Topband: Ends for older Phillystran

[James Wolf]

On 01/13/2014 04:15 PM, Lloyd Berg - N9LB wrote:
> Hi Grant!
>
> I worked at WDAE Radio in Tampa, FL back in the 80's and 90's.  The 
> engineer before me decided to try the new technology Philly-strand guy 
> lines on the AM directional towers because they had constant problems 
> with the original segmented steel guy wires/egg insulators constantly 
> arcing over whenever there was a thunderstorm in the area.  To attach 
> the Philly-strand, they used traditional metal saddle clamps on this 
> early ( somewhat experimental ) Philly-strand installation.  It was a 
> real neat looking job with 3 clamps 3 inches apart and all within 8 
> inches of the ends of the Philly Strand.  Just like you see on steel guy
lines.
>
> It was written up in Broadcast Engineering Magazine with lots of 
> pictures as the wave of the future for AM broadcast guyed towers.
>
> In reality, it didn't work well because we were constantly having to 
> re-attach the lines because the inner strands pulled short inside the 
> outer sheath, leaving just the outer sheath holding the tower up!  ( nude
towers,
> no antennas on top ).    It didn't take long before we realized that we
had
> to use a lot more foldback length and a lot more clamps!  We went with 36"
> foldbacks with six clamps evenly spaced to keep things from pulling apart!
> That worked and stayed together for the remaining 10 years I worked there.
> Yes, we had to insert 6 feet of steel line at the anchor points to 
> make up for the lost length at each end of each guy lines.
>
> No guarantees, but that was my experience with the original Philly-strand.
> If you decide to keep it, be very careful and inspect it frequently!  
> They don't make that original Philly-strand for a good reason.
>
> 73
>
> Lloyd - N9LB

Lloyd,

Was this the Phillistran that did not have the inner strands in a rope
configuration or were they just straight fibers?

Thanks,

Jim - KR9U