Dec 2009, I spent 2 weeks in ICU/Trauma Care after a 5 ft. fall. Lost a spleen and a kidney, 18 units of blood during the surgeries, 3 broken ribs, including one into the chest cavity, and a fractured vert.
Only good thing that came from it was that I found out that I was REALLY right with God, and ready to go. Disappointed, in fact, when I woke up in the hospital.
I do own a step ladder. I don't use it much anymore. ;)
/johnny
That is an amazing story. It was some time prior to 1995 when I was on that tower. At one point we had 5 men on the tower.
Was not just putting in place the new heliax but lashing it to the tower that took the time. A 400 ft string of large heliax is not light. Was a teriffic site.
I hold a commercial radio license, but have never worked in that business for a living.
I have been in some very interesting RF sites over the years. Many of my Ham friends when I lived in NM worked at the labs or the military bases. Very good techs and engineers.
Great community.
I got the tour of the lab at the VLA site in Datil, guided by one of the engineers. Have been at Goldstone. Often thought it would be great to go to
Arecibo, Puerto Rico and see the Observatory. Never had the opportunity.
One of my neighbors in OK was a well known EME operator. He had a 38 ft dish in his front yard. He was a great machinist, necessary for home brew microwave transmitters and receivers. More plumbing than wiring. hee hee hee
He and some friends went to National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank AK and tried to make the first EME contact on 10 GIG. They had equipment problems (mechanical) and were beat out by another group soon after their attempt.