Topband: suitable wire for top loading wires?

[Gert Meinen]

John,

You can throw or shoot a small rope over the tree, attach a pulley on the 
end of this rope and route a second rope through the pulley.
One end of the second rope goes to the end of your top loading wire the, 
other end to a small counterweight.
Pull the pulley into the top of the tree with the first rope and tie the end 
to the trunk of the tree.
Adjust the height and weight of the counterweight to your needs so that the 
wire hangs fairly straight and the counterweight just above the ground (or 
any other convenient height). This will ensure that the toploading wire has 
constant tension regardless the movement of the tree in the wind.
Works here for over a decade..

73 Gert,  PA3AAV




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Bastin" <bastinj at gmail.com>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 12:36 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: suitable wire for top loading wires?


> On Mar 16, 2010, at 15:44:57, Jonathan white wrote:
>>
>> Hi everyone.
>> I have had my top loaded vertical  break on me again.
>
>> The antenna is held up by a probably 70` eucalyptus tree,the top loading
>> wires run away via insulators to pulleys and long elastic cords to take
>> up execive movements during high winds.
>
>> It has failed on me twice now after about 3 months .This time I used
>> flexiweave  and this has broken.
>
>> Would it be ok to use say galvanized wire for the top loading wire.
>> This antenna has been a star performer in the recent CQ WW 160 SSB
>> Contest, furthest was Georgia and cape Verde islands.and got across to
>> Pennsylvania,but he couldn't confirm my call sign due to local qrm.Not
>> bad for 100w
>> So I am reluctant to give this vertical up,Any suggestions from the team.
>
> Do you have access to copperweld wire? That's what I would use in this 
> application.
>
> I have several wires up using copperweld wire. I've had ropes and supports 
> break, but the antenna wire is still in one piece.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
> John K8AJS
> bastinj at gmail.com
>
>
>
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