[TowerTalk] Wire Rope

[Steve Jones]

Bill,
I'd bet if you used unbreakable SS wire, you'd end up snapping an insulator or a tree branch.  I used #12 Copperweld for my full sized 80M dipole about 30 years ago.  I tied off one end to one tree, and placed a pulley and counterweight at the other tree (both 130' Douglas firs).  My open wire feedline has broken off twice in 30 years due to metal fatigue from the constant flexing in the breeze at the center conductor.  But the dipole wire and ropes/pulley have withstood 90mph gusts here in the Santa Cruz Mountains and never failed.  Once I watched as the counterweight rose and fell a good 15 feet in a big gust.  I really should replace those ropes that hold up each end and the pulley, once the fires clear up here.  I used 5/16" polyester rope from HRO.  It's now covered with moss.

73,
Steve
N6SJ


-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of William Osborne
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2020 10:23 AM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Wire Rope

Has anyone used SS wire rope for an antenna conductor in a wire antenna such as 80-10 OCFD?  I use trees for supports and want to end the breaking problem due to wind swaying thew trees.


Thanks,
Bill..K5ZQ
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