[TowerTalk] Tram Antenna Balancing

[David Robbins K1TTT]

I sent this to one of you guys who just asked, but I think it went only to
you not to the list.

In any case the easy solution is to put the tram wire above the antenna, put
a pulley on it, and hang the antenna from the pulley.  That way it can't
flip and can be lowered into its final position by releasing the tram wire
tension and letting it settle into position.  I have done this with a 6 ele
20m telrex, an 8 ele 15m telrex, 2 of the 40m4lldd m-squared yagis and a few
others.  Works slick and normally real easy to do.  The only warning is that
if you are going to the top of the tower and attach the tram to the mast and
it is a heavy antenna you need to back guy the mast or risk bending it.  see
pictures from 2006 antenna work raising of the top 40m4lldd to 180' on my
web site at http://www.k1ttt.net/2006towerwork.html.


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Phil Camera
> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 18:10
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Tram Antenna Balancing
> 
> What have others done here to "balance" an antenna while using a single
> line tram?
> 
> I put up my big 40M yagi using a two wire tram but antenna balance became
> an issue even with that setup.  Go to my website, link below, and click on
> the Antennas button in the upper left for piks and description.
> 
> My antenna wanted to just flip the entire two wire tram over so what we
> did was to use barbell weights (2.5 and 5 pounders) attached at the
> appropriate place along the boom.  Problem realized was that the
> attachment point was further out than we could reach once all were at the
> top of the tower.  Quick thinking led us to hang the weight off the boom
> using electric fence wire (strong and stiff) and ran that loop through the
> end of a wood piece (1.5 x 1) which was taped onto the boom and the end of
> the wood ended up at the tower.  Once all was up, we untaped the wood and
> pulled the barbell along the boom to us at the tower and then lowed it via
> the rope pulley used to haul up tools and haul down the tram.  Slicker
> than anything.  I think there is a picture of the setup.
> 
> 
> --
> Phil - KB9CRY
> Lockport, IL
> http://nidxa.org/memberWWW/kb9cry_home.htm
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
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