A reminder that the next Quartz Hill "Activity Day" is happening on Saturday 3 September 2005, starting at 09:00 am.

As usual, the object will be to catch up on project and maintenance work as well as providing an opportunity to look around the station, try out the big antennas and meet up with the Quartz Hill team. Visitors are always very welcome and there is no requirement to participate in the more "physical" activities.

Remember to bring some lunch, appropriate clothing for summer or winter weather (!) plus boots and gloves if you intend participating in the outdoor project activities.

The "to do" list includes the following challenges (in approximate priority order):

1 Install two baluns to complete the installation of the open wire feeder to the 80M/160M T antenna.
2 Repair the broken vertical feeder wire to the 10M USA yagi antenna.
3 Repair the broken jumper loop connecting the horizontal and vertical feeder wires to the EU SP Vee #1 antenna.
4 Repair the fault on the rhombic antenna that is causing it to sound "dead".
5 Increase the tension on the vertical feeder wires to the NA SP Vee #2 antenna - to prevent the ires from tangling.
6 Install a permanent solution to replace the temporary repair that has been applied to a broken vertical feeder wire at the south end of the rhombic.
7 160M/80M sloping dipole project - install a back stay on the short pole that was installed during the August Activity Day, and start constructing the dipole antenna systems.
8 Continue work on construction of the mast for the new VHF/UHF antenna system.
9 Carry out further investigation into the source of the low insulation resistance problem in the heliax coax to pole #8 - if necessary the feeder can be cut back to the North gantry area.
10 Install "anti-skid" netting on the southern and eastern fence stiles.
11 Review the condition and tension of the stays for pole #12 (other than those that were recently replaced).
12 Audit of poles and associated hardware.
13 Continue cleaning mould from walls and ceiling with bleach solution.
14 Check smoke alarms
15 Check 1st aid kit

Please contact Brian Miller ZL1AZE Tel 027 444 6614 or Bob Stewart Tel. 0-4-475-8448 to obtain the access code for the lower gate lock or if you require assistance with transport.

Posted by ZL1AZE on September 03, 2005