My APS-9 And Florida Weather

[WDX4CWC]

I to also live in hurricane-prone Florida. I put up my APS-9 on a outside mast, about a year and a half ago, around May of 2007. First, let me say this has been/is a great antenna performance wise, in fact I have moved some obstructions out of the way so I could possibly put up a APS-13 soon.

My only disappointment in the APS-9 is similar to what group member cd637299 had to say about his Radio Shack antenna. Last year (2007) my area was spared any real hurricane activity, so the antenna has not been down since I installed it, till a few weeks ago. As cd637299 did, I tried to collapse the elements as carefully as I could but 4 or 5 of the blue plastic element holders tops snapped off. I guess the Florida sun has taken it's toll on them, as they are all very brittle. I used tie wraps to hold the elements in place, when I put the antenna back up or the wind would have just folded them back up.

My main concern now would be what's going to happen over the next year or two. Because of sun light and wind action wearing on these parts, what will become of these already brittle parts? If they continue to deteriorate, the elements will eventually come into contact with the boom and affect the antenna's performance. Has anyone else encountered this problem? If so, what's a good fix?

Am I off base here or is the service life of this antenna only a few years? I would think and hope not.

While I still would like to buy an APS-13, the weather here, I think, is pretty much what it is, and I don't want to have similar problems within a few years of use with a APS-13. I think at the rate hurricanes and tropical storms keep popping up here lately, my antennas my have to come up and down a few times a year, so I would like to do as little as damage possible my antenna's.

Let me say again, the performance of this antenna has been/is great, I would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated,
Craig Cook WDX4CWC EL98JQ

[kt4hx]

I have experienced the exact same thing with an FM-6, and would be interested to find out if there is something you can coat those plastic clamps with that will make them more UV resistant and pliable after extended deployment.

[LMolineux]

might sound weird but the best idea i can come-up with is CLEAR NAIL POLISH several coats and maybe some WD-40 once and a while to keep them from the elements.

[John Wilke K9RZZ]

Do you have to collapse the elements? I have a pair of FM6s that I use on and off. When not in use, I hang them vertically on the back of the garage on some nails. http://emoticons4u.com/happy/1153.gif

[bozey45]

I too live in hurricane prone FL and when Faye threatened I took down my 91-XG and HD-5030, lowered the mast down to about roof level. My antennas are in the garage, the 91-XG standing on end against some shelves and the HD-5030 laying across several shelves (VHF only, so easy to put atop something). Started to put it all back up but when they said Ike might come this way (west central FL) I decided the heck with it. I miss the antenna reception and am almost inclined to go ahead and put it all back up. But think I'll order a rotor first and get it all back up at one time along with guy wires.

[kt4hx]

Do you have to collapse the elements? I have a pair of FM6s that I use on and off. When not in use, I hang them vertically on the back of the garage on some nails. http://emoticons4u.com/happy/1153.gif


No, you wouldn't have to, but with something like the APS-13, it certainly would be easier. If you could easily stow the elements, then I would hang it horizontally with bungee cords attached to a long shelving unit I have in the garage. That way I don't have to separate the boom sections for temp storage. Or if I wanted to lean it in a corner of the garage would be easier. With the FM6, I could see the ease of hanging in the garage fully deployed though.

[WDX4CWC]

Do you have to collapse the elements? I have a pair of FM6s that I use on and off. When not in use, I hang them vertically on the back of the garage on some nails. http://emoticons4u.com/happy/1153.gif


Thanks John,

Yes, I will be doing that in the future to minimize causing further damage to the antenna, but that may not help with the main concern I have now, which is the fact that the plastic parts are all brittle now. I am worried that more exposure to the elements will further weaken the parts and the wind motion on the elements will eventually cause failure at which time will cause the elements to come in with contact the boom, degrading the antenna's performance.
The solution I came up with, should the parts totally fail,other than buy another antenna, is to replace the parts. I happen to have a bunch of UV resistant ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or UHMWPE blocks, from which I will can try to make a suitable part to hold the elements, unless someone has a better idea for an easier fix. I have used UVUHMWPE as insulators for outdoor HF antenna's for many years with good results.
This seems to a common problem, maybe it's a case of preplanned obsolescence or lack of demand for terrestrial antenna's, but I would have gladly paid a little more for an antenna that would cope with the elements better. Maybe APS could offer a more weather resistant version of the 9 and 13, as an option, if there is enough demand.

