Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

My $0.02 worth - I would go to the nearest electrical supply store and
purchase 13 ga copper stranded wire with a plastic coating and a small piece
of either plastic or rubber tubing and slide the antenna wire into the
tubing only enough to where you need to run the whole assy thru the pulley.
The 13 ga wire is stronger than the RS wire and the outside covering should
withstand the abrasiveness of the pulley!
73's de Howard W3CQH

On Jul 20, 9:48 am, wrote:
Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

Hi.
Closely examine the break. You can tell if it was caused by wear,
flexing, or from chemical reaction with what is coming from the
chimney you mentioned. What are you heating with? Gas and oil heat
both create a small amount of sulfur containing acids going out the
chimney.

Also, are you using a pulley with a plastic wheel? A metal wheel, I
forget the real name for it, will wear the wire.

Good luck,
Paul KD7HB

On Jul 20, 12:19 pm, " wrote:
On Jul 20, 9:48 am, wrote:



Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

Hi.
Closely examine the break. You can tell if it was caused by wear,
flexing, or from chemical reaction with what is coming from the
chimney you mentioned. What are you heating with? Gas and oil heat
both create a small amount of sulfur containing acids going out the
chimney.

Also, are you using a pulley with a plastic wheel? A metal wheel, I
forget the real name for it, will wear the wire.

Good luck,
Paul KD7HB

Thanks Paul. The chimney is no longer being used, so there's nothing
happening there. I am using a metal pulley, but I'll look around for
some sort of plastic one. Thanks for your suggestion.

On Jul 20, 12:04 pm, "John Doe" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...

Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

My $0.02 worth - I would go to the nearest electrical supply store and
purchase 13 ga copper stranded wire with a plastic coating and a small piece
of either plastic or rubber tubing and slide the antenna wire into the
tubing only enough to where you need to run the whole assy thru the pulley.
The 13 ga wire is stronger than the RS wire and the outside covering should
withstand the abrasiveness of the pulley!
73's de Howard W3CQH

Thanks Howard. Does the plastic coating affect the signal at all?

Clark

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD

I believe the pulley is the problem.
Run a line from the chimney to one of the trees.
run a line from the chimney to the other tree.
run a short jumper wire (leave a little slack) at the chimney from one line
to the other line.
- and I would be very very tempted to stick a 20-foot pole out the top of
that chimney to get the antenna a little higher.
- my nickel's worth - at a 2-cent discount.

wrote:
Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD


Hello Clark,

Another possibility is to replace the pulley with an insulator and
attach the insulator to your chimney with a length of shock cord. The
pulley can allow movement of the antenna toward one tree or the other,
but does nothing to relieve the effects of the trees moving in opposite
directions in windy conditions. You need something other than the
antenna wire to reduce the tension caused by those movements.

The shock cord stretches nicely as the wind blows and it is cheaper and
easier to replace than the antenna wire. Some use springs or weights
instead.

Chuck
NT3G

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wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 20, 12:04 pm, "John Doe" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...

Clark
KB9SJD

My $0.02 worth - I would go to the nearest electrical supply store and
purchase 13 ga copper stranded wire with a plastic coating and a small
piece
of either plastic or rubber tubing and slide the antenna wire into the
tubing only enough to where you need to run the whole assy thru the
pulley.
The 13 ga wire is stronger than the RS wire and the outside covering
should
withstand the abrasiveness of the pulley!
73's de Howard W3CQH

Thanks Howard. Does the plastic coating affect the signal at all?

Clark


I don't know where the 13 wire comes from , but the most common will be
either 12 or 14 in the US. Anyway the plastic or any other coating will
have no noticable effect on the antenna as far as the signal. It will have
a slight shortning effect on the length, but usually 20 meters or higher is
where that shows up. The higher the frequency the more the effect shows up.
Up to 10 meters, the standard formulars are still close enough for a
starthing point.

"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
link.net...

wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jul 20, 12:04 pm, "John Doe" wrote:
wrote in message

ups.com...

Clark
KB9SJD

My $0.02 worth - I would go to the nearest electrical supply store and
purchase 13 ga copper stranded wire with a plastic coating and a small
piece
of either plastic or rubber tubing and slide the antenna wire into the
tubing only enough to where you need to run the whole assy thru the
pulley.
The 13 ga wire is stronger than the RS wire and the outside covering
should
withstand the abrasiveness of the pulley!
73's de Howard W3CQH

Thanks Howard. Does the plastic coating affect the signal at all?

Clark


I don't know where the 13 wire comes from , but the most common will be
either 12 or 14 in the US. Anyway the plastic or any other coating will
have no noticable effect on the antenna as far as the signal. It will
have a slight shortning effect on the length, but usually 20 meters or
higher is where that shows up. The higher the frequency the more the
effect shows up. Up to 10 meters, the standard formulars are still close
enough for a starthing point.
13 ga copper stranded wire is also very common here in the USA... I am
running 540 ft of it as a longwire (stealth Antenna) from 160m to 70cm -
driving it with an Icom AH4 tuner... works like a champ... No the outer
jacket should have no effect on your signal, you might have to trim the
lengths of the dipole since you will be using a larger gauge wire...
73's de Howard W3CQH

"Chuck" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Hi folks:

I've got a 110' 80 meter dipole that I've used for the past 4
years. I have the dipole strung about 30' in the air and connected
between two trees.

Because of where the trees are and the location of my house, I've
needed to use a pulley that's attached to my chimney to keep the
dipole closer to my house. The pulley is located near the center of
the antenna, and it creates about a 25 degree angle from the chimney
to the other tree.

Each year I have to repair the antenna wire right around where the
pulley is. I'm guessing because I use a cheap antenna wire
(purchased at Radio Shack ... about 14 gauge I believe), that's why my
antenna keeps breaking. I don't see how the pulley's creating that
much wear on the antenna, although I'm sure it's possible.

Would you guess that I'd have better luck if I was to purchase a
stronger antenna wire, such as a copper-clad steel wire I can get at
Universal Radio? http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/wire.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

Clark
KB9SJD


Hello Clark,

Another possibility is to replace the pulley with an insulator and attach
the insulator to your chimney with a length of shock cord. The pulley can
allow movement of the antenna toward one tree or the other, but does
nothing to relieve the effects of the trees moving in opposite directions
in windy conditions. You need something other than the antenna wire to
reduce the tension caused by those movements.

The shock cord stretches nicely as the wind blows and it is cheaper and
easier to replace than the antenna wire. Some use springs or weights
instead.

Chuck
NT3G

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News==----
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Newsgroups
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For a weight you might want to consider either a Duckpin bowling ball about
4 LBS or a Tenpin bowling ball about 16 lbs... Hey don't laugh - you can
usually find an old beat up bowling balls at most bowling alleys and for a
couple of bucks or less they would probably give it to you rather than
sending it to the landfill... Most bowling balls are made of either hard
rubber or plastic and will not disinigrate for thousands of years in the
dump or elements... If you do decide to use a bowling ball, all you have to
do is drill a hole and screw in an eye-bolt, that you get at the local
hardware store - for both size balls, I would recommend one that is about
3-4" long... 73's de Howard W3CQH