[TowerTalk] Frequent crankup coax recommendation

Perry - K4PWO k4pwo at comcast.net
Fri Feb 26 16:38:48 PST 2010


For repeatable bends, I believe it is more like a 6" minimum radius.  Most 
LMR type cables use a copper flashed aluminum inner conductor.  Aluminum 
will work harden and stress crack from repeat bending so you want the radius 
as large as you can get it.  Past posters have mentioned using 30+ gal. 
trash cans as the "receiver" for the coax coils when the tower is lowered. 
I would think that would be a large enough radius... YMMV.  I've never used 
the direct burial stuff but if it's a flooded cable, it may be stiffer than 
normal LMR400 - which is already fairly stiff.  If you are familiar with 
RG-213, I would estimate that you have twice the "stand out" distance (how 
far a section of cable can be held horizontal with only one end supported) 
with LMR400.

73 de Perry - K4PWO

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jim Miller" <jim at jtmiller.com>
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 18:10 PM
To: <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Frequent crankup coax recommendation

> I've got a 30ft three section crankup (AB1342) that I'll be putting up
> this spring. It will likely be cranked up and down nightly with a
> hexbeam on top. I was thinking of RG8x for its flexibility for the
> 20ft resulting loop and RG213 for the run to the mast and the first
> 10ft.
>
> I was wondering if LMR400 (DB version since it will need to be buried
> for most of the distance) might be a better choice. I was worried
> about a large diameter coax in such a loop but upon reading the 1"
> minimum bend radius for LMR400 I'm thinking it may be a good choice
> afterall.
>
> I've never seen any LMR400 except in web pics and a datasheet so I'd
> appreciate some advice from actual users.
>
> thanks
>
> jim miller, ab3cv
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