I bought a White Lightning @ a hamfest (used) and am trying to get the assembly instructions. I've called S.E. numerous times and get a voice mailbox saying that someone will return the call but since April(?) nothing... I've emailed them too, to no avail. Are they still doing business? Does any member here have instructions (exploded view) on assembling this antenna? I think I'm missing 1 piece but can't be sure without a pic of what's supposed to be here.
3's
I've tried to contact them for the last 6 months with no response. With the economy like it is, the prices SE charges, and with CB like its been for sometime, I figure they're out of business.
I hope you got it dirt cheap.
They were terribly built and supplied kits even when new. They have a great idea, but they used very cheap materials and parts. For sure if the antenna was installed in anything but the mildest of climate environments, you probably have a problem. You may be able to fix most problems if you're handy, understand the principles for this antenna design, and don't deviate from the stock dimensions at any point.
A friend of mine had one in the Chicago area and almost from the get go, it started to fall apart, rusted hardware, broken screws, wires stretched and broken, and the rod supports wallowed-out the holes where they pass through the boom. He did not pre-measure the wire lengths and they stretched and broke due to the wind and weather and SE would not give him the wire lengths to use. A great quad antenna design idea, but very cheaply built and with lots of little parts. He tried for over a year to get someone to give him the measurements.
IMO, SE has always had a policy for NO antenna construction info, even for their documented customers. The antennas are pictured on their Website, which is still up. Do you have the Lightning 4, or Lightning 4+?
The documentation that they provide has always been very poor and copies of copies that get worse and worse as time goes by. They also use only artist renderings with their instruction manual and on their Website. This distorts the perspectives, and gives little real detail.
I'll try and post the instructions for the L4+ in my profile, but I can't promise what you'll be able to see. If I can't make out what the first page says, I won't bother with the rest.
These images do not look very good to me and some of the pages are even worse. There are about 10 pages in all and that is a lot to scan and post in my album to be looking so bad. Why don't you take some good pictures close up and straight on of the parts you have spread out to indicate relationships. Maybe some of the longer items with a good tape measure to indicate scale.
Email @
edromans@comcast.net or PM me and maybe we can get together and get you going.
