Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[MICHAEL ST ANGELO]

Fritz,

I cut a U shaped slot on the top, install a short piece of tubing and run the 
wire through the tubing. I keep the tubing in place by placing a black UV proof 
tywrap on the top of the pipe.

I use tubing so as to not chafe the wire.

Mike N2MS


> On May 12, 2017 at 9:36 PM FritzOAQ  wrote:
> 
> 
> Mike,
> 
> What do you connect to the PVC pipe to hold the wires?
> 
>  
> 
> Herb,
> 
> How do you connect the paint sticks to the posts?
> 
>  
> 
> Fritz K4OAQ
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> I drive the metals posts into the ground and slide a 10 foot section of gray
> 
> 
> PVC pipe over the post for my supports.
> 
>  
> 
> Mike N2MS
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> DXE sells some nifty ladder insulators designed for wooden posts. They are
> listed at $13.95 for a bag of 25. (DXE P/N DXE-LL-LNS) In my case I wanted
> to use metal fence supports with wood on the top for an easier installation
> with a 3 lb maul rather than digging holes for the post supports. While
> pushing my cart through Home Depot one day I stumbling upon paint stir
> sticks in the paint section for .99 cents for a package of three. They are
> made of pine and are 33 inches long and appear very durable being almost 1/4
> inch thick. They can flex a bit but hard to break even over your knee. Much
> to my surprise the DXE Beverage insulator snaps right on to the top portion
> where the paint mixer would normally put his hand. Although not really
> necessary a small wood screw would prevent any insulator from unsnapping in
> high winds. A coat ofThompson's Water Seal on the paint stick is also an
> option. Mounting these insulators in this fashion would bring the ladder
> line in a vertical position with respect to ground. With a half twist ever
> 70 feet I think this would enhance the performance and not degrade it in
> anyway. If I am wrong with that the Beverage gurus might possiblycorrect me.
> 
>  
> 
> I know this is sort of a trivia post but I was amazed at how easily the DXE
> insulator snapped on the paint stick. Also if wooden 2X2's are an option for
> support they can be placed in line of the Beverage field first. Then a screw
> gun can zip these paint sticks in place as required.
> 
>  
> 
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
> 
>  
> 
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

wood screws via the small slots in the posts 


Sent from my iPhone

> On May 12, 2017, at 9:36 PM, FritzOAQ  wrote:
> 
> Mike,
> 
> What do you connect to the PVC pipe to hold the wires?
> 
> 
> 
> Herb,
> 
> How do you connect the paint sticks to the posts?
> 
> 
> 
> Fritz K4OAQ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I drive the metals posts into the ground and slide a 10 foot section of gray
> 
> 
> PVC pipe over the post for my supports.
> 
> 
> 
> Mike N2MS
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> DXE sells some nifty ladder insulators designed for wooden posts. They are
> listed at $13.95 for a bag of 25. (DXE P/N DXE-LL-LNS) In my case I wanted
> to use metal fence supports with wood on the top for an easier installation
> with a 3 lb maul rather than digging holes for the post supports. While
> pushing my cart through Home Depot one day I stumbling upon paint stir
> sticks in the paint section for .99 cents for a package of three. They are
> made of pine and are 33 inches long and appear very durable being almost 1/4
> inch thick. They can flex a bit but hard to break even over your knee. Much
> to my surprise the DXE Beverage insulator snaps right on to the top portion
> where the paint mixer would normally put his hand. Although not really
> necessary a small wood screw would prevent any insulator from unsnapping in
> high winds. A coat ofThompson's Water Seal on the paint stick is also an
> option. Mounting these insulators in this fashion would bring the ladder
> line in a vertical position with respect to ground. With a half twist ever
> 70 feet I think this would enhance the performance and not degrade it in
> anyway. If I am wrong with that the Beverage gurus might possiblycorrect me.
> 
> 
> 
> I know this is sort of a trivia post but I was amazed at how easily the DXE
> insulator snapped on the paint stick. Also if wooden 2X2's are an option for
> support they can be placed in line of the Beverage field first. Then a screw
> gun can zip these paint sticks in place as required.
> 
> 
> 
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
> 
> 
> 
> _
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[FritzOAQ]

Mike,

What do you connect to the PVC pipe to hold the wires?

 

Herb,

How do you connect the paint sticks to the posts?

 

Fritz K4OAQ

 

 

I drive the metals posts into the ground and slide a 10 foot section of gray


PVC pipe over the post for my supports.

