[TowerTalk] Attaching "flex" cable to crank-up standoffs

[Chris]

These take care of that kinking problem.

http://www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Pic_arms.html

Chris
KF7P






On May 2, 2013, at 10:27 PM, Marvin Shelton wrote:

> I don't know if I've ever seen anyone here make mention of the fact that you should NOT attach ANY coax cable to the stand-off arms of a crank up tower regardless of how "flexible" it is. I just learned this the hard way.  I read about someone somewhere saying that they had attached the coax coming thru the standoffs to the standoffs themselves so that the coax would not lie on the ground when the tower was cranked down.  While this helps keep the coax off the ground, it can cause flexible coax, in my case Belden 9913F7 (recommended by Texas Tower) to take too sharp of a bend, when the weight of the coax above the standoff comes into play.
> It took me awhile to figure out what was wrong so I thought I'd pass the word along here, as many on this reflector have helped me in the past.
> So my suggestion is to get a tub or some type of container on the ground to receive the coax as you crank your tower down and let the coax slide thru the standoffs. The fewer bends you put into coax the better.
> 
> Finally, I thought I saw somewhere in QST or elsewhere, a description of what coax brands use soft foam center dielectrics. I think this is the case with the Belden 9913F7 and I want to know what other cables could be subject to this problem so that I stay away from them.
> 
> The tower now has a run of RG-213 and one of LMR-400 both without problems. 
> 
> 73's from Marv
> wa2bfw at att.net
> 
> 
> 
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