Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 21:09:14 -0400 (EDT)
From: jski@Blargh.wpi.edu
Subject: [uuc] antenna go up... antenna go down...

I just felt like reporting my victory for the day. 

I fixed some rust around the antenna Saturday. Had to go by the dealer today
to get a replacement grommet so that the rust won't come back. Decided to
get a new mast while I was there as mine was long ago broken off and
"replaced" with this crappy push-it-on-over-the-broken-bit antenna. 

I install the grommet in seconds and try the turn on radio, wait, insert
tail of the new mast, turn off radio drill. Had to get a passerby to turn
the radio off. I didn't tell them what was going on, so they see me standing
there with a hand full of antenna and the radio on... must have been
interesting. 

Anyhow, the mast fed in about an inch and stopped. Grrrrr. Must be some old
bits still in there.

I remove the antenna unit and open it up. About four pounds of dirt falls
out and I start looking. All the teeth look good, motor turns, nothing binds
up... what is that? I did this little crusty piece of something out from the
guide blocks. Look what we have here. It is a tiny little set screw... just
like the one that is missing from the crappy push-it-on-over-the-broken-bit
antenna.

So I go re-install the antenna again and this time it all goes like the
packaging says. I tightened the nut and, as I said before...

antenna goes up... antenna goes down...

Yeah, it is a small victory, but that is all I had today.

- -- Joe

- --
Joseph M. Krzeszewski		            Network Operations
jski@wpi.edu   			 Jack of All Trades, Master of None... Yet