[TowerTalk] Long span lanyard for wire antenna

[Grant Saviers]

Re Sta-Set, it seems to have good UV resistance in marine use.  Halyards 
etc. do wear at pulleys so that might be a few to dozen years or more 
before being flipped or replaced.

I was going to mention my favorite antenna rope, Synthetic Textiles 
black dacron, but the largest is 5/16 and it seemed light for the 
tension needed for a 350ft span.  Now that "turnbuckles" will be used, 
even more so.  Seems like a very unusual side load for any tower.

The ST is my choice for usual hoist and antenna ropes to a couple 
hundred pounds of tension, although not for any guy or lifting 
operation.  Agree with the other post that it lasts longer than almost 
any wire antenna.   That's the reason my halyards always have a 
secondary light pull down line or are full loops to the ground, so the 
line is never lost thru the pulley. They might get moldy/grungy, so I 
throw them in the washing machine (front loader only) in a mesh bag and 
they are like new.

Safe working load in ropes is a small fraction of breaking strength - eg 
a 4 to 12 safety factor.  All antennas also generate dynamic loads.

 
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/polyester-rope-strength-d_1514.html#:~:text=Minimum%20breaking%20strength%20and%20safe%20load%20for%20polyester,%20%20171%20%2016%20more%20rows%20

Grant KZ1W


On 4/21/2021 02:49, Keith Dutson wrote:
>   
> I think Phillystran is priced a bit high to use as a lanyard.
> On the lower end of price is tarred nylon twine, commonly used for fishing (trotline).  I have used a 400 pound test line obtained from Academy for many years.  It has never failed even after many years of exposure to Texas gulf coast weather.
> Recently I installed three dipoles hung from pine trees near the shack.  I found that the nylon line is difficult to pull through pine tree boughs.  I purchased a roll of 500 pound test paracord (1000 feet for about $50), and it is much easier to pull through pine trees.  So now I am in the process of replacing all of the nylon cord with paracord.
> 73, Keith NM5G    On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 12:07:01 AM CDT, Richard (Rick) Karlquist <richard at karlquist.com> wrote:
>   
>   
> 
> On 4/20/2021 9:08 PM, Grant Saviers wrote:
>> I wouldn't use Phillystran if there is any repeated bending such as
>> going over a pulley, although it is not clear what "lanyard" means.
>>
> 
> AFAIK, a "lanyard" simply hangs something statically.
> A "halyard" raises something and typically involves
> going around 1 or more pulleys.
> 
>    >
>> New England Ropes Sta-Set polyester is my favorite for low stretch,
>> durable, and easy to handle line for all kinds of uses beyond what it
>> did on my sailboat -(vangs, sheets, halyards, spinnaker pole guys).  Now
>> gin pole hoists, temporary guys, multipart blocks, tower rigging, etc.
> 
> I was going to post a request on TT for a source of
> "halyard" rope, but you have conveniently
> answered my question.  I see that the Sta-Set rope:
> "sees little degradation from UV rays".  Would
> you say that agrees with your experience with it?
> 
> While we are on the subject of rope:  I have noticed
> that the current rope offerings from the big boxes and HF are
> now truly dismal.  Don't even bother going into those
> places for antenna work.
> 
> 73
> Rick N6RK
> 
>> Grant KZ1W
>>
>>
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