Topband: Beverage wire question

[Hardy Landskov]

I've used window line for many years and it is a maintenance hassle. The 
heat and UV here in AZ just eats the stuff up where it has to be replaced 
every 5 years or so, and I do twist the line. The last wind storm we had 
ripped the line right out of the DXE black plastic insulators which are not 
all that good either.
So I am looking with keen interest at all these homebrew open-wire-line 
construction techniques.
YMMV.
73 Hardy N7RT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Waters" <mikewate at gmail.com>
To: "Jim Garland" <4cx250b at miamioh.edu>
Cc: "topband" <Topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2014 7:39 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage wire question


> Jim,
>
> On Wed, Apr 30, 2014 at 10:41 AM, Jim Garland <4cx250b at miamioh.edu> wrote:
>
>> I've been using 450 ohm ladder line ... and the ladder line requires
>> constant maintenance.
>
>
> I've heard that twisting that line solves the breakage issues. You need
> many twists in the entire length of the line.
>
>
>
>> I want to replace it with parallel wires, which run through ceramic
>> feedthrough insulators
>
>
> And, I've heard that running wire through ceramic insulators like that 
> will
> eventually abrade the wire. Holes in ceramic insulators are usually quite
> rough.
>
>
> I have no experience with either of the above. Here, we use plastic
> electric fence and homebrew plastic insulators; and the wire drops into a
> slot instead of having to string it through a hole. Works for me.
>
> I think there's some photos at http://www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html 
> .
>
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com
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