On April 15, 2023 the Magnolia Amateur Radio Club held an "Antenna Party", and renovated the 2M repeater antenna on the Maben Fire Tower.    This involved taking down the old, non-functional antenna, and installing a new, folded dipole at the top of the tower.

Club members were onsite from before 9 AM until mid-afternoon.  High winds and threats of lightning hampered some of the progress, but all the work was finished except for the actual antenna install.  That was completed April 22.

About a dozen club members took part in the event.  New steps were installed on the tower, platforms were repaired, and new hardline was pulled up the tower.   The old antenna was lowered using a rope and pulley system devised by AD5HM.

The frequency is 147.315, tone 110.9.

Click "Read More" below left to see the photos.