[TowerTalk] Feedline Coil or Loop??

[Jerry Keller (K3BZ)]

I've always used a feedline "loop" that hangs out and down from the tower 
leg that's half-way on the rotation circle, is attached to the boom a few 
feet out from the mast, and is long enough that it doesn't impede antenna 
rotation in either direction.  I recently saw an installation with the 
antenna mounted about 2 feet up the mast from the tower top,  with the 
feedline coiled about 2 turns loosely around the mast rather than hanging 
down. The antenna end of the coax was attached at the bottom of the 
mast-to-boom plate.  The arrangement looked like those coils of cable that 
the TV trucks deploy when they raise their microwave towers, but only a 
couple of turns to the coil.  When rotated in one direction the coil got 
tighter to the mast, but not touching it.  In the other direction the coil 
got looser.

My question is.... is this a good idea?  I have never seen it before, so 
maybe it isn't in widespread use, which makes me wonder why not.... as it 
"appears" that it would put less stress on the coax than the usual U-shaped 
arrangement.

Any comments or experiences about this?

73, Jerry K3BZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Elsik" <wa5zup at msn.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 11:58 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna/mast height above tower?


> Since most tower manufacturers spec so many sq ft, 1' above the top of the 
> tower.  Then mounting the antenna 1' above the top would seem reasonable. 
> The main thing is to have enough room for the cable loop, so it does not 
> snag on anything.
>
> John
> wa5zup
>
>
>
>> From: km1h at jeremy.mv.com> To: rusty_atkins at yahoo.com; 
>> towertalk at contesting.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:08:41 -0400> Subject: 
>> Re: [TowerTalk] Antenna/mast height above tower?> > 1 inch. As long as no 
>> part of the antenna or mount scrapes the tower you are > OK.> > Carl> 
>> KM1H> > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "R Atkins" 
>> <rusty_atkins at yahoo.com>> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>> Sent: Monday, 
>> July 23, 2007 10:08 AM> Subject: [TowerTalk] Antenna/mast height above 
>> tower?> > > >I haven't seen many recommendations on this. I've googled 
>> and searched > >eham.net to no avail.> >> > What is the minimum height 
>> above the tower top shelf recommended for an HF > > beam (KT34A, FWIW). 
>> I'm trying to run as short of a mast as possible > > without impacting 
>> performance of the antenna.> >> > Thanks!> > Rusty> > K0FE> >> >> >> >> > 
>>  > > 
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