[TowerTalk] COAX on CRANKUP-how to hang

[Edward]

Here's what has worked for me.  I have a 70' crank up somewhat overloaded.  Numerous antennas incl several for VHF and UHF. 

I would say I have about 10 feed lines coming down to include several runs of LMR 600.  

I use KF7P products.  At the top I use the 90 degree stand off and secured the feed lines with tape and wire ties, which takes the load off

In each section below I have the standoffs with large rings, guiding the feed lines.  It collects nicely at the bottom, forming a couple of large loops.  

I use ultraflex at the top only for rotor loop purposes.  This system has worked well for me. 

73,
Ed NI6S

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 31, 2013, at 8:50, <w5gn at mxg.com> wrote:
> 
> I guess if you have truly stiff coax, that can not bend, then how can you lower the tower?  Won't it hold up the tower?  J
> 
> 
> 
> I've only experienced the problem when lowering the tower and I had a cluster of three large coax (can't recall now but low loss and moderately rigid) plus two rotator cables taped every foot, but as the tower lowers, the cluster was still able to bend to the will of the wind and when the tower was down 4 or 5 feet, there was enough slack that the coax would be blown into the tower (the cable was on the SW side and that, of course, is the primary direction of wind in Dallas).  When I first had run the cluster thru three standoffs,
> 
> sometimes they would slide thru but often one of the tiewraps or a slight discontinuity in the line of the cluster was enough to hang on the standoff, causing slack to be created above that standoff.
> 
> Even when I removed the intermediate standoffs, and had the full weight of the cluster hanging down, winds of 20 mph or better were enough to push the coax against the tower, and cause it to hang, 
> 
> sometimes on the top of the bottom section, again allowing slack to develop above that point.  Using ropes tied where the intermediate standoffs would have been when fully extended allow me to pull the cluster awaw when lowering.
> 
> 
> 
> 73
> 
> 
> 
> Barry, EI/W5GN
> 
> From: kr2q at optimum.net [mailto:kr2q at optimum.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2013 5:45 AM
> To: w5gn at mxg.com
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: RE: [TowerTalk] COAX on CRANKUP-how to hang
> 
> 
> 
> HI Barry...long time no see!
> 
> 
> 
> For those of us without this experience, please explain how a "stiff" piece of coax enter between the zig/zags on your crankup.   If I have a 10 foot length of coax and hold it vertically against the tower, I have push quite hard to get it to bend and then "enter" into the lattice.  I am clearly missing something! 
> 
> 
> 
> thanks,
> 
> Doug KR2Q
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: w5gn at mxg.com
> Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:13 am
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] COAX on CRANKUP-how to hang
> To: kr2q at optimum.net, towertalk at contesting.com
> 
>> My experience is quite different.
>> 
>> With either standoffs or a single support at the top,
>> lowering the tower when there was much wind would 
>> frequently push the slack coax into the tower sections,
>> requiring a stop and either wait or raise a little and
>> try again.
>> 
>> I finally supported the coax bundle only at the top,
>> and added two rope lines so I could pull the coax away
>> from the tower during lowering. 
>> And I then ran the rope thru pulleys on the adjacent
>> house and use them to hang the coax so it's not on
>> the ground.
>> 
>> I also found the remote control unit a complete waste of
>> money, as I always want to be at the base of the tower
>> to pull the coax away and observe what happens.
>> 
>> Barry, EI/W5GN
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On 
>> Behalf Of kr2q at optimum.net
>> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 6:39 AM
>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] COAX on CRANKUP-how to hang
>> 
>> I have owned crank-up towers for close to 40 years...in multiple 
>> locations and using multiple types of crankup towers (Heights, 
>> Hy-Gain, US Tower). I still own 2 crank-ups.
>> 
>> In all cases, I just let the coax and rotor cable "hang down" 
>> right along side of the tower.
>> 
>> I never used standoffs or coax arms. Not sure why they are necessary.
>> 
>> Nothing ever got tangled or "hung up" in the tower. I think 
>> that would be really difficult to do.
>> I mean, why would coax (eg, RG8 type) want to or be able to 
>> "decide" to bend and enter into the tower lattice? It is 
>> already handing from the very top to the very bottom. For me, 
>> it would take an extraordinary act of nature to "convince" the 
>> coax to defy gravity, bend into a small loop, and "enter" the 
>> tower lattice.
>> 
>> de Doug KR2Q
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
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