Spring brings with it a few thoughts. Warmer days, snow drops, less of a need for thermals just to go in the garden and of course scotch bright. Or if you like scouring pads from Wilkinsons. Its a time for maintenance and tuning up of the old trooper that is the Hustler 6-BTV. Whilst some of it stays out in all weathers other parts stay out even when the salt spray batters the house. Salt in the air = corrosion of my antenna = a healthy rub down with scotch bright (or is it brite?) and a checking of all the connections.
I don't have particularly big fingers and now they are a little smaller round the knuckle area having had to rub down the inside and outside of the tubes. A small price to pay now that its back and resonant in the right place on the bands. Checked thanks to the loan of the clubs antenna analyser. I even had a chance to permanently fix the Watson 80 plus 2 in the loft and make good all the connections etc for when its just too nasty outside for the vertical. A quick check in the contest arena that is every HF band every now and then and there isn't much in it with both the antennas. US east coast stations were a bit noisy but still managed to work half a dozen on the various bands.
All this clearing out of corrosion and making the station work again got me thinking about the 6m beam that's in the loft. I had moved it there last year and found it wasn't too good and actually performed better outside on a 3m pole. The XYL doesn't want it fixed to the house and a mast is out of the question. No idea what to do with it right now, I think I'll dismantle it and wrestle it downstairs after I've finished the decorating (got to keep in the good books).
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