Monthly Archives: September 2008

Digging sucks

Another weekend spent at the station site. This time the gang consisted mainly of SM2XJP and SM2WMV even though SM2NOG, SM2HWG + wife made a quick visit on Sunday where SM2NOG welded the posts for the 80M 4-SQ into place. We also got visited by SM2XLL, SA2AWO and SA2YLM + dogs.

On Saturday SM2XLL came and helped SM2WMV and SM2XJP to burn branches etc that are in the way of the 80M 4SQ from when we did cut down trees. During the evenings we did construction work in the shack and SM2WMV put up wall paper for the first time in his life with a pleasant result. SM2NOG arrived on Sunday with the posts he’d constructed for the 80M 4SQ and welded those into place. A long RG-17 was pulled out to the 80M 4-SQ plus the control cable.

SM2WMV also welded the guy wire rods for the 80M 4SQ consisting of 10mm thick rebar 100cm long where about 90cm of that will be put down into the clay ground.

SM2WMV’s welded guy wire points

We also put a balun to the beverage antenna towards NA and some other small stuff.

The weather was not great though, it didn’t rain but was very windy on Sunday while it was pretty pleasant on Saturday and Monday.

SM2XLL and SM2WMV enjoying the fire with diesel in the foreground

The fake wall almost ready for wall paper

The area behind the fake wall, plenty of space

Wall paper up, sorry for the bad picture, not enough light

After a few hours of digging by SM2WMV…

The door the ditch leads to will contain all antenna switching

110mm tubes will go down to put future cables through. There will be 4 pcs of RG-17 beside the tube and also 2×60 leaded cables for manouvering the antenna switches.

Fun stuff…

More pictures from last weekend

Here are some pictures that SM3JLA took during last weekend.

SM2LIY working SAC with 100W

SM2WMV enjoys the first contest qsos from his new QTH

The 60m high rotatable OH8QD tower

SM2XJP looking on while SM2WMV and SM2LIY dig holes

DOG X-RAY

Station owner SM2WMV likes it hot

Some movies

SM2WMV did record some small movies during the weekend to explain some stuff. It might be lame but atleast I do find it pretty fun to watch, you get a very good idea of what we’re doing.

SM2WMV beavis immitation

SM2WMV digging holes for the 80M 4-SQ while SM3JLA and SM2LIY burn branches

SM3JLA smoking…

The 4-SQ supports are done

SM2WMV building the fake wall in the shack

Another weekend over

Another weekend spent at the new SJ2W contest station location. This weekend we managed to get the preperations done for the 80M 4 SQ. We did dug down some concrete blocks used to support the 80m verticals, we mounted all four verticals and also burned up a lot of the branches from the trees we cut down two weeks ago. We also managed to work some 670 qsos in SAC CW during 12 hours with 100W + FD-4 and a 40M vertical we put up quickly during total darkness on Saturday evening. The QTH seem to perform pretty well but it’s hard to say without a really proper antenna. The 1/4 vertical for 40M did beat the FD-4 with pretty much though so the ground is probably decent at least. SM3JLA, SM2LIY and SM2WMV did also move the OH8QD tower off the ground to proper supports.

The guys that showed up were SM2XJP, SM2WMV, SM3JLA and SM2LIY.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Some stuff from SM2WMV old QTH going up to the new QTH. 7/8″ cables were donated by SM3WMU.

SM3JLA was mostly eating candy during the weekend 😉

Aluminium towers + guy wires for the 60m high tower

60m tower + a lot of aluminium

7/8″ cables needed to be sorted out

The 40M vertical we put up in total darkness

A hole for the concrete base for one of the four 80M verticals

Ok, to be fair SM3JLA did actually also work 🙂

SM2LIY is pointing while SM2WMV digs

The last block for the 80M 4-SQ down

SM2XJP dog Dixi and SM2WMV dog Bishop. When SM2WMV mom,

dad and grandmother were about to leave Dixi wanted to come with them.

I think she might have a new boyfriend.

To be continued…