[Elecraft] Antenna wire question for long spans

[Don Wilhelm]

John,

I have no direct experience with your icing/wind conditions, but I would
figure that #12 copperweld would be the best weight to strength ratio that
you could muster.

If you can support the wire at a midway point, the weight will only be a
factor over half the span length, the sag will be reduced dramatically, (by
a fator of at least 4), and the tension requirements will be significantly
reduced.  If you are using trees for supports, remember that they sway in
the wind, and antenna breakage will most frequently occur because of
stresses in the wire resulting from that swaying.  The use of
counterbalances or 'bungie cords' to compensate for the tree swaying is
imperitive in a wire that length (and resulting tension requirements).

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----
>
> I have an opportunity to put up an end fed long wire at our EOC
> for use on 40,
> 80 and 160.  The span distance is 270 feet, a real handy length
> for regional
> communication on low bands.  Height will be about 65 feet.  We
> will tune it
> remotely with an SGC tuner.  My concern is what type of wire will
> take that
> long of a span and hold up to wind and ice we have here in the midwest.
>
> Would appreciate comments from those who have had long spans of
> wire up in the
> air.
>
> John N0EVH (Every Volt Helps)
>
>
>
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