Posted: 1/31/2013 4:03:24 AM EDT
|
Woke up to my HF antenna on the ground...... guess I have a project this weekend looks like it wore through and snapped the supporting line that was up in the tree - antenna itself looks fine. I may put that up with something stronger than 550 cord this time... perhaps some coated cable or something. |
|
Quoted: My 160m windom falls down all the damn time. I am used to it. Just make sure you don't put up something resonate to replace the 550 with. damnit - forgot about that whole "antenna theory" thing anyone have ideas of something that wears better than 550 but isn't metal?
|
|
Put a line up in the tree with a marine grade pulley on the end. Run dacron rope through the pulley and use an old milk jug with sand for the weight to keep the antenna up. Adjust the weight on the jug and length of the rope as needed. The rope lasts for years, and comes in various strengths, diameters and lengths. 73, Rob |
|
Quoted: Put a line up in the tree with a marine grade pulley on the end. Run dacron rope through the pulley and use an old milk jug with sand for the weight to keep the antenna up. Adjust the weight on the jug and length of the rope as needed. The rope lasts for years, and comes in various strengths, diameters and lengths. 73, Rob pretty much the system I had - line in the tree with a pulley - antenna side is fine, line holding the pulley is what wore through and snapped.... Both ends sprung with garage door springs.... this is 100% from wear on the rope. I'm thinking if I can get up in that side of the tree (probably not without a bucket...and the yard is soft right now) I could screw an eye into the tree and run it through that.... less rubbing at least I'll look at the dacron rope for the pulley side though for sure
|
|
Pics?
I feel for ya, ive had antennas end up on the ground, but never from wind, I use 550 paracord on the small antennas and have steel guy wire on the big ones. I HAVE had an antenna on the ground in pieces because it took a direct lightning hit, fried the LMR400 also. Thank god it wasn't attached to the transmitter. It did take out the internet router because the LMR400 came into the same part of the house as the cable coax. |
| any way you could use some sort of chafing guard, like a piece of hose? failing that, maybe try some of that plasti dip stuff. When I worked at a small airport we used that to secure the ends of tiedown ropes to keep them from fraying, and it worked quite well despite being blown around by prop wash, run over, dragged etc. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
My 160m windom falls down all the damn time. I am used to it. Just make sure you don't put up something resonate to replace the 550 with. damnit - forgot about that whole "antenna theory" thing anyone have ideas of something that wears better than 550 but isn't metal? I only mention it because I did that once. It made for some strange loading. |
|
Quoted: Sorry to hear about your antenna  I always had good luck with 3/16" Antenna Rope sold by HRO. It's very UV resistant and strong enough to support long wire antennas. I had it in Arizona sun for 7 years and no UV damage occured. It was as strong as new. I should clarify that's what I was using - not regular 550 cord same outside, different inside Where it's going (tree, behind my fence and property line) would be tough to get up to.... the eyelet was half tongue-in-cheek I may just do the same... it stood up for a few years already. I wonder if it would be close enough to be a problem with loading (still using the antenna rope from insulator through pulley) - probably 5-10 feet
|
