Ice, Antennas, VSWR, and You...

[DeadElvis]

So, looking outside, I see ice forming on my antennas. Not a big problem... I just won't run any RF to them until they are clear; that's what attic antennas are for. But, I wonder... are any of the local TV or FMs watching VSWR rise as the ice accumulates?

As the engineering types on here know, this can spell trouble for transmission systems. Are any stations seeing any problems yet?

DE

 

[radiosaur]

> So, looking outside, I see ice forming on my antennas. Not
> a big problem... I just won't run any RF to them until they
> are clear; that's what attic antennas are for. But, I
> wonder... are any of the local TV or FMs watching VSWR rise
> as the ice accumulates?
>
> As the engineering types on here know, this can spell
> trouble for transmission systems. Are any stations seeing
> any problems yet?
>
> DE
>

Most of the ERI antennas are broadband enough to be OK. Others have heaters. Most transmitters will fold back at high VSWR. K97 has radomes.

Nowdays, you've really had to miss the signs to have yout station off the air due to ice unless we get a really bad coating. I think a couple of folks took it in 1994. We ran FM 100 at about 50% power for a margin. The FM 100 antenna had heaters. Don't know if the new one does.




<P ID="signature">______________
Never hold a cat and a dustbuster at the same time.</P>