[TowerTalk] Dacron rope

[john at kk9a.com]

The water is conductive, probably the rope is not that conductive. I
always use Phillystran on elements and insulators at the end of dipoles
where it connects to rope. My 40m OptiBeam uses rope for an element truss
but it has a plastic insulator where it attaches to the element. If your
rope was attached near the tip of the element and you were running a KW it
would likely be destroyed.

John KK9A

To:	towertalk at contesting.com
Subject:	[TowerTalk] Dacron rope
From:	Bill via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
Reply-to:	cqtestk4xs at aol.com
Date:	Tue, 11 Apr 2017 16:30:05 -0400


Interesting, since I just had an experience wit this.

After putting up the Cushcraft A3WS with its 30 meter adapter kit I think the
Dacron will conduct when wet.

SWR was flat and where it should be when dry.  However, after it rained
the SWR
went much higher and the antenna skewed lower in frequency.  It dried out and
now the SWR is as before.  Right now the antenna is up temporarily, but
when I
drop it next week I will be installing insulators on the ends where the rope
touches the driven element.

73   Bill K4XS/KH7XS