[Elecraft] More on antenna wire.

[Alan WB6ZQZ]

Phil,

My approach to wire antennas in hurricane alley would be to use good 
quality materials that meet NEC codes, but to avoid spending more on those 
materials than is required and plan to replace the antennas after the 
really big storms. I always have temporary antenna materials and antenna 
launching equipment ready to go (never know when those might be needed, 
regardless of where you live). These can be used to get back on the air 
right after the storm.

The code calls for particular gauges of wire depending on the span. #14 is 
adequate for the spans common to most amateur antennas. Hard drawn copper 
generally presents the most cost-effective value and avoids the rust and 
workability problems common to copper clad steel.

Of course using good insulators and good waterproofing and strain relief 
techniques is prudent.

On the subject of tensioning, the use of weights can be problematic due to 
the inertia they present, and can lead to antenna failure. Springs actually 
present a better solution. Quality pulleys should be used if required - the 
marine type are excellent.

Good luck & 73,

-- Alan WB6ZQZ

http://www.qsl.net/wb6zqz/antlaunching.html  (more info here on Antenna 
Launching)


At 12:02 AM 9/9/2004, Geoff wrote:
>...
>
>Forgot to add that I use Flex Weave wire for both Horizontal and Vertical
>antennas. Like Julius said it is super to work with and very strong.You can
>tie knots in it. Although I am not too keen about using heavily insulated
>wire, the insulation does protect the copper from birds' claws and other
>flying objects. If I have to make a joint, I solder the copper ends together
>(usually a no no ), lay about a foot of 1.6 mm Kevlar alongside for
>reinforcement, give the copper,adjacent Kevlar and nearby wire insulation a
>good coating of Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) to keep moisture and beasties
>out, and cover with flexible UV resistant heatshrink (not overdoing the
>shrinking). I usually cover all that with more jelly. Seems to work as I
>checked a joint recently that has been up for five years - jelly OK , no
>signs of corrosion and no beasties.
>
>Also use Jelly to weatherproof coax connectors (N type) before wrapping with
>+33 tape. Could run a kW at a couple of QTHs past with no problems caused by
>Jelly - HF and VHF. Don't know how UHF connectors would behave.