Here is my recent reassembly anticorrosion treatment (and a bit more) of a
failed by corrosion G7-144.
After I did the prescribed tune-up, I marked the slip joint lengths and then
I took the them apart and scratched up the mating aluminum and reassembled
each of the slip joints with an aluminum anticorrosive goop that I got from
the electrical section of the local hardware store. Then, for a measure of
permanence, as I knew that I would never be changing frequency, , I put a
couple of short self tapping screws into each slip joint and then I put a
layer of high-grade shrink tubing over each joint as Kevin suggests and then
finally, the hose clamp over that.
I did a similar treatment to each of the through bolt but joints. At each of
these, I cleaned the contacting metal to bright, further roughed up the
joints with an automatic center punch, applied more anticorrosive goop,
tightened very tightly and finally covered each joint with more high grade
shrink tubing.
The base / loading coil department of our antenna had corroded to the point
of electrical isolation of the radial / connector mount casting from the
mounting pipe and the base of the loading coil. I know that this sounds
impossible but I assure you, that's the way it came off the roof---
structurally sound but electrically isolated-----needless to say, the
antenna had failed to the state being total unusable------terrible noise
desense. Anyway, Hustler's design was to sort of seal the coil cover but to
also leave a hole by the "N" connector for what ever water got inside to
sort of drain out -----that's why they tell you not to use co-ax seal on the
connector----they don't want you to plug the drain hole. My fix was to,
after replacing rusty rivets on both ends of the loading coil with stainless
10X32's and fixing the base conduction problem, drill a real drain out the
bottom, just in case, and sealed the coil cover with Silicone II sealant and
another ring of shrink tubing. Oh, I also covered the loading coil and it's
connections with Gorilla glue for waterproof protection inside before I put
the cover back and sealed it from above water.
The antenna is back in service and works well again.
Now, can it be made better-----Beyond sealing it against corrosion
apparently not. I contacted Hustler and ask if the pattern could be drooped
from however it is when adjusted per their instructions by critical
adjustment of the slip joint settings or any other practical means. I was
told that adjustment of the pattern was not possible and that if I wanted
droop, I should special order on of their higher priced collinear where they
can introduce droop. I ask just what the elevation pattern of the G7 was as
they advertise a low angle of radiation----I was sent a copy of an old sales
sheet showing a pattern peaking on the horizon. My antenna experts tell me
that this can't be done with a single or stacked assemblage of 5/8 's wave
sections------and my experience here is that our G7 seems to be "hotter"
above the horizon than on it and certainly below it------that's all I can
report on the subject.
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Custer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Hustler G-7 220 Ant
>
> Seal it up so water cannot ingress into the joints or top. I use
> heatshrink that is intended to be used in the CATV industry for this. I
> have Hustler G6's and 7's that have been up for many years with this
> approach and is has proven to add years to their life. I once installed
> a new G7 and it lasted only one winter. Water had gotten into the
> bottom and when it froze, pushed the antenna apart. Here is a link to
> the heatshrink:
> <http://www.repeater-builder.com/tech-info/canusa.html>
>
> Kevin
>
> Don wrote:
>
> >I just ordered a Hustler G-7 220 Base ant to for Now be used as a
> >Remote link to My 440 Repeater, it will be up about 75 Ft using � In
> >LDF-450, Before I put it up is there any thing I should do to it to
> >make it better
> >
> >Thanks Don KA9QJG
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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