[TowerTalk] DAVIS RF CO. response to FLEX-WEAVE Tm and Aerial Wire Recommendations

[Steve Davis -Davis RF Co.]

Hello folks, I'd like to respond to comments ref. Flex-Weave Tm, a product that I introduced in l988.  First, I am very sorry that Jim, K9YC, experienced the difficulties that he noted.  DAVIS RF Co. has been well known for taking extraordinary care of any issues brought to our attention.  Our devotion to our definition, "Client Satisfaction", has been paramount since day one.  I only regret that so many other companies leave a sour taste in many folks' minds such that customers often are hesitant to contact an owner when dissatisfied.  Jim may contact me about his past problems and perhaps I can satisfy him in some way, if only partially vs. the time which he indicates he has spent with Flex-Weave Tm.

 

  Many millions of feet of Flex-Weave Tm have been sold.   Concerns by customers have been very limited and of the many dealers, government entities, and military units, nobody has ceased use of this product. 

 

   "Significant mechanical stress":   I would likely be as subjective if I were to say that, based on my wire and cable design standards, the only RF wire used for significant mechanical stress should be copper clad steel, appropriately sized.  I would have to have seen the construction of the antennas that Jim refers to in order to be able to judge if any mechanical stresses occurred beyond the scope of Flex-Weave Tm.  I have received many accolades regarding the durability of Flex-Weave, over long years of life (also on TT from salty Cape Cod, to "windy mountain top") .   

 

   To address Flex-Weave ( " FW " ) itself:   The # 14 is 168 strands of a # 36 copper strand and the # 12 is 259 strands, both configured in a "rope lay" production process which establishes best strength.  Although we have received many accolades about this product, and have sold it to the commercial and military market, there is one environmental aspect that we have found over the years which we must now make clear on our web site and in discussion with customers.   Acid rain, and salt air environment, carries with it an inherent shortening of life with any

copper product, and more so with such multi stranded, very small OD, strandings of copper.   For many years we have had an alternative choice for hi acid rain and salt air environments:  one product with high UV resistant PVC (note: there are many compounds of PVC, only a few are comprised of UV inhibitor).



 We also use PE (polyethylene) jacketing.  PE inherently is UV resistant because it lacks UV sensitive plasticizers.   Our PVC jacketing is obtainable in black, clear and camouflage green. the most stealth and popular is black.   The PE is available only in black.  NOTE:  The PE is very abrasive resistant due to a higher durometer and is very popular with hams that have limited space and must drape some of the aerial over tree limbs, thus rubbing/abrasion occurs.  Someone else's comment referring to "tough PVC" is a bit of a misnomer.  In most cases, as with our products, PE is considerably "tougher" (higher durometer/abrasion/UV resistant) than PVC.

 

   Regarding THHN":   A majority of our business is in specialty and custom cable design and fulfillment of custom cables and wires.  Thus we must know numerous dielectric materials, cable design, conductive materials and ambient influences.  Ref. to THHN, in the context of one comment, is likely referring to household AC circuitry wiring, as you all know.  THHN is the type of insulation system that is PVC with a nylon overcoat and this wiring comprises a type of annealed copper that will eventually stretch.   I respect the sometimes circulated idea of using it for short wire antennas, but I do not recommend it for any aerial of any length.  It also ties into the old adage, "you get what you pay for".  



   To clarify another comment:   Flex-Weave Tm ( "FW ")   was introduced first to the ham market and was, and still is, the most flexible aerial wire on the market.  It did lend itself to rapid deploy, and use by the military.  However, it was never considered as a "short-life" wire.   As noted, for longer life in problem environments, use our jacketed types, and you can still tie it in bowline or other knots to highly secure to insulators, etc.  Also, jacketed FW is virtually "kink-proof".  Bare FW can kink if not handled somewhat carefully, but kinks less than many other wire options. 

 

  With regard to "tough PVC" for long life,  please opt for PE jacketed, like "Poly Stealth 13"  (13 AWG), and I can almost assure you that the PE jacket will survive in "breathable" environments for 25-30 years or more, as far as atmospheric influences are concerned ("current" atmospherics, and lets hope we get "greener" as time evolves !!  HI). "Poly Stealth 13" consists of a 19 strand CCS (copper clad steel, also ref'd to as "Copper Weld", a tm of Copperweld Bimetallics, LLC.), it is NOT Flex-Weave Tm.    FW12P and FW14P, and the FW12 or 14 PVC is also available from us, or many of our authorized dealers.   

 

    DAVIS RF Co. supplies wire materials to best suit particular applications.  I apologize for being remiss in not recognizing sooner that we need to put info on our site as to the effects of acid rain and salt air on fine bare copper lays.  Also, I admit that if a Flex - Weave Tm wire didn't last a year, then I can't blame Jim's Santa Cruz area salt air environment.  All I can say, honestly, is that I have only few concerns over the 19 years of Flex Weave and yes, I've had maybe 10 questions as to how to easily deal with cleaning and resoldering (which I will put on our website ASAP, and let TT know).  Only other few concerns:  using bare FW for quads:  as I have told many quad planners, you must adequately 

compensate for abrasion where passing through, or around spreaders.  Think "hair like" copper strands (# 36 AWG), but it WILL work, and you will like the overall system flexibility.  Better yet, use  PVC jacketed FW.

 

  I just hope that people will trust that I am honest, friendly, and more than happy to discuss, and resolve, any of their concerns. It is never my intent to sell product that is inappropriate for the application: electrically, mechanically, or satisfaction worthy.

 

Thank you for your time to review this.

 

73,  

 

Steve Davis, K1PEK

DAVIS RF Co. 

sdavis at DavisRF.com

978-369-1738                          

 ~ Davis RF Co., Div. of Orion Wire Co.,Inc.
Distribution to numerous industries,  Andrew 
Heliax; Times Microwave LMR; RFS Celwave and others.
Cable design engineering. RF Peripherals.
www.davisRF.com
Tel: 1-800-328-4773 (1-800-DAVIS RF) Tech'l: 1-978-369-
1738, Fax: 1-978-369-3484 


~ DAVIS/ORION Marine Wire and Cable Co., Distribution and Design: UL/USCG Marine Stds.  Tel: 877-242-2253  Fax: 603-787-2221 (Direct tel to Steve Davis: 978-369-1738 or Fax: 978-369-3484)

~Orion Wire Co., Inc., Design Engineers of Specialty/Custom Cable
Tel: 1-800-328-4773, 1-603-787-2200 Fax 1-603-787-2221,
email: j_stimson at davis-orionwiregroup.com
www.davisRF.com