TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 17.52 DATE: December 24, 2017
SUBJECT: A CLEAN ANTENNA IS A HAPPY ANTENNA
Have you ever purchased an antenna second handed, only to find out that it doesn't seem to work right, or the Standing Wave Ratio was too high? Even after making several adjustments, according to the manufactures information it still didn't seem quite right, and the SWR was still too high.
Most antennas that have been purchased second or third hand have probably been installed outside in the weather and been used for many years. Mother Nature's environment such as rain, snow, and wind can put age on an antenna.
Maybe the antenna is just dirty. If it can be taken apart without much trouble, take it apart and clean up all the parts and elements with a wire brush and/or steel wool. When you take it apart there's a good chance any screws or bolts will be rusted and may break. When you reassemble it, use new screws and bolts and use some kind of rust preventing material on them. Use the manufactures listed specifications.
You might be surprised with what a little cleaning can do.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV