QST…QST…QST! The broken antenna has been replaced!!!

If you were at the September TARC meeting, then you know we had an
issue with our 145.170 repeater antenna. If you see the attached picture,
then you know something isn’t quite right. Yes, those two antennas
should NOT be touching and that was causing some static to the vertical
antenna that belongs to the 443.850 Superlink Hub repeater.
After a lively discussion about the issue, what may have caused it, what
could happen if it’s not repaired and what is needed to replace it, the club
approved one of the two bids that we received for a like for like replacement
of the broken antenna. That bid was for $3500 and was approved by
the club.
The day after the club meeting, I got in touch with Sky Tower and approved
their bid for the $3500 charge to replace, like for like, the broken
antenna.
The following Monday, we had a day and time scheduled to get the work
done. So, exactly one week and a day following the club’s approval to
replace the antenna, the work was done.
I’ve attached several pictures of the process.
With the broken antenna down and before the new antenna went up, Bob used his service monitor to check the
coax of both antennas and everything was looking good so nothing else had to be done. Just replace the old,
broken antenna with new one.
BTW…the new antenna and all the associated parts and pieces that were needed, Bob had on hand so there
was no additional expense to the club AND the new antenna is a commercial grade antenna and it seems to
cover a larger area of the Tulsa metro and surrounding areas. A HUGE thank you to Bob W5RAB for his donation
and support of the Superlink Repeater System.