 

Mike N2MS

 

 

DXE sells some nifty ladder insulators designed for wooden posts. They are
listed at $13.95 for a bag of 25. (DXE P/N DXE-LL-LNS) In my case I wanted
to use metal fence supports with wood on the top for an easier installation
with a 3 lb maul rather than digging holes for the post supports. While
pushing my cart through Home Depot one day I stumbling upon paint stir
sticks in the paint section for .99 cents for a package of three. They are
made of pine and are 33 inches long and appear very durable being almost 1/4
inch thick. They can flex a bit but hard to break even over your knee. Much
to my surprise the DXE Beverage insulator snaps right on to the top portion
where the paint mixer would normally put his hand. Although not really
necessary a small wood screw would prevent any insulator from unsnapping in
high winds. A coat ofThompson's Water Seal on the paint stick is also an
option. Mounting these insulators in this fashion would bring the ladder
line in a vertical position with respect to ground. With a half twist ever
70 feet I think this would enhance the performance and not degrade it in
anyway. If I am wrong with that the Beverage gurus might possiblycorrect me.

 

I know this is sort of a trivia post but I was amazed at how easily the DXE
insulator snapped on the paint stick. Also if wooden 2X2's are an option for
support they can be placed in line of the Beverage field first. Then a screw
gun can zip these paint sticks in place as required.

 

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

 

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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[MICHAEL ST ANGELO]

I drive the metals posts into the ground and slide a 10 foot section of gray 
PVC pipe over the post for my supports.

Mike N2MS


> On April 13, 2017 at 2:43 PM Herbert Schoenbohm 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Maybe since my Beverages have to be at least 8 feet high to avoid the 
> deer horn (yes we have them in the field were my beverages run). Driving 
> a 10 ' 2X2 into the ground requires me to carry along a step ladder.  
> The way I described allow me to driving in the and 8 foot  metal post, 
> which has stabilizer blade, about I.5 feet into the soil. My wooden 
> paint stick gives me another 30 inches which yields me a total of 8 feet 
> allowing the deer to pass underneath.  These deer are voracilus when 
> they get their horns tangled and the Beverages are usually toast when 
> they are done wit them. The metal fence posts are very sturdy and stable.
> 
> 
> On 4/13/2017 9:58 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote:
> > Why don't you nail or screw a cross piece of needed length to the top
> > of each post, and screw a threaded porcelain standoff insulator so it
> > sticks up on each end.  You can find them at hamfests.  They are
> > usually white porcelain cylinders with tapped holes on each end.
> > Since it is only for receiving there might be an even easier hardware
> > fix.   You could probably transmit with my construction.
> >
> > Rob
> > K5UJ
> > _
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> 
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[Mike Waters]

Beware of some types of porcelain insulators that have a hole that is not
glazed, and so is very abrasive. Over time, movement of the wire inside
that rough hole (from the wind, etc.) has been known to wear off the
plating on the wire where it passes through, exposing the steel core to
rust. W8JI mentions this on
www.w8ji.com/beverages.htm :

"Ceramic post insulators may look great, but they do not allow floating the
wire across the insulator. Even if you do manage to find a ceramic
insulator that allows floating the wire, the ceramic will quickly wear away
at the constantly moving wire. Avoid ceramic insulators, unless you are
prepared to "buffer" the wire through a UV resistant soft plastic bushing!"

I sometimes use round plastic insulators with a lag screw molded into them
at right angles to the hole. They have a slot at angle to the hole to
insert the wire, so that after the wire is tensioned it cannot jump out.
There were some photos on Picasaweb linked to from my Beverage antenna
page*, but I see that Google has taken that site down.

*www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

Maybe since my Beverages have to be at least 8 feet high to avoid the 
deer horn (yes we have them in the field were my beverages run). Driving 
a 10 ' 2X2 into the ground requires me to carry along a step ladder.  
The way I described allow me to driving in the and 8 foot  metal post, 
which has stabilizer blade, about I.5 feet into the soil. My wooden 
paint stick gives me another 30 inches which yields me a total of 8 feet 
allowing the deer to pass underneath.  These deer are voracilus when 
they get their horns tangled and the Beverages are usually toast when 
they are done wit them. The metal fence posts are very sturdy and stable.



On 4/13/2017 9:58 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote:

Why don't you nail or screw a cross piece of needed length to the top
of each post, and screw a threaded porcelain standoff insulator so it
sticks up on each end.  You can find them at hamfests.  They are
usually white porcelain cylinders with tapped holes on each end.
Since it is only for receiving there might be an even easier hardware
fix.   You could probably transmit with my construction.

