Any rope will fray when moving over a branch. IMO, Synthetic Textiles
(direct, DXEng, others) makes the most durable short of specialized
arborist rope that has a polymer impregnated outer layer and then in
larger diameters only. The black dacron/polyester cover is UV proof (20
years?) and the braided core is much stronger than unbraided.
I find the best strategy is to have the over the branch rope grow into
the tree and have a pulley on the end of it with the antenna hoist rope
passed thru and tied in a loop so the end is never lost when the antenna
wire breaks. Or a separate small pull down line on the insulator tie point.
I also only use marine sailboat blocks. Lewmar makes a 30mm block for
about $20 that lasts forever, has low friction and doesn't fray the
line. Harken also makes 20mm to 30mm blocks which sometimes I use when
cheaper. Hardware store die cast clothesline blocks freeze up or cut
the line in my experience.
https://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/product/LEW29901321BK.html
"economic" all depends on what costs you care about.
Grant KZ1W
On 1/22/2019 12:26 PM, N4ZR wrote:
I have a small variety of wire HF antennas that I've placed high in my
trees with a tennis ball gun. All great except that the lifetime of the
rope I've been using (3/16" polypropylene braid with an unbraided core)
seems quite short, probably because of chafing against moving branches
near the tops of trees.
Does anyone have suggestions for an alternative, hopefully an economic one?
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