[TowerTalk] Which type of cable for a crank-up tower?

[Michael OBrien]

--- On Fri, 12/2/11, K7LXC at aol.com <K7LXC at aol.com> wrote:

"...I highly recommend NOT having it stop at the same spot every time. Vary the resting spot (up and down)..." 


Shortly after I purchased and installed my HDX-555 back in the 1990s, I innocently called U.S. Tower and asked to speak with someone who could answer my question about this very topic. Amazingly, I was connected to an engineer! (Probably wouldn't happen today.) As Steve recommends, the UST engineer advised that I stop the tower at varying spots when raising it to avoid having the cable "take a set."

I did not ask about, and he didn't volunteer, similar advice regarding when the tower is lowered. I always lower the tower all the way and then slacken the cable some extra in order to remove stress. I may have to rethink that now, but it's always seemed like the sensible thing to do.

73,
Mike, K0MYW