Topband: Tensioning of RG58 coax for 2-way Beverage

[Bill Wichers]

You could use a small Kellums grip (Chinese finger handcuffs) to grab the cable. I know those can be found small enough.

The other thing you could try would be to run the RG58 around a thimble (usually used with wire rope), then lace it together with fine twine. The thimble will give you a sturdy place to attach to to tension the cable. In place of the lacing, you could probably use adhesive-lined heat shrink tubing to accomplish the same thing. Imagine one of the factory-made wire rope assemblies with a thimble on each end and a compression fitting to clamp the cable together instead of a U-bolt, then think of using the adhesive-lined heat shrink instead of the normal compression fitting. Since you're probably not going to have incredibly high amounts of tension the thimble/heatshrink would probably be strong enough.

You could also try running some 24/22 awg solid wire around some exposed braid past the thimble and soldering it but I think that would be more work and also would present a risk of water intrusion into the cable.

Personally, I've been successful in the past making an "L"-shaped piece of heavy steel wire, then lacing the tensioned cable to the L-wire by running small twine or wire around both with maybe 20-30 passes. It makes a surprising strong assembly. The "L" part keeps the tensioned wire with the lacing from sliding off of the end of the supporting L wire, the other end of the L wire can be attached to whatever support you're using. Hopefully that makes sense -- it really needs a picture :-)

  -Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Tracey Gardner
> Sent: Friday, January 30, 2015 11:58 AM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Topband: Tensioning of RG58 coax for 2-way Beverage
> 
> 
> I have a follow on question from my non-invasive tree attachment question.
> 
> I am running RG58 through a hedge with the intention of using it as a 2-way
> Beverage.
> I am scratching my head as to how to attach some poly rope close to the ends
> of the RG58 to enable it to be lightly tensioned.
> I could use a fleeting cable grip if I could find one small enough.
> If it was normal stranded wire I would just use duplex cable grips and an
> insulator, but as it is coax, I don't see that as an option.
> 
> All suggestions will be gratefully received.
> 
> 73s Tracey G5VU
> 
> _________________
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