[UK-CONTEST] Mastrant ropes - Caution?

[Kerr, Prof. K.M.]

It is only right to follow-up on earlier postings about my pursuit of a non-conductive guy rope solution over the summer.
At the first serious test (and it was serious) I am afraid the Mastrant rope does not seem to be up to snuff. This is at least my initial impression.
I think Don G3BJ asked a pertinent question at one point in our exchanges, regarding the performance of this rope under impulsive stresses such as wind gusts.
Sad to say, I think the conclusion may be 'not good enough'. I got home last night to find the top section of the P80 guyed with the Mastrant rope (D12) bent right over and the yagi on top completely trashed. I have not had the chance to examine the damage in detail but it seems the top guy in the prevailing wind direction 'failed'. The turnbuckles, U bolts etc seem OK so I suspect the rope stretched to a point where it was serving no useful purpose.
Difficult to be sure but my confidence in this stuff is now zero! I genuinely believe that the installation was otherwise well enough designed and assembled (but then I would say that, wouldn't I!)

Keith GM4YXI/GM5X






The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.