, but if you can only go with 10' it'll be ok.
you've come this far in setting up a badd^ss station, dont compromise now by putting up an antenna that is known for its TVI.
you just need a few encouraging words to get you over your frustration. (trust me we all understand!)
so here you go: you are lucky. you have seen first hand how fast an antenna can come down, and no one is hurt. (maybe your ego LOL) this will make you very very safety conscious when you are tightening bolts and attatching guy wires.
your coax isnt here yet anyway, so go ahead and get the maco. put it on your roof. guy it securely. you will be very happy.
matt |
Sinker
Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 79
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 7:12 am: |
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Thanks Kid vicious - the antenna is not repairable as the top section broke off. The threads are still in the main housing - I could remove it with a easy out but then would still need to buy the top section. The rest of it actually held up very well. Just surprised that the threaded section snapped like that. That thing did look pretty cool before it fell over though.
I had enlisted two other guys to come help as well so one could hold it centered on the roof while the other two tightened the guy ropes evenly.
Oh well will order the Maco on Monday. |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 852
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 9:34 pm: |
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Sit back, relax, and count to 100.
Things will get better.
Sorry to hear about your antenna getting
broke. I had a Imax 2000 fall while trying
to take it down a few months ago and it
hit my fence post and broke in half.
Things happen! Hey, keep in touch and let
me know how you make out with your install.
JIM/CEF 375 |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 637
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 11:25 pm: |
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i think we owe sinker some major congratulations for being one of the first new CB'ers to try and learn as much as possible and to do things "right", right from the word go.
you are truely rare in this hobby, we all know of a few "newbies" (term of endearment) that got off on the wrong foot and never got back up.
and when he says he's gonna buy something, he means "now"!
congrats sinker, hope to hear you on the air.
are we getting closer to finding your handle?
how about "timber"!!!LOL
matt |
Sinker
Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 81
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 5:19 am: |
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Road warrior & Kid vicious - THANKS
Maco V-5000 is ordered - have to wait till Monday for the order to be processed as I did it on-line.
"Timber" might be good or something related to the mess I started about grounding - WHICH BTW I have figured out what I will do to take care of this.
Heck by the time I get all this put together Hurricane season should be over and I will have months without having to worry about my antenna coming down.
Tim
CEF-634 |
Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 855
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 8:44 am: |
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Sinker, i'm glad you started the grounding
thread as i had alot of not sures
on my own grounding system. I've been doing
it wrong since 1976....LOL...
I just heard on weather news that a new
disturbance is forming in the Atlantic.
JIM/CEF 375 |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 647
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 11:06 pm: |
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sinker, i thought TIMBER was good because your name is tim.
may be something a bit cooler like "timber wolf"?
maybe you've already decided on sinker.
one good way to decide on a handle is to try and figure out all the possible ways to make fun of it, and pick the one with the least ways.
because for sure someone out there will think of one or two.
i thought "stratocaster" was good for a few years until someone called me "straddle master"
the mat-o-caster |
Sinker
Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 86
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 5:06 pm: |
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I understand what your saying about handles. I have never been very clever with things like that. I am pretty heavy into fishing and in the fishing industry. I go by Sinker on many forums relating to fishing for the simple reason that I swim about as good as a rock. Of course I have been called Stinker and the likes but I don't mind. Been through so much that someone making some fun of me doesn't bother me, heck I usually try to beat them to if it's something truly funny. Others are just mean and try to upset others, frankly I have no time for them.
I'm sure something will come along soon.
Have the tri-pod and 15' mast ready for the Maco V-5000 that is ordered but not here yet, seems a KLV-1000 will be coming with it (what have I done).
The Texas Ranger 696F is in the box in my office wanting to come out and play. Still waiting on the LMR-400 and the Guide Rope. Making the ground bar a little at a time and think it will all come together nicely when I put it together.
Also got hooked up with the local VFW as they have classes for those seeking to get their Ham License so am excited about that. Once I get that I may get an S-9 and something I can use the KLV with.
I will make a CEF contact someday and I may just call myself Timber, ya never know... |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 652
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 5:39 pm: |
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fishing industry eh?
the YL (young lady or girlfriend, it's a ham term)
and i just got back from Virginia Lakes Resort up in the Sierra Nevada Mtns. near Mammoth.
great trout fishing. looks like the season is about over for me though.
my handle is still stratocaster. the guy that called me straddle master is actually a good friend of mine.
i kind of like the irreverence i hear on my radio. it reminds me that we're living in a free society.
and we need to be reminded of that these days.
have you ordered a copy of "the screwdriver experts guide" from copper yet?
with all the knowledge you are gaining; this is the perfect next step for you. it will answer all of the questions that are going to start popping up once you start using all you new stuff.
plus, its just great reading. i recommend finding a copy ASAP so you can start reading before your coax arrives. the book is written in such a style so as to make understanding easy.
no CB'er should be without a copy. trust me it's $20 well spent. the author runs a company called CB city international. a good company to know about also.
try it, you'll like it!!!
matt |
Sinker
Member
Username: Sinker
Post Number: 87
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 7:13 pm: |
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Yeah Fishing - kinda nice as I did product reviews but they let me keep all the stuff I reviewed. Lived and fished Southern California for over 30 years and was on the Board of Directors for UPSAC. Although I live in Florida now I still travel for fishing. Every year we have a Jamboree in So. Cal from one to two weeks which is always lots of fun. Still carry our own line of high end custom rods etc. and have our own web site for some fun with forums etc. In Vegas for the I-Cast as well so may have to bring a radio and see if I can reach then.
I will get "The Screwdriver Experts Guide" from Copper on my next order. |
Kid_vicious
Advanced Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 658
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 8:48 pm: |
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a good friend of mine is out on lake mead right as we type at the big tournament going on. i think first prize is $30,000.
if you're coming to vegas, send me an email or PM before you make your reservations and i can give you some local inside knowledge of the town.
and if you're coming through vegas (this goes for anyone on here) give a shout for the stratocaster on CH.19 in the evening. (im usually out there after 10pm)
the fall is the perfect time to come here, it's a bit less crowded and the weather is georgeous!
have a good one,
matt |
