Scorpion 2 winters in NO on my jeep. Don KD8NNU Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint!
----- Reply message ----- From: "Dave" <dpbu...@gmail.com> Date: Fri, May 4, 2012 10:31 am Subject: [Elecraft] Screwdriver antennas in salt fog? [was: RE: High Sierra in qst] To: "Dave New, N8SBE" <n8...@arrl.net>, <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Dave -I used a PREDATOR made N9JMX in Kokomo, IN. After 5 years, 220 countries and None of the problems you describe, I sold it to WN9O. I am not sure they are still being made, but the SCORPION is very similar in design and I would not hesitate to use one if I decide to again do HF mobile. Dave - K9FN Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T "Dave New, N8SBE" <n8...@arrl.net> wrote: >It seems that High Sierra is like a number of other screwdriver antenna >companies that live in California or Arizona, where they never encounter >winter weather with the salt fog spray that is common when driving in >northen climates in the winter time. > >I rebuilt my 1800HS so many times I finally tired of it (the guide on >the mast finally fell off, because the tiny screws threads through the >thin mast all stripped out), and decided to get a HiQ, based on >recommendations from a friend (unfortunately, he lives in Tennessee and >so doesn't see the kind of winter weather I get in SE Michigan). > >After one winter on a trailer hitch mount behind my Durango, the antenna >quit working (motor stalled), and I sent it back for repair. Charlie at >HiQ called me and asked "what did you DO to this antenna?" I said, >"Nothing special, just used it on my vehicle over a Michigan winter." >According to Charlie, the inside of the mast was solid salt rock >crystal. To his credit, although I think at the time the antenna was >just out of warranty, he replaced the entire unit for free. > >So, I used it through that next summer, but by November, I had traded my >Durango in for a Ram pickup, and wanted to change the mount to a >stake-mount on the pick up bed just behind the cab, for clearance for a >5th wheel tow, and also to try to keep it out of the salt fog. I >actually never got around to mounting it until a few weeks ago, and had >left the antenna stored in the garage over the winter. When I tried it >out, the motor was stuck again. I've not had time to contact HiQ again, >and I understand that Charlie sold/transferred the ham radio portion of >the business to someone else, so he can concentrate on DoD contracts, >which I'm sure are much more lucrative than the ham trade. I fear that >this time I'll end up having to pay to replace the antenna, and these >things are definitely not cheap. > >So, long story short (too late): Is there anyone on the list using >somebody's much-vaunted screwdriver design that has actually survived >northen winters where they use salt on the roads, without a lot of >maintenance headaches? I would think that with the advent of the KX3, a >lot more folks on this list will be considering going HF mobile. > >73, > >-- Dave, N8SBE > > > >______________________________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > >This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
