[Antennas] Butternut Vertical Wobble

Sun Jul 22 22:51:41 EDT 2007

First of all go to home depot and buy some radiator clamps [stainless steel
ones] and mount them on each piece of the antenna [were the tubes
interconnect] just below were the bolt goes through. Take your time and
mount them so that they hold each tube tightly together and that the clamp
strap is tight up to the flat part of the hex bolt. This will stop those
tiny bolts from unraveling over time due to wind movement. Take off the
stupid aluminum mounts that are used to hold those flimsy strips that are
connected to the door knob caps put radiator clamps there [small ones work
well] and tighten those good as well. Also check both small door knob caps
and see if there is any cracks in it were the hex screw is mounted inside
and if so re-solder it [put lots of flux in there and drop a big wad of
soldier and spread it around the hex nut to ensure proper contact]. You will
know when there is crack there when the match goes all crazy for no reason
and when it is windy and the antenna sways so will your match... Up and
down. You will find that the small door knob cap that is mounted beside the
big door knob cap [40/80M coil] tends to be the trouble maker. The wind has
caused this in due part by those flimsy pieces of strips of aluminum sliding
up/down when the antenna sways back and forth causing the hex bolt to crack.
Once you have done what I have suggested that will eliminate about 90% of
your problem. Just be glad that the antenna wobbles a bit, this gives it
that elastic quality which helps it survive those high wind storms under
80mph. I have had my 9 band butternut on the roof of my house for about 3yrs
and it has seen everything from hail to freezing rain etc. and winds that
were so bad it made the antenna look like a fishing pole with a huge shark
attached to it. Guiding it off will help it survive those wind storms that
over 80mph. But I think not, for if the wind ever reaches that speed the
roof of your house will come off first and it won't matter after that, will
it...
Hart va3kis