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Re: [TowerTalk] Rotator Loop

To: Bill Carnett <ah6fc@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotator Loop
From: Joe <joe@wd0m.com>
Reply-to: joe@wd0m.com
Date: Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:14:18 -0700
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi Bill,

The answer to those problems for me:  Cool Whip.  Well, actually it's 
the container.  I've had coax get caught up in the bolts from the thrust 
bearings, and that caused the coax connector to rip loose  No fun.

I took the container, cut a hole in it the size of the mast, split it 
down the side so it could slip over the mast, put it on top of the tower 
upside down, then used tape to cover the container all the way around.  
That covered up the top of the tower, the thrust bearing bolts, and 
provided a smooth surface for the cables to slide over.

It's been up for 4 years plus after the busted connector issue first 
surfaced - no problem since.  My rotator is a Yaesu G-1000SDX, and it 
has a 450 degree rotation.  No worries after this little mod - and the 
Cool Whip wasn't bad either.

Looking forward to other innovative responses....

Let's hear it for Cool Whip!

73
-- 

Joe Hannigan - WDØM
Pagosa Springs, CO

http://www.WD0M.com
http://www.pagosarocks.com
http://www.quiltqueen.net




Bill Carnett wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Though the idea of a rotator loop is pretty simple,
> I'm looking for any novel approaches others have had. 
>
>  Over the past winter, my coax has been disrupted
> twice up at the rotator loop.  In spite of an adequate
> loop, it seems that the coax is getting hung up on one
> of the members of the top of the tower.  Honestly
> can't figure how it happens, maybe strong wind while
> turning and the cable gets caught and pops?  It works
> for quite a while, then boom...breaks again.  I can
> watch it turn and there is plenty of excess cable. 
> The rotator automatically travels the shortest
> distance to a heading, so rarely will travel 360
> degrees.  Really can't figure why this is happening. 
> At this point I'm planning on creating a very sizable
> loop falling off of the boom some distance from the
> mast, maybe this will help in the future.  
>
> Since I've got a fairly large yagi up there, repair
> usually requires a crane to reach out to the
> connection point on the yagi...getting expensive.
>
> Maybe somebody has some unique solutions?
> Thanks
> 73, Bill
> AH6FC/7

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