On February 23, Jim Neiger (N6TJ/ZF2TJ) and I succeeded in raising a new Titanix V160e into the air. This antenna was shipped express air freight all the way from Munich. Counting the rather stiff purchase price, the shipping costs, and Caymanian customs duty, over $3000 was invested in this antenna. Today, exactly 12 days later, the top 3 sections of this antenna came crashing to the ground. Those top 3 sections are all 18mm in diameter, and total 5.73m in length. The break happened immediately above a section of 20mm tubing into which this 18mm tubing telescopes. There is a piece of approximately 6mm nylon rope running through those top 3 sections to try to dampen vibrations.
Ironically, I talked with Alex, 4L5A/D4B before acquiring this antenna and Al mentioned that he had the same antenna but the top section of his had broken off. He talked with somebody at the factory, though, and they assured him this problem had been solved.
| I only have a cheap digital camera here, so this is the best photo I was able to obtain. This shows the break in the 18mm tubing on the new Titanix V160e. That antenna was only in the air 12 days before this break occurred and there were no winds above 25 mph during that period. There were high frequency vibrations in the antenna, however. There is no discoloration of the metal near the break, so this does not appear to be metal fatigue. The jagged edges of the break are very sharp and would look the same as if the tubing had been made of glass. |
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