Restoring the Hexbeam: Trusted Antenna and Tower Repair Services in the Canadian Maritimes
If you’re a ham radio operator in the Canadian Maritimes, you know how unpredictable our weather can be—and how hard it can be on our towers and antennas. This February, a massive Nor’easter slammed the region, bringing wind, ice, and plenty of headaches for those of us with gear in the air. For me at VE9CF, the aftermath meant a disabled K4KIO Hexbeam, with the 15m element’s connector to the centerpost snapped clean in half.
Assessing the Damage
After the storm passed and it was safe to inspect, I discovered that the 15m element on my Hexbeam had failed at the connector—likely a combination of wind stress and ice loading. This left me off the air on 15 meters, and with the spring DX season approaching, I was eager to get back up and running.
Calling in the Pros: Venture Pro Contracting
While many hams are comfortable with a bit of tower climbing, this was a job for a professional. I reached out to Darcy from Venture Pro Contracting in Sussex, NB. Darcy has a reputation in the Maritime ham community for his safe, efficient work on towers and antennas, and I knew he was the right person for the job.
The Repair Process
To tackle the repair, we rented a 55-foot boom lift from a local Sussex equipment rental company. With the manlift carefully positioned, Darcy went up to assess the situation firsthand. The broken connector was removed, and a new, reinforced connector was installed to secure the 15m element back to the centerpost. After a thorough check of the other elements and connections, everything was tightened down and weatherproofed for good measure.
Within a couple of hours, my Hexbeam was back in business—and so was I on the 15m band.
Who Should You Call for Antenna and Tower Work in the Maritimes?
If you find yourself in need of antenna repairs, tower inspections, or even full installations anywhere in the Canadian Maritimes, I can’t recommend Darcy from Venture Pro Contracting highly enough. He’s experienced, safety-conscious, and understands the unique challenges of working on ham radio towers in our climate.
If you need someone to go up your tower and repair your HF or VHF antennas, reach out to me via my email listed on QRZ.com (search VE9CF), and I’ll be happy to put you in touch with Darcy.
Why Use a Professional?
Working on towers and antennas is inherently risky—especially after a storm, when structures can be weakened or unstable. A professional like Darcy brings the right equipment, experience, and safety protocols to get the job done right and keep you safe.
Final Thoughts
Mother Nature is always going to throw us curveballs here in the Maritimes, but with the right help, you can keep your station on the air and ready for the next opening. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need advice or a trusted referral for antenna and tower work in our region.
73 and good DX,
VE9CF
If you have questions about antenna repairs or need a recommendation for trusted tower work in the Canadian Maritimes, email me via my QRZ profile. Stay safe and keep those signals strong!
