[TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 89, Issue 8

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/3/2010 12:01:23 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  As to tower cables failing, in my 54 years of hamming, I  have never 
heard 
first hand from anyone that has had cable failure  although I am sure this 
has occurred, certainly there are enough stories  floating around. I have 
to 
imagine that the majority of cases was because  of poor maintenance 
procedures, pushing a reasonable replacement time  limit, or undersized or 
poor quality cable or improper eye  swaging.
 
    Actually the 2 I've seen were none of the above.  Both cable failures 
were due to another external cable (coax, etc.)  snagging on something on the 
way up and unnoticed by the owner as the  tower was moving. BIG noise as 
the main haul cable snapped and everything  collapsed into the tower bending 
antenna booms and creating a bit of a  problem repair-wise. 
 
    This is why I discourage using any kind of remote  tower control and 
strongly recommend you be at the tower watching everything  whenever it's 
moving. 
 
Cheers,
Steve   K7LXC
TOWER TECH