Topband: beverage support spacing

[Richard Karlquist]

Everything you need is at the Home
Depot (they oughta call it the Ham Depot:-)

Go to the electric fence department and
get insulators that snap onto T-posts.
Also get tensioning springs and plastic
insulators.  Use T-posts at the ends,
and also for the supports along the line.
Alternately, for the supports along the
line, get the plastic supports that have
spikes on the bottom that you push in
with your foot.  Finally, pick up some
aluminum electric fence wire.  The T-posts
and driver tool are in the chain link
fence department and ground rods are in
the electrical dept.  While you're there
you can get RG-59 coax if you need it.
Also, get some of the extension cord
storage spools so you can wind up
your beverage wires when you take them
down.  You can also wind the coax on them.

If you must raise your beverage to 10
feet (not recommended), then for supports
you can use 10 foot long 1 1/2 inch PVC
sch. 40 pipes dropped over the top of
T-posts.

I have used spacing as great as 200 feet
between supports, but 100 feet is better.
The supports you push in with your foot
are so cheap and easy, you should use
plenty of them.  Then you don't have to
get the wire so tight.

The one thing you can't get at the Ham Depot
is the T-post removal tool (don't ask me why
they don't sell 'em).  Harbor Freight and
farm supply stores have those.  Well worth
the $20.

Rick Karlquist    N6RK
richard@karlquist.com
www.n6rk.com
www.karlquist.com