In recent months a question has arisen in local ham radio circles, most definitely including FCEM:
What if we have a real lulu of a storm that breaks the Carrabelle repeater antenna off the tower?
Now, on one hand, we see a significant impact about once a decade, and only a quarter of those have winds that exceed the antenna's wind rating (112 mph). Multiplying through, and we have a 1-in-40 chance of an antenna knock-out any given year. On the other hand, if we have such a hurricane, then that is exactly when we'll really-really need that repeater. Putting up a tougher antenna with a 135 mph wind rating would improve our odds by a factor of five (at the cost of about 2 dB gain, plus begging our tower guy to go up there one... more... time...); 1-in-200 are odds I can live with. Even so, things happen. We need a fall-back plan. I smell a project coming on:
GWEN | A 160m Band 'Rubber Duckie' Antenna
Coincidentally(?) I'm finally reading Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Inspiration comes from the strangest places. In other news, our run of good luck continues:
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