[TowerTalk] 90 degree coax bend atop a crankup tower

[K7LXC--- via TowerTalk]

>  Is there a preferred method of routing cables that doesn?t  involve a 
sharp
bend like that? I?m imagining there?s quite a nasty impedance  bump going on
here, not to mention the potential for physical damage to the  dielectric in
the heat and cold, etc.
 
    There are a couple of schemes for a larger  bending radius - I think 
Chris, KF7P has one. I've installed dozens of crank-ups  and guyed towers with 
hundreds of feedlines with the same technique of just  dropping them over 
the edge and I've experienced zero failures that I know of. 
 
    The only coax I'd worry about are the ones with  foam cores - they can 
cold flow over time and cause the aforementioned impedance  bump, perhaps 
even failure in extreme instances. 
 
>   If I?m going to spend hundreds of dollars in new  feedline, plus the 
costs of having it installed (I cannot climb,  myself)
 
    Was there a problem with the existing feedlines or  are you just 
replacing them because they're old? I'm a big proponent of "If it  ain't broke, 
don't fix it". I don't want to discourage your from spending money  but maybe 
this is a very discretionary project that has more  psychological benefit 
than actual operational improvement. 
 
Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for amateurs
Cell: 206-890-4188