Another Year

 


The end of the second quarter in 2022 is almost upon us, ushering in another year of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. In Saint Kitts and Nevis no one is considering the season seriously as people are engaged in the excitement and heartbreak of an election campaign two years ahead of schedule. This campaign ends in the next couple weeks and we get back to living. In the picture above is one of my vertical antennas due a makeover as we prepare for the next Atlantic Hurricane Season.

June to November, with the peak around August to September, and most of us hope that this year will be like those of recent times. However this year could be different and we still need to be ready and prepared early. Most people let the storm and hurricane preparation run from year to year, and just touch up and improve durability as necessary. That is a strategy that I see practiced in another island, and it seems to work for them. In Saint Kitts and Nevis this is not the norm, as most of us build and rebuild stronger, safer and more robust after every storm and hurricane event.

I noticed in some ham radio email groups, that many people living in weather prone areas, ask about antenna installations that allow easy access and dismantling of antennas when weather threatens. In the Caribbean we have storms and hurricanes every year, including some high category hurricanes, and do not leave anything to chance. Most ham radio operators install antennas that can be taken down easily. I use vertical antennas, but the antenna base or the antenna base support are not directly buried in the ground, but placed in a pipe lined hole in the ground. This works very well for me and provides quite a bit of maneuverability and flexibility for the antenna operations.

A hole digger is used to make the two [2] foot deep hole and a piece of four [4] inch diameter PVC waste pipe one inch longer than the depth of the hole is inserted, leveled and backfilled. My 2x4" antenna base support is placed in the PVC lined hole, and another piece of lumber is used to tighten the 2x4" from rotating in the PVC pipe. A smaller diameter PVC pipe can be used, as determined by the antenna support material. In future antenna designs smaller diameter PVC pipe will be used inside the hole. 

In my new installations the antenna base support is a six [6] foot long piece of 2x4". The antenna is mounted on any convenient length of 2x4", typically about four [4] feet long. The end of this lumber is placed just above the one [1] inch lip of the PVC in the hole, and a mounting hole is drilled through this piece of lumber and the 2x4" base so that a hinge can be formed between the two pieces of bolted 2x4". Another hole is drilled about a foot up, to serve as the locking bolt for the structure. This is what I do because these materials are available in abundance. You may adapt as is necessary given your materials, but the basic principle is the same. This hinge mount antenna can be easily dropped by one person even in relative high winds.

The hurricane season is upon us and I am unaware that the interference, noise and frequency jamming caused by the electricity company's smart meter system has been resolved. Nothing from the NTRC who is responsible for keeping the ham radio frequencies free and clear from RF interference. In time I expect that this matter will be resolved, but for now nothing can be done. The RF interference from the electric company equipment jams signals on 40 meters and 80 meters, the bands most used in the Hurricane seasons for local, inter island communications, and for emergency and disaster communications. 

This is the year after the pandemic and we have to see how the new normal lifestyle post pandemic pans out. This year will set the opening parameters for the new normal. Let us be objective and as wide minded as possible in all our ham radio dealings and deliberations.  Let us continue to give thought to the best way forward and for growing and developing our ham radio in Saint Kitts and Nevis, V4, given the prevailing protocols. Nothing is impossible in Saint Kitts and Nevis.


Location: Saint Kitts, St Kitts & Nevis

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