We had a severe t storm come through yesterday with 90 mph winds. The AP did not survive. The beam faired well with it only 22' and horizontal. The Imax will be going up untill I can repair the AP.
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AstroPlane damage
- Thread starter RT431
- Start date
so what happens with these antennas is that the hoop gets to swaying back and forth in the wind and puts a great amount of stress on those mast stand-off fasteners, as well as the aluminum element itself.
the solution is to use some UV rated thin bungee cord to tie the hoop to the mast.
dont make it too tight, just snug with room for the bungee to stretch.
this will transfer the load on to the mast and when the wind blows, the whole antenna will bend the mast as one unit.
don't try to use tie line or cable ties or anything else that won't give a bit, as this will put you in the same situation where you are putting stress on those mast stand-offs.
LC
the solution is to use some UV rated thin bungee cord to tie the hoop to the mast.
dont make it too tight, just snug with room for the bungee to stretch.
this will transfer the load on to the mast and when the wind blows, the whole antenna will bend the mast as one unit.
don't try to use tie line or cable ties or anything else that won't give a bit, as this will put you in the same situation where you are putting stress on those mast stand-offs.
LC
just looked at the picture closer.
is that an original astroplane? for some reason i thought it was the copy by CTE.
if so, then yeah it does look like that set screw might have just wiggled loose and given way.
LC
is that an original astroplane? for some reason i thought it was the copy by CTE.
if so, then yeah it does look like that set screw might have just wiggled loose and given way.
LC
Hi LC:
It looks like a CTE ,I have one brand new in the box
Mine seems flimsy , time will tell when my GM fails and use this CTE
73 de Andy/Tecnicoloco
It's definitely not the CTE model, as the mast stand off bracket is different in the CTE and the elements don't telescope into each other.
the CTE i have has held up quite nicely over the 10+ years i've had it.
the aluminum will start to split where they flattened the ends, but that's about it.
the one thing i would do is just toss their hardware right in the trash. the hardware that came with the CTE astroplanes was complete crap.
get some SS hardware and you'll be all set.
LC
the CTE i have has held up quite nicely over the 10+ years i've had it.
the aluminum will start to split where they flattened the ends, but that's about it.
the one thing i would do is just toss their hardware right in the trash. the hardware that came with the CTE astroplanes was complete crap.
get some SS hardware and you'll be all set.
LC
AP is repaired and back in the air. Just as I suspected, the element pulled apart. Easy fix. Also lowered it so it doesn't sway as much in the wind.
SWR 1.1 on all 40 and 1.2 on 27.555.0.
SWR 1.1 on all 40 and 1.2 on 27.555.0.
Glad to seer you got it fixed and back up. I did something with the one I use to have a while back I took 80 pound test braided fishing line andwent 4 direction on the bottom hoop to brace it up some worked well for me until Jan. 3 2000 nothing will survive during a EF 3 tornado.I wish I could get my hands on one of those Targa BT-101 anternnas.
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