Well Summer is officially over now… Seems strange that the best weather (at least is Ottawa) since the start of the summer was in the last 3 weeks. It was a summer to forget but there were some good times…
But enought about the trip down memory lane… This would be the time of the year to start to think about ANY antenna work you need to do before the snow and freezing rain along with all the other good stuff old man winter brings with him before spring arrives…
To my readers in the southern climates you can stop laffing now please…
Here at the VA3QV QTH I will be making the following changes in preparation for the harsher winter climate…
My Inverted L antenna will be staying up but I will be adding several more ground radials to try and improve its performance especially on 160m.
I will be adding a homebrewed vertical for 10 to 20m which will be tied into the same ground radial system that the inverted L uses.
I will be putting my dual band J Pole back up on a stronger mast that will survive the stronger winds along with the weight of the ice and snow that we normally get.
I also plan to hang a 1/4 2m groundplane off the above mentioned masting for AX25 Packet/APRS work.
All the parts are in stock for these plans so all thats needed to to re install the coax connectors (as that whats usually fails when the freezing rain hits) and once I can find the time it will be one afternoons work to get everything done… But its easier to do it while its still warm than once the cold weather hits us for the season…
How are your winter plans coming?
73bob
