Thanks, for another ATNO

Done, we'll see.

R1ANU is a call from King George Island, South Shetland Islands but Ham Radio Deluxe puts it as Antarctica but the spots show Shetland Island.  Which is it?  Did I get a new one?

He's on again and loud in Montreal at 20:38 and 14.190
YB0DJ

It's got to be the propagation Gods...Pile up is huge, but for about 10 minutes, I could hear no one but him and me!

And now another!! At 21:03 on 14.185, super easy.  Why now?

Wow conditions must have been good. He was much weaker than you sounded about a 53

Yup, need them too but can't hear a peep from them
The YBs were weird though, big pileups then everything faded out and they couldn't here me. 10 minutes later pile ups returned and I got through, first calls.

Thanks everyone.  I had the feeling that Yaesu might have issues with service.  I think I will look at the hy-gain and go through Norm.  I have heard the cables are tough to wire.  Is this the case?
Thanks

Conditions were great for me today.  Not only did I hear my first Indonesia, I made 2 QSO's with two different stations!  Both 359 degrees to me.  Gotta love the spring

Hi,
Well i'm taking the plunge to get my first mini beam and am looking at getting a rotator, something like the Yaesu 800DXA or Ham IV.
Thing is, it seems that when you buy one of these it is not complete.  You need cables connectors etc.
So I figure I need the rotator, the connectors, cables, and lightning arrestor.  Did I miss anything?  Also, my usual spots in Canada seem to only carry the rotator, none of the wire, hardware or connectors.  Is there a good one stop shop where all of these are available?
Thanks for the advice.

Really?  Didn't check.  Just want good performance in this sized antenna.  Oh, it is expensive.  Worth twice the price due to performance?

Can also get DOM but ungalvanized

In in exactly the same position, but I also have another contender...the TGM MQ-36SR.  One person I heard tested each of these and found the MQ the better.  I'm waiting on the comments here too!

Hi,
I'm relatively new to the beam scene but I'm about to take the plunge.  I plan on installing a mini beam like a TGM MQ36-SR, Cushcraft MA-5B or Mosley Mini-33A.  All of these have a wind loading of around 3.5 sf.  The mast will be installed in the top of a tower with a thrust bearing and a rotor.
The thrust bearing will be basically about a foot above the house and I would like the mast to extend 6 feet or more over the roof.
I am able to get any of the metal tubes for cheap (maybe free) through a friend.

Aluminum 6061T6 Schedule 40 pipe, 1.9" OD with a thickness of 0.145" (2" nominal pipe size)
Aluminum 6061T6 Schedule 80 pipe, 1.9" OD with a thickness of 0.2 " (2" nominal pipe size)

Aluminum 6061T6511 Holobar extruded aluminum tube 2" OD thickness 0.125, 0.25, or 0.375" thick (it's a friend, I can't overextend!!)

Which would be adequate?  And what if I want it 8 feet above the bearing.  We have winds that can reach 70mph here at times (rare) and there is a fair bit of icing possible.


Also, was thinking about a yaesu 1800sa rotor.
Thanks for advice...there's no one else I can ask!
Tom