#8 or #10 wire is gonna be pretty heavy even before you add all the plastic
strips! Also the Lexan approach sounds rather labor intensive.
Alternative: Buy some 1/2" or 3/4" ABS irrigation tubing, cut it into approx
4"-5" long tubes, and use a hot knife blade or screwdriver to melt a groove
into the edges. Slide wire into the notches while hot. If you get the
technique down right, the notch will be kind of like a keygole, with a round
channel to hold the wire. Use Hot Glue, Gorilla Glue, etc., to add
reinforcement if necessary. I have a bunch of line using 16 guage insulated
wire and it works well. Spacers are approx every 18", you don't need that
many. Use parachute line or similar as a messenger line to support the
feedline and direct it to the shack.
GL es 73
Dan
K0DAN
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve" <steveac@charter.net>
To: "TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 9:28 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Open wire transmission line
> I'm thinking about constructing some open wire transmission line,
> probably 70-80 feet in length. Probably #10AWG or #8AWG soft drawn copper.
>
> L. B. Cebik's web site http://www.cebik.com/gup/gup31.html talks about
> using rods cut from various materials for the spacers, suggesting that
> Lexan is the peferred material.
>
> I have a 1/8 inch thick sheet of Lexan that I could cut into into strips
> for use as spacers. Perhaps an inch wide and long enough to space the
> wires at five or six inches. Any problems associated with using flat
> strips instead of rods? Either electrically or mechanically or weather
> related?
>
> Thoughts as to how how often to use a spacer? Every foot? Every two or
> three feet? Other?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve K8JQ
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
_______________________________________________
See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather
Stations", and lot's more. Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
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