[TowerTalk] Making rotator loops separate

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

I use pigtails for all my connections to the beam antennas.  Generally the 
pigtails are pretty long...around ten to fifteen feet.  I have never had any of 
the PL 259 connections on the pigtails get loose or fall apart.  The key is to 
stabilize the joint.  The joint is not at the rotor loop or anywhere else 
where it would flex.  Because the joint is so long, the joint is generally down 
the tower five or more feet from the rotor loop.  I simply wrap up the joint 
with general purpose electrical tape, put some liquid electrical tape on it  and 
then tape the joint in a HORIZONTAL position on the tower cross piece.  This 
stabilizes the joint and aids in the water intrusion resistance.

If you have a tall tower pigtails are the only way to go.  It makes checking 
out and changing antennas much simpler.  With the KLM beams, it is pretty 
difficult to get to the driven element to hook up the coax.  With the long 
pigtail, it is a snap.

Bill K4XS