Category Archives: Production-Shipping

Production and Shipping related News

Production-Shipping

Covid19 status

I am working from home (by myself) filling orders from the que as I can. I process batches of 5 orders at a time which takes about a week. This is assuming I can get all the materials. This has not been a problem recently (aside from some extra delays), and I am deepening stocks where I can. Please understand before placing your order – if you are in a hurry it may not be soon enough. PayPal will no longer refund their fees so it costs money when orders are cancelled. I should probably move away from PayPal, but that is also an effort that takes time away from other things, like filling orders. If you wish to place an order without using PayPal, or to delay payment until I am ready to ship, send me an email and we can handle it some other way – I have an alternate funds transfer service provider. It adds more delay to the cycle at the end, so paying by PayPal is still the quickest, but it takes time for me to prepare your order from materials, and this varies depending on how deep the que is. Note that I leave the funds in PayPal until the product is shipped, so the funds are safe. If you are in a hurry see our free plans at AntennaLaunchers.com for building your own launcher from scratch. If you decide to look at other designs – avoid those that use drain type plumbing pipe and/or fittings, and those that use hard projectiles that represent a significant hazard to personnel and property. Also avoid those designs that drill holes in single-thick PVC as this can start a failure. Only drill through the double-thick material where there is a lot of extra strength. Stay safe in these dangerous times. See you down the log.

73, Alan w6akb

Production-Shipping

Status Update 3/16/2020

The new shelter in place (not quite a quarantine) restrictions in our area should have minimal effect on our production aside from some additional minor delays as long as they allow shipping in and out. We have a list of orders and enough parts and materials to continue working on filling orders. Our family is healthy and we hope that you and your family remain healthy and safe.

Production-Shipping

Quartzfest 2020

Was great, attendance was over 850 this year and we had a great time. My new Design for 3D Printing presentation was well received and we’ll probably expand it for next year. 3D Printing is the best tool we’ve learned in just about forever. It has enabled so many improvements in our products and processes. The Antenna Launcher presentation was also well attended, and this is the only launcher presentation where I’m able to actually launch a tennis ball into the sky, so it is always extra fun. Make plans to join us next year at Quartzfest 2021, which I think will be the 25th Reunion for the event. The ARRL has recognized it as the largest Specialty Convention, lasting six days with three tracks of talks most of the schedule. It is the only conference I’ve been to where you can really spend some quality time and get to know folks. See Quartzfest.org for more information. Dates for 2021 will be posted soon, but it always takes place in late January when the weather in the Arizona Desert is better than most anywhere else in the US. It is a bit of a trek but it is worthwhile.

So we’re back and getting cracking on all those backlogged orders. We ran out of a lot of parts and materials so getting those is the first order of business (after the sales taxes were completed), and one new excitement there is – my source no longer stocks the barrel pipe. So we had to do some scrambling and the distributor figured out how they can get some special order. There’s always some new problem to solve to keep the production lines flowing. That is now ordered, and we have a little left so hopefully it will arrive in time to avoid additional delays.

Now we’ve got to get more parts made and get the kits and parts orders out (some have already shipped), and get the assembled launcher assembly line moving. Lots of moving parts.

We also received a new mill and have set that up and used it to make some parts. Eventually we plan to convert it to CNC and that should save some time and allow fabricating some new designs…

There is one more Triple Ratio Balun Kit available, so we also need to order more parts for those, there will be a delay of a couple of weeks on more baluns.

Alan, w6akb