HD7698P two partialy broken elements
 

While prepping for changing a install today with this antenna the antenna fell and two of the longer elements ended up being broken. It appears that the elements are still attached but there is a definite partial fracture in the metal.

Before I proceed changing out antennas and stuff, is the HD7698P now just a large pile of expensive junk?

Can I solder the elements back together?

Thanks for the help

Mike

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http://durafix.com

And you can type these two words in the google search box , aluminum solder.

Not sure that this is going to work, the blowtorch will likely melt the plastic holding the metal to the antenna.

I did do a google and was concerned about the above problem hence I was thinking more about soldering it with a soldering iron.

I was also thinking about putting it up as is but did not know if a fracture on one side of an element was going to cause profound performance problems or if it would be okay.

Mike

Looks like all of your receivable stations are on UHF unless I'm missing something???? If that's the case, then the damage to the longer elements shouldn't matter. Just stabilize them to keep them from moving around in the wind.

If the elements are still partially attached, you could use aluminum foil tape (not duct tape). They sell it at Lowes for duct work. Tightly wrap it around the broken area of the elements. If it seems flimsy you can break it off completly, use wood dial rod. Choose a diameter that fits tightly or a slightly larger diameter and sand it down to fit tightly . Insert into the element at the fracture, then wrap. If this fails to work you can buy aluminum rod. Cut it to the length of the missing/broken element. This length should be equal to the length of both rods combined. drill and screw it to the boom, any way possible.

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Drill out the rivet and move the aluminum parts away from the plastic.

I have done antenna repair many times.

You can make a heat shield with a wet towel and a peice of flat metal.

Put the wet towel over the plastic and the flat metal on top of the wet towel.

The wet towel and and flat metal go between the plastic and the parts that are being soldered.

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On unbroken and broken antennas I have solderd ALL of the active elements of the antenna to make a Very Long Lasting Antenna.

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VHF stations/channels to the south/west.

wow thanks for the replies, there is only one Chanel that I care about and that is ABC chan 13. Might get it with what I have, might not. In any case thanks for all the advice. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Mike

ABC 13 is on UHF 34 so you should be good to go.

Any VHF at your location is highly unlikely as the stations are too weak/too far away for reliable reception.

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The tvfool radar report that you posted in the past at 26 feet antenna height is showing that WVEC-DT Real channel VHF 13 and WTPC-TV Real channel VHF 7 to the southwest are both receivable.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wr...9e74360605e89a.

Here are web sites that show that WVEC is transmitting on 13 and WTPC is transmitting on 7.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WVEC

http://transition.fcc.gov/tvq?call=WVEC

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.ph...callsign=82574

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WTPC

In an effort to understand you current reception conditions, can you post a link to your TVFR based on the proposed mounting location and elevation of this antenna?

Thanks

WVEC 13 is carried on a local UHF translator only 15 miles away & the OP did not mention any interest in WTPC 7.