[TowerTalk] Rotators again

[Jerry Keller]

Pete... the spiral is a great idea...except for when the antenna is mounted only a short distance above the tower top.   73,  Jerry K3BZ
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Pete Smith 
  To: Alan AB2OS ; towertalk reflector 
  Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 8:09 AM
  Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotators again


  At 07:45 AM 6/14/2004, Alan AB2OS wrote:

  >So you are saying that running the coax down through the mast and rotator 
  >doesn't really allow one to dispense with a rotor loop?
  >
  >That was another of the things I liked about the AlfaSpid -- although, if 
  >I am reading their online info. correctly, these things are significantly 
  >more expensive than I thought: exchange rate problem?



  Second question first -- The US dollar has declined considerably against 
  both the Canadian dollar and the Euro; I assume that the AlfaSpid rotators 
  are imported from somewhere in Europe or JA.

  I think K8RI has a good point -- the 360-degree twist would not be good for 
  either the coax or any connectors.  However, I've often wondered why more 
  hams don't use the trick that seems to be universal on the TV trucks with 
  the pneumatic masts -- they wind the coax around the mast instead of having 
  a free-standing loop.  All you do is run the rotator to one stop 
  (clockwise, for example) and then wind the coax around the mast 3-4 turns 
  in that direction.  As the rotator turns counterclockwise, the coax wrap 
  simply gets somewhat looser.  Secure at both ends to prevent stress on 
  connectors and you're done.

  73, Pete N4ZR
  The World HF Contest Station Database
  was updated on June 5, 2004
  2728 contest stations at
  www.pvrc.org/WCSD/WCSDsearch.htm  

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