[TowerTalk] Wind Noise

[Lux, Jim]

On 3/15/21 9:14 PM, Michael Tope wrote:
> I don't doubt that putting the rope on the outside is more effective, 
> but I have just never seen or heard of anyone doing that with a Yagi. 
> What diameter rope would be sufficient. What would be the pitch of the 
> turns (I am picturing a helical wrap). Any downsides?
>
> 73, Mike W4EF.....


If you look at car antennas that use the technique or tall chimneys - 
The pitch on a 1" diameter thing would be "feet". Again, looking at 
chimneys, I think something like 1/4" rope (or UV resistant tubing, like 
used for irrigation) would probably work.

For power lines, on 1" diameter cables, they look like they're about 3-4 
feet long with a pitch of 6-8".  They only put them every so often, not 
continuously.


All you need is something to break up the uniform air flow.  You could 
probably use chunks of pool noodle.


As to why they aren't seen commercially on Yagis - cost? It looks weird? 
- I suspect that most people don't actually care if it vibrates, unless 
the frequency happens to match the resonant frequency of the element and 
it gets very large amplitude. And that would, I think, be unusual - the 
mechanical resonance is low (around 1 Hz, judging by eye) - and the 
aeolian excitation is going to be higher.  It would have to excite a 
higher mode.