On Sunday, March 9, following an announcement to our members, a new full-size vertical antenna for the 80-meter band was installed at SZ1A, generously donated by fellow amateur radio operator Gianni (I7PHH).
Many dedicated members gathered early and got to work. The first task was assembling the antenna on the ground, a process that required great care due to its impressive length—21 meters!
The project was coordinated by SV1TBW Dimitris Providas, Technical Committee Director. Some volunteers worked on the antenna itself, others prepared the base, and several helped clear the area. The base, custom-built by SV1RLC, was installed using heavy-duty anchor bolts under the guidance and technical expertise of SV1DPI. Ladders, drills, tools, and all kinds of equipment were put to good use under the supervision of our president, SV1CQK.
Once moved into position, the antenna was fully assembled and mounted on its highly functional and aesthetically pleasing base. Despite its impressive height, it was surprisingly lightweight. Its guy wires secured it perfectly, perhaps even better than what Gianni himself would expect!
Everyone’s satisfaction was clear, another key piece was added to the ever-growing puzzle that is SZ1A. To thank the team, our president treated all participants to a hearty lunch in the station’s dining room.
At a later stage, radials were installed and the antenna was tuned for optimal performance.
The volunteers who brought the project to life were:
SV1TBW, SV1CQM, SV1TIQ, SV1CQK, SV1CQG, SV1DPJ, SY1DOB, SV1SN, SV1RLC, SV1CIB, SV1DPI, SV1TLY, SV1RRX, and remotely, SV1DKD, with his design work for the radial system and radiation pattern modeling for the antenna.
A warm thank-you to Gianni (I7PHH) for his generous donation and continued trust in SZ1A!
