[TowerTalk] re; Ernesto ate my windom

[Jim Jarvis]

Martin, AA6E wrote:
I've been using Flexweave (not sure of gauge) for a couple of years on a
dipole.  I had a failure after a wind storm where some tree branches had
abraded the cable.  I think this is a failure mode to worry about.  If
the wire rubs on anything, it will fail strand by strand until the whole
thing gives out.  I replaced the failed section with Copperweld - better
than disfiguring the tree.

-0-

The wire I've been using is described as "256 strand copperweld w/ PE
insulation" by Radio Works.  I've never seen any corrosion or oxidization on
it, with
four antennas, now.   What Martin describes, above, sounds much like
the flexweave I know...and it's impossible to clean.

Without a doubt, the greatest failure risk is where the wire abraids
a tree branch enough to be captured by sap.  Once glued fast, there's
no flexibility in the system any longer.

Chet's idea of using ceramic eye-insulators as turning blocks topside
makes great sense.  But for shrublike trees...pines, maples and pinoaks,
that often means being 25-30' below the top.

I'm just going to get heavier wire, and do it over again, I think.

n2ea
jimjarvis at ieee.org