[Elecraft] Antenna Suspension

Ron D'Eau Claire rondec at easystreet.com
Thu Sep 9 16:38:14 EDT 2004


There may be some power line people here who can give you're a very specific
answer. It has to do with allowing the right amount of "sag". Consider that
it takes infinite "pull" to hold a flexible wire exactly horizontal between
two supports. That is, it's impossible. The other extreme is zero pull
needed if it's allowed to lay on the ground. 

What I've always done is to "eyeball" it. As you pull harder you notice that
there's a point at which pulling a LOT harder, hardly makes a difference in
the droop. At that point I back up and let it droop just below the point
where I notice the amount of pull needed escalates quickly to make it any
"tighter". 

With rocks/bricks in a bucket, you can see that you reach a point where
you'd need to add 50% more bricks to make the wire visibly any straighter.
Don't do that, of course. Let it droop.

As I said, the power line and telephone people have specific rules that they
use based on the wire, span, etc. If no one here turns up and you really
want to measure the strain that is optimum for a specific situation, I'd
suggesting searching the 'net or a technical library for information of
stringing phone and power lines. 

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I am using a Carolina Windom 80 suspended with 3/16" nylon rope through 
stainless steel eyehooks up 50' between two large oak trees.  These trees
are 
approx 123 feet apart.  Because I am located in hurricane alley and subject
to high 
winds, I would like to remove the permanent tiedown on one of the trees and 
tie a weight to the rope.  I would like to know how much weight should be
used. 
 What kind of weight (how many bricks or what-have-you).  Thanks.  Roy
Morris 
 W4WFB   




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