It seems I will be off the air for at least some of the contest. My inverted vee is down, which is my main antenna. My verticals are still standing and only need the snow knocked off them to return them to service. My 6M beam is listing at a 45 degree angle off horizontal and almost 90 degrees off bearing.
All in all not too bad, but I’m not sure how long it will take me to get to the repairs. At risk is not only this contest but the ARRL DX CW next weekend, another of my favorites.
Mother nature sucks.
73,
Pat, NG1G
Sorry to hear about the damage. No sign of snow here guess I will see it all soon enough.
73’s
Rick EA7/KI1G
Too bad about your antennas Pat. At least it’s supposed to warm up a little today and maybe we can get rid of the snow that’s stuck on all the trees and wires. No problems here as far as antennas go, although the SteppIR seems to be tilting to the side a little. But it still seems to work fine. The 80m dipole is doing some strange things as far as RFI goes. I don’t know if it’s because the coax feedline and/or the surge suppressor is buried in 2′ of snow or not but I have gotten some really weird readings from the weather station here when I transmit. SWR seems fine. My biggest problem is I’m snowbound. I can’t get out of the driveway and I haven’t seen the snow plow guy since late Friday night. I hope he hasn’t broken down. But it’s a contest weekend anyway. I guess I have no business leaving the house.
So far I’ve got NP3U on 3 bands. Maybe get the rest today.
73
Chris, KA1GEU
Lost my ladderline feed to my 88 ft doublet – my primary 40m and 30m antenna, & used occasionally on 80m . Feedline broke where a bend occurred at a support point up on the chimney mast mount. Other antennas survived the brutal winds here. Spring shall likely bring much antenna repair work within our area! 73, Bill W1WBB
STORM DAMAGE REPORT FROM W1XX. Mother Nature has not been kind to the W1XX antennas this winter. For the first time in almost 8 years since the tower was installed, incurred some heavy damage. The M2 40 Meter Yagi took a big hit. Half the reflector broke off and is tangling by the linear loading cables 100 feet up…and the driven element has some broken pieces. It will have to come down for repair in better weather in the spring. Loose hanging parts occasionally hit the tribander so that may or not be usable til the 40 meter Yagi comes down. But the tower itself is intact. The 80 and 160 verticals were damaged earlier and will need repair. Some of the beverge receive antennas are burried in the snow…but that’s small potatoes compared to the tower antenna damage. We lost power Friday afternoon and were out 3 full days…came back on Monday at 6PM. The 3.5 KW Honda generator ran for hours connected through the main circuit breaker box for heat and well pump. Didn’t get plowed out til noon Monday. But safe and sound. Hope all made it through unscathed. Sounds like a big score from KP4 land. Good going. Can’t wait to hear the details. Adios. 73! — John, W1XX, South County RI
Came back from NP3U to find the venerable A4S has sustained damage for the 1st time in its long career. The reflector broke in half, and the antenna will have to be brought down, repaired or replaced and re-raised. The 40/80m HF2V only had the elevated radials snapped by broken tree-tops and will be easily replaced. But, right now, K1SD is off the air.
73 James K1SD
Sorry to hear about all the others dammage. No new dammage here. Dipoles still down. All verticals and quad up and working.