Rob
K5UJ
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[MU 4CX250B]

I used porcelain insulators with a lag screw on one end and screwed
them into the opposing sides of the 4x4 support posts. I threaded the
wd1a through the large hole in the insulators,  and adjusted the
tension at the end post. Very easy, and trouble-free.
Jim w8zr
Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 13, 2017, at 7:58 AM, Rob Atkinson  wrote:
>
> Why don't you nail or screw a cross piece of needed length to the top
> of each post, and screw a threaded porcelain standoff insulator so it
> sticks up on each end.  You can find them at hamfests.  They are
> usually white porcelain cylinders with tapped holes on each end.
> Since it is only for receiving there might be an even easier hardware
> fix.   You could probably transmit with my construction.
>
> Rob
> K5UJ
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Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[Rob Atkinson]

Why don't you nail or screw a cross piece of needed length to the top
of each post, and screw a threaded porcelain standoff insulator so it
sticks up on each end.  You can find them at hamfests.  They are
usually white porcelain cylinders with tapped holes on each end.
Since it is only for receiving there might be an even easier hardware
fix.   You could probably transmit with my construction.

Rob
K5UJ
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[MU 4CX250B]

I'm afraid I've had bad experience with the DXE ladder line
insulators. I used them on my 760 ft beverages, screwed to the top of
4x4 wood posts, spaced 60 ft apart. With the wind, they eventually
snapped and broke. I ended up abandoning the ladder line and replacing
it with parallel lines of WD1a military twisted pair telephone wire,
routing two parallel lengths of the twisted pairs through ceramic
insulators screwed into the posts. That was three years ago, and
they've held up perfectly. I think the DXE insulators are fine for
short runs of ladder line, but I can't recommend them for beverages in
windy areas.
73,
Jim W8ZR

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 13, 2017, at 6:35 AM, Herbert Schoenbohm 
>  wrote:
>
> DXE sells some nifty ladder insulators designed for wooden posts.  They are 
> listed at $13.95 for a bag of 25. (DXE P/N DXE-LL-LNS) In my case I wanted to 
> use metal fence supports with wood on the top for an easier installation with 
> a 3 lb maul rather than digging holes for the post supports. While pushing my 
> cart through Home Depot one day I stumbling upon paint stir sticks in the 
> paint section for .99 cents for a package of three.  They are made of pine 
> and are 33 inches long and appear very durable being almost 1/4 inch thick. 
> They can flex a bit but hard to break even over your knee.  Much to my 
> surprise the DXE Beverage insulator snaps right on to the top portion where 
> the paint mixer would normally put his hand.  Although not really necessary a 
> small wood screw would prevent any insulator from unsnapping in high winds. A 
> coat of Thompson's Water Seal on the paint stick is also an option.  Mounting 
> these insulators in this fashion would bring the ladder line in a vertic
 al position with respect to ground.  With a half twist ever 70 feet I think 
this would enhance the performance and not degrade it in anyway.  If I am wrong 
with that the Beverage gurus might possibly correct me.
>
> I know this is sort of a trivia post but I was amazed at how easily the DXE 
> insulator snapped on the paint stick.  Also if wooden 2X2's are an option for 
> support they can be placed in line of the Beverage field first.  Then a screw 
> gun can zip these paint sticks in place as required.
>
>
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
>
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Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

DXE sells some nifty ladder insulators designed for wooden posts.  They 
are listed at $13.95 for a bag of 25. (DXE P/N DXE-LL-LNS) In my case I 
wanted to use metal fence supports with wood on the top for an easier 
installation with a 3 lb maul rather than digging holes for the post 
supports. While pushing my cart through Home Depot one day I stumbling 
upon paint stir sticks in the paint section for .99 cents for a package 
of three.  They are made of pine and are 33 inches long and appear very 
durable being almost 1/4 inch thick. They can flex a bit but hard to 
break even over your knee.  Much to my surprise the DXE Beverage 
insulator snaps right on to the top portion where the paint mixer would 
normally put his hand.  Although not really necessary a small wood screw 
would prevent any insulator from unsnapping in high winds. A coat of 
Thompson's Water Seal on the paint stick is also an option.  Mounting 
these insulators in this fashion would bring the ladder line in a 
vertical position with respect to ground.  With a half twist ever 70 
feet I think this would enhance the performance and not degrade it in 
anyway.  If I am wrong with that the Beverage gurus might possibly 
correct me.


I know this is sort of a trivia post but I was amazed at how easily the 
DXE insulator snapped on the paint stick.  Also if wooden 2X2's are an 
option for support they can be placed in line of the Beverage field 
first.  Then a screw gun can zip these paint sticks in place as required.




Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ


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