[kt4hx]

For what we pay for the APS-9B and APS-13, you'd think they could design the physical construction better. The plastic clips are just like those on the FM6 and many other FM and TV antennas. They cheapen what is otherwise an excellent antenna. Makes it difficult for those that want to pull their antennas for storage for one reason or another.

[cd637299]

Ahhhhh....I see....so these antennas aren't much better-built than the RS's......

I'm sorry to hear about all this, but in a twisted sense, I am glad to have learned all this.

cd

[cd637299]

And yes, from now on, I'll do what John said, and leave the elements in place. (Good thing I don't have a VU 210 as I live in a 24' x 44' mobile home!)

cd

[Danny]

APS antennas are made for APS (to APS specifications and design) by Antennacraft, the original producer of Radio Shack antennas.

From what I've experienced with antennas, and from reading reports of other long-time TV/FM DXers, Channel Master, Winegard, Wade-Delhi-General Instrument VIP, and Antennacraft antennas are more flimsy than they were in the past. I think CM is now even owned by a foreign firm (not that it means anything).

A few companies (like Blonder-Tongue) do make heavy-duty antennas for commercial use, but many of those are NOT the best for gain and directivity. And they are very expensive.

[Danny]

The solution I came up with, should the parts totally fail,other than buy another antenna, is to replace the parts. I happen to have a bunch of UV resistant ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or UHMWPE blocks, from which I will can try to make a suitable part to hold the elements, unless someone has a better idea for an easier fix. I have used UVUHMWPE as insulators for outdoor HF antenna's for many years with good results.



I would like to know more about this product. Where can you buy this material, etc?

[Danny]

I think CM is now even owned by a foreign firm (not that it means anything).


Allow me to correct this statement. Channel Master has changed ownership several times in recent years. Former owner Andrew is now part of Commscope, while CM is now owned by PCT.

When I think of European and Japanese products, high quality generally comes to mind. If CM rotors are any indication of the quality of other CM products, quality is currently lacking in CM products.

[kt4hx]

I did query Ed at APS about the clips and he said he was not aware of anything to treat them with that would keep them more pliable, and that the elements weren't really meant to be unlocked after deployment. I can see that, how many people regularly take their tv and/or fm antennas down after installation. He suggested that maybe a plastics company might have an idea if there is anything that can be used to treat them.

[bozey45]

For all the comments I read on this and other forums about CM rotors not being good quality, a lot of people have them that even post on the forums; so what gives??, are they good or not?? A lot of people seem to get the 9521; if CM rotors are as bad as all that, why are so many bought??

[cd637299]

To kt4hx:

Thanks for the info. We plan to buy a shed for the home soon, and I would be able to lay the antennae inside during a hurricane (provided that the shed doesn't blow away!)....

Still the little strain tab musta broken off both antennas, long before my taking them down.

All you in the Texas coastal areas, please prepare, by all means, for "Ike'....and remember, your antenna(s) are not as important as your lives. But for insurance' sake, try to make time to take them down. And, if you have evacuation orders, please heed them!

cd

[Danny]

For all the comments I read on this and other forums about CM rotors not being good quality, a lot of people have them that even post on the forums; so what gives??, are they good or not?? A lot of people seem to get the 9521; if CM rotors are as bad as all that, why are so many bought??

You have to remember that average TV viewers don't turn their antennas as often as DXers, and none of these low-cost rotors are made for DXing. It is common knowledge among TV/FM DXers that inexpensive rotors (not just CM) are poorly made.

Although I'm still using (and wearing out) cheap rotors, many TV DXers use Ham rotors because of the durability.

[Danny]

I did query Ed at APS about the clips and he said he was not aware of anything to treat them with that would keep them more pliable, and that the elements weren't really meant to be unlocked after deployment.

Did Ed offer to sell you some element holders to replace the broken ones? I would ask him or Antennacraft about parts. Those parts can be replaced.

[John Wilke K9RZZ]

I've got a pair of the Yaesu G-450's. No problems yet after 5 years of hard use. :)

http://www.rigpix.com/rotators/yaesu_g450c.jpg