On the morning of March 22, 2012, for the first time since 1997, our 50-foot Rohn tower was lowered, with the safety assurance of a crane.

In the hour prior to that, the Auxiliary Weapons Room (the research hut built on the roof in the 80s) was lifted off the roof with the aforementioned crane. (video) The AWR had to go because the door deteriorated and fell off its hinges. Pigeons moved in, and left their calling cards everywhere.

The Hy-Gain TH6DXX Super Thunderbird tri-band beam has been disassembled. The plastic spacers inside the traps need to be replaced, as well as the black plastic end caps.

The WØQQQ repeaters (444.175 MHz and 145.410 MHz) are off the air while the tower is down, as their dual-band antenna is on the tower.

The Yaesu G-800SDX rotor that was bought on March 14, 1997 has become erratic in its directional indications. Sometimes the direction indicator moves the better part of 360° after the antenna has stopped moving. There is rust around the bearings. The word is that it's not easy to get repair parts or service for this product. The consensus of club members is that we're probably going to need a new rotor, which can cost as much as $1,000.

The club met at 10:30 a.m. today to discuss action on the antennas, tower and rotor, and vote on an initial round of expenses related to TH6DXX repair. $150 was allocated by a majority vote for odds and ends of antenna parts.

We were amazed at the craftsmanship of Chris Casey, NØVRP, who created new trap spacers from a plastic kitchen cutting board, using a lathe, a hole saw and calipers, among other tools, to attain a perfect fit.

The subject of allocating funds for rotor replacement was tabled.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:47 a.m.

For the near future, members will meet in 401 Seaton Hall, on Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

David Yoder, KAØJPM
Secretary-Treasurer