[TowerTalk] Rotator loop construction?

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/24/2011 7:49:28 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  Should a rotator loop be constructed so that it goes  +/-180 or should 
it be
more like 360-720? The first reverse as it goes  through the midpoint of
rotation whereas the second would just wind either  tighter or looser.


    There are 2 rotator loop methods. One has  cable(s) coming off the mast 
with 5-6 extra feet and it just hangs off the  tower and follows the mast 
around as it turns.
 
    The other way is to loop the cable(s) around the  bottom of the mast at 
the flat top of the tower 2-3 times. The  cables sit on the tower top and 
allow lots of rotation. This is the way  you see on ENG (electronic news 
gathering) vans with pneumatic towers sticking  out and the cable wrapped around 
the tower. Either way works FB.
 
Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH