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latest NCJ)--I have a similar number of elements up in a QTH K7LXC calls "an antenna destruction laboratory"--on top of a cliff on the Nova Scotia coast. I put F12 yagis up BECAUSE of my favorable experience with hurricane survivability of by F12/Comtek 80M 4sq. I have had a FEW rivet failures in years of bad winds--only one in the yagi, but several in the now 5-year-old 180BV-Ds--I always inform F12 of an incident and they have made some running changes due to this--they advised me to go to three sets of rivets spaced 120o on the verts (only) which I have done, since they are subject to terrific stress IN EVERY DIRECTION. There is also an extenuating circumstance on the one and only yagi tip failure--I had to bend that 20M reflector tip down to clear the guy on my second tower and the new shape tends to twist the element when the wind is in front or behind--I'll put extra rivets @120o when I fit it this summer. Our antennas have survived heavy ice too. 73 es GL, Jim Message text written by "WD4K" >As a fair counterpoint to the "legend of the failed rivet" because of a F12 factory failure...Agreed that my info is anecdotal and exclusively my experience but I have numerous friends using many F12 antennas and all have the same good experience as I have had. Maybe luck...maybe not. I have 47 F12 elements in the air on one tower... some up for the past five years. Some have been up and down several times to move QTH's. On each opportunity we have hand checked each antenna thoroughly and found no/zip/nada...failures of rivets or boom bolts. Last night here in middle Tn, on top of this 800' hill, we had three tornados within 10 miles of me, wind gusts to 80mph or more confirmed, trees ripped up and tossed onto the interstate within a mile of my home, large brick homes flattened and industrial parks almost destroyed....yet today, the three stack of C31's, (one C32), the Mag 340N and 180B look no different and are in perfect condition. The lightning was so intense that it looked like daylight and at 2:30am I witnessed the 80' trees on my property bending in every possible configuration as I watched these F12's being battered beyond reason...not just "windload" but wind from every direction simultaneously, including updrafts and swirling mega gusts....and they are all just fine. I watched and seriously thought the whole tower would come down..this was the worst I have seen since I got a direct hit from the F4 here in Nashville in '98. Point being, these antennas hold up well even when mother nature pushes them beyond reasonable expectation. Would I buy F12 again..yes sir...have a new C3 and C4 ready to go up tower #2 very soon. Would I buy brand X? Not a chance. We are in for more as I speak, tornado/severe thunderstorm warning at this moment...hope I haven't jinxed myself :) 73, Tommy WD4K/WZ5V< -------------------------------------------- Force12Talk mailing list provided as a service by Force 12 Antennas, Inc. Force12 Web Site: http://www.force12inc.com To Submit Message to the List: Force12Talk@qth.com To unsubscribe and view the Message Archive: see http://qth.com/force12/list For problems with the list: contact n4zr@qth.com |
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