Now mast down - sorted Metz Antenna .... (Coke Bottle anchor light needs new bulb as well).

[Refueler]

Now that I have mast down - I can find out why my Metz VHF antenna V indicator will not stay aligned ... it literally turns with wind ...

I always assumed it was the daft screw into plastic to lock the V to the antenna whip ...

Today I found out the antenna whip is removable and has a metal compression collar inserted into the base coil ... nut tightened to hold. The whip itself was turning ...

All sorted !!

I broke the glass for this old bronze light ... but found that a small Coke plastic bottle was perfect fit !

 

[ghostlymoron]

The coke bottle is very vulnerable to UV. There's plenty of free replacements but you'll have to climb the mast to replace it.

 

[Refueler]

Its been up for at least 8 years .... and even though the plastic is now blurred white - its still visible for decent distance. Itys been up so long in fact - when I removed it to check the festoon bulb ... the bulb was being held together by the spring clips and fell apart ! I will now put an LED version in there. Find a new bottle to sacrifice !

 

[vas]

good thing you don't have much (if any?) sun up there, a coke bottle down here wouldn't last a season I recon...
doubt the led version will last as long as the old school ones, especially with humidity seeping in through the coke bottle

 

[Refueler]

good thing you don't have much (if any?) sun up there, a coke bottle down here wouldn't last a season I recon...
doubt the led version will last as long as the old school ones, especially with humidity seeping in through the coke bottle

The original bulb ... worked until it fell out !! Typical old festoon where one end cap falls of !

Your comment is in my mind as well ... whether the LED version would last - I am 50-50 to put a standard filament bulb back in ... keep the LED's for the side lights.

 

[john_morris_uk]

If you have decided to wrap the whip to base joint in tape, may I suggest self amalgamating tape would be a better choice? If you must use electrician’s tape it might be better to wrap so the layers shed water rather than catch water for when the glue fails?

You probably know that for a semi permanent installation one never stretches electricians tape at the end when you stick it down (and it’s definitely not best practice to snap the end off by pulling it!) Stretched ends of electricians tape appears to stick down but gradually creeps and comes unstuck. All IMHO and experience in the radio and electronics business many years ago now.

 

[Refueler]

If you have decided to wrap the whip to base joint in tape, may I suggest self amalgamating tape would be a better choice? If you must use electrician’s tape it might be better to wrap so the layers shed water rather than catch water for when the glue fails?

You probably know that for a semi permanent installation one never stretches electricians tape at the end when you stick it down (and it’s definitely not best practice to snap the end off by pulling it!) Stretched ends of electricians tape appears to stick down but gradually creeps and comes unstuck. All IMHO and experience in the radio and electronics business many years ago now.

Under that tape is actually heat shrink tube .. but yes I cannot find my Self Amalgamating tape - so its just temp at moment ...

 

[john_morris_uk]

Heat shrink is good.

 

[rgarside]

Need to be careful showing photographs of a masthead anchor light - I'm sure the anchor light police will be along in a moment!

If you are going to use it overnight, fitting an LED makes a lot of sense.

 

[Salty John]

I recall warning you when you fitted that giant home-made wind indicator, all those years ago, there'd be trouble!
The WindexAV, which is recommended for the Metz, although we don't actually endorse hanging anything off your VHF antenna whip, has the tracking arms supported off the base of the antenna and only the indicator, on a sapphire bearing rotates on the whip. With your device, the antenna compression nut and ferrule is having to tolerate a lot more torque than was contemplated in the design.
Still, you've had a lot more years out of the arrangement than I would have thought.

 

[Refueler]

I recall warning you when you fitted that giant home-made wind indicator, all those years ago, there'd be trouble!
The WindexAV, which is recommended for the Metz, although we don't actually endorse hanging anything off your VHF antenna whip, has the tracking arms supported off the base of the antenna and only the indicator, on a sapphire bearing rotates on the whip. With your device, the antenna compression nut and ferrule is having to tolerate a lot more torque than was contemplated in the design.
Still, you've had a lot more years out of the arrangement than I would have thought.

Blimey ... the old Arrowshaft one I did back in 2007 - 8 !! It replaced the original which broke ...



That's long gone ..... its a full Metz supplied with windvane now .... no DIY job !! The photo here shows the original antenna with the vane sitting on the base coil.
The Metz has it further up to clear any item on mast as the wing pointer is longer .. if you go back to earlier photo - you can see its the commercial vane and pointer as supplied with the Metz I bought as a single bundle ...

You have a good memory ... the arrowshaft one actually worked ok ... but its so long ago now - I cannot remember why I changed ....

 

[Refueler]

Today I decided to take the Pepsi challenge ....... my Coke bottle will be changed for a Pepsi bottle !!

 

[Salty John]

Blimey ... the old Arrowshaft one I did back in 2007 - 8 !! It replaced the original which broke ...

View attachment 89122

That's long gone ..... its a full Metz supplied with windvane now .... no DIY job !! The photo here shows the original antenna with the vane sitting on the base coil.
The Metz has it further up to clear any item on mast as the wing pointer is longer .. if you go back to earlier photo - you can see its the commercial vane and pointer as supplied with the Metz I bought as a single bundle ...

You have a good memory ... the arrowshaft one actually worked ok ... but its so long ago now - I cannot remember why I changed ....

Nope, the only windvane we've ever supplied is the WindexAV from Davis. Tracking arms below the coil, 15" lightweight pointer on the whip.
I have no idea what that thing you have can be.

 

[Refueler]

Too long ago now to find receipt ...

Funny thing is - I found the shipping tube you used to send me one long time ago, antenna alone if I remember correct - but that got damaged on the Town Quay when mast was down and boat swung - was replaced by a set as I show earlier from an EU based dealer ... which consisted of the same Metz as yours but with the Wind vane shown ...
Whether they concocted the set or not - I don't know or really care ... being the cheapskate I am - I am sure their total price including the vane gear was attractive enough for me to buy.

Now I suppose I will be told that Metz is not sold by others etc.