[Lowfer] vertical

Tue, 18 Feb 2003 21:00:34 -0600

Cheep 8' CB whips.

Mike>WE0H
http://www.we0h.us/lf

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of Lyle Koehler
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 4:39 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] vertical

OK, I've got the message(s)!

I know of people who have used weedeater line successfully for guying their
LowFER antennas, but haven't tried it myself. I would be concerned about
wire rope clamps, and perhaps even about stainless steel hose clamps,
because the plastic line might cut through or slowly "flow" under the
pressure. My solution would be to use wire attachments, with plastic
electric-fence insulators as "thimbles" to provide a smooth surface for the
weedeater line to wrap around. That's what I do with my Dacron guy ropes.
Tying and untying knots in the Dacron rope is easy; however it might require
an advanced merit badge in knots to work with the plastic line.

It's hard to imagine #6 wire supporting itself for 8 feet, to say nothing of
hanging a skirt wire around the radials. Unfortunately I don't know of any
other inexpensive 8-foot radials that would be light enough to hang at the
top of a slender PVC mast. Might be a good idea to think smaller for the
first go-around. I've seen support stakes for garden plants that are made of
thin-walled steel, but don't know if they come in lengths greater than 3
feet. Cheap fishing rods (with wire wrapped around them)? Maybe someone else
has some good suggestions.

Lyle