17.05.2022
As you can see here we had to install a new HF beam antenna because the last OptiBeam OBDYA12-5 did not survive the heavy winter storms. The issue that kills our antennas is the following: First ice is forming on the antenna. If heavy snow fall happens the snow "sticks" to the antenna a lot better than to an antenna with no ice. Therefore the wind surface of the antenna becomes incredibly high. We have no way of knowing wind surface and calculating wind resistance due to ice and snow. Consequently we "just" have to look for the strongest antenna design and hope it withstands the strong storms. The OB9-5 xhd has a much shorter boom and especially strong (long) elements. The boom is not much longer than on the 6m OptiBeam OB5-6 beam right above it. That antenna has survived two heavy winters without any issues. Check out the installation video below!
