If one is building an antenna for an EOC you do NOT want to use too small a wire, and its attendant weak breaking strength.
Use no. 14 or larger wire, stranded. Use heavier duty insulators, good ceramics or glass if you can get them in place of plastics which deteriorate in the sun in a short time. Use good quality tie off lines. Nylon stretches, but can be used if you tighten up the stretch or use a spring. There are compression springs made for electric fence gates. These are better than extension springs for antenna work. You can buy Phillystrand or other better quality synthetic lines to hold up the insulators on doublets, that stretch less. Remember, you do not want your antenna to come down in the storm, or "The Big One". Check them on your regular station check outs at the EOC. They may mean taking off early from work so you can check the antenna visually in daylight. A pair of binoculars is useful to avoid climbing the tower. Expect to service your antenna twice a year for some storm induced problem. That has been our experience with a 65 foot tower at Red Cross here. Stuart K5KVH _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
