[Antennas] which way the wind blows

Thu Dec 16 22:47:10 EST 2004

I tend to have to agree with Bill.
I live in South Alabama about 70 miles from the Gulf coast and I always 
point my antennas
into the wind during hurricanes and other severe weather events .
I have a set of stacked 10 element Quads for 440 at 75 foot, a set of 
stacked 2-meter Quagis
at 70 foot, and a Cushcraft A3WS at 65 foot on a commercial (18" face) 60 
foot tower.
During Hurricane Opal in 1995 (110mph sustained winds) and more recently 
this year,
Hurricane Ivan (100mph). I pointed the beams to the Southeast and sustained 
no antenna damage.
I did notice that when I did turn the beams broadside to the wind, the tower 
sway increased
noticeably and the howling of the wind through the elements also increased. 
Even the horizontal
elements on the A3WS seem to move back and forth less when pointed into the 
wind as opposed
to the antenna boom being broadside.
As for your antenna, I guess the construction of the antenna and boom length 
and diameter
would be a major factor as to how your antenna will survive broadside vs 
head-on winds. in other
words, where is the "weakest link" in this antenna?
--------------------
John Brown - KE4HIE
ARRL Emergency Coordinator
Covington Co. Alabama
For links to local weather information
Go to the following sites:
http://www.alaweb.com/~ke4hie/index.html or
http://www.alaweb.com/~ke4hie/weather.html or
view the South Alabama Radio Club Web Pages at:
http://www.alaweb.com/~prof/sarc.html
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Marx" <bmarx at bellsouth.net>
To: "Radio Antennas List" <antennas at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Antennas] which way the wind blows
>I have a KT34XA and after suffering through many Hurricanes in South 
>Florida
> I always put the elements into the wind. The antenna seems to show less
> stress in that position. The back and forth motion against the rotor is 
> less
> in that position as well.
> Bill Marx W2CQ
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "dtx" <dtx at wood.tzo.com>
> To: <Antennas at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 9:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [Antennas] which way the wind blows
>>>> Good question...I'd vote boom pointed into the wind. Now, what is more
>> likely to "fail"....the boom, the elements or the tower structure? I do
>> not have (even the slightest chance of getting) an HF beam where I live,
>> so I don't have any idea of boom length vs director length or diameters
>> of elements vs boom but I _SUSPECT_ more loading from one long, larger
>> diameter boom that 6 smaller elements. I would also think that for
>> gusty winds having the elements flex would spread the instantaneous load
>> over a bit of time and soften the impact, a la spring and shock
>> absorbers on your car when you hit a bump.
>>>> All guesses; I am a computer programmer<G>
>>>> Gary WA6DTX (in Huntington Beach)
>>>> John Luthy wrote:
>>>> >Hello to all,
>> >
>> >My question has to do with protecting my antenna from the wind.
>> >
>> >I have read many times that the antenna should be pointed in to the
>> >wind, and I have seen a rudder on a verry large log that uses a tower
>> >for a boom.
>> >
>> >But on my 6 el. tri bander, I have noticed that I have 6 elements
>> >exposed to the wind if I do that, however if I put the antenna
>> >broadside to the wind I only have the boom exposed to the wind. Now I
>> >know the boom has a larger diameter than the elements. But I am sure
>> >the sum of the diameters of the elements exceeds the boom.
>> >
>> >So here is my question, Just which way do I aim this thing to keep it
>> >in the air when the santa anas blow?
>> >
>> >John
>> >N7JL
>> >Sunny, hot, and windy So. Cal.
>> >
>> >
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