We’ve added a custom funnel to the super kits shipped after this day, it doesn’t show yet in the catalog text or photos but this special flat-spout funnel is specifically made for feeding sand into the slot in the launch balls. Together with the sand scoop it is easier than ever to prepare your own launch balls. Previously the scoop was 2 ounces, the new version is one ounce so you can more easily select the quantity of sand you want to add up to 4 ounces. A stock tennis ball is two ounces, and normally we add two ounces of sand, but if your trees are “sticky” using a bit more may help bring the line over and down. We have a few more 2 oz scoops still in stock to ship first but we have added the new funnels to those already. We were away for a couple of short trips, but we are back and picking up speed on working through the order que. Many things are marked out of stock at this time due to the backlog, if you want to get on the list drop me an email. Thanks for your patience.

Alan, w6akb

We have been working on Taxes, nice that they weren’t due on 4/15, but estimated taxes were.

Still working on the Order Que here. Had a PayPal dispute come in recently where the customer complained that their order had not been acknowledged. I had acknowledged their order the same day it came in, but the email address they gave PayPal was bad, so it bounced. It is important to give PayPal a valid email address so you can get responses from the vendor as well as tracking information on your order. In this case the customer never saw any of the messages from me or from PayPal regarding their order.

Orders are taking longer than usual due to various causes, but we are working on launchers in groups, half kits and half fully assembled units per group. The goal is to do a group every week, though sometimes it takes a little longer. Then we start the next group. Our estimates are based on one group per week.

PVC Prices have gone up significantly. So far we have not had availability issues, but that could happen as well. We have not adjusted prices.

Thanks for your patience, and stay safe. Contact us directly via sales at akbeng dot com if you have questions.

Alan w6akb

We have penned a new article on Pressurizing Antenna Launchers, and placed it in the Info section. It covers a wide range of techniques from hand pumps to electric compressors to CO2 and High Pressure Air.

Regards, Alan, w6akb