WA3SWS Antenna Project
 Text & Pix by: Steve, WA3SWS

The rain ultimately stopped. We had all the materials, all the tools, plenty of munchies, man and lady power, a drawing and consensus on how the job would go. At the last minute as the 40 foot steel mast with an 8 foot antenna on top was being raised to vertical and set on top of a mast section on the tripod, the *steel* mast buckled, and the entire thing came crashing down destroying the antenna.

Major bummer.

So we disassembled the coax harness and rolled the guy wires up. I now get to buy another antenna, more mast (aluminum this time), and we try again. Karensa now has a bunch of warped mast sections to use for tomato stakes.

We didn't do anything wrong. The material failed, and we weren't stressing it beyond what should have been well within its capability to withstand. I've done virtually identical installations many times before and never had any problems like today. I suspect the quality of steel mast is not what it used to be.

Thanks again to everyone who helped. It was a pleasant social time regardless of the outcome, and Karensa and I really enjoyed the fellowship. We genuinely appreciate the generous assistance. Thanks to NEMARC, too, for introducing us all to each other. Hams are wonderful folks! Next week I'll get more materials ordered in.

Steve, WA3SWS
 

It all started here.

Staging Area

It stopped raining!

It's not work...it's fun!

Guy wires

Ken & guy wires

Pat & his muscles

Lots of guy wires

Kim holds her end

Pat holds his end

Scott & Ken caucus

Ready to raise

 Not a happy camper.

Disaster - OH, NO!