Fw: OT: Ladder Line Spacers

[Ken Kopp-3]

Wes is of course correct about the UV resistance of
nylon ... NEVER use white ty-wraps outside ... and
the method used by Steve (below) could be even
cheaper if one cut the spreaders from "drip sprinkler"
tubing.  This is (almost) the method used by "W7FG
Ladderline".

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP

> Another ladder line trick.
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzFKGB6qkXs
>
> Steve
> N4LQ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ken Kopp" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 7:17 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] OT: Ladder Line Spacers
>
>
>> Comment on a product of interest to many, by an Elecrafter.
>>
>> http://sites.google.com:80/site/kshamradioparts/home/ladder-line-spacer
>>
>> 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
>>       [hidden email]

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[k6dgw]

Ken Kopp wrote:
> Wes is of course correct about the UV resistance of
> nylon ... NEVER use white ty-wraps outside ... and
> the method used by Steve (below) could be even
> cheaper if one cut the spreaders from "drip sprinkler"
> tubing.  This is (almost) the method used by "W7FG
> Ladderline".

Oooh Kay.  The US military GRA-4 antenna [5' Al poles that you could
push up by adding sections at the bottom, had nylon guy ropes and nylon
haul ropes for the [usually] fan dipole.  My team and I used these in
Vietnam and Laos for 4 years.  Nothing ever broke or fell down, and I
still have about 150 International Feet of that now 45 yr old rope under
the back seat of my truck ... not sure why, but it seemed like a good
idea at the time.  Even if you weren't there, you can probably imagine
the tropical sun, rain, and resultant mold.  This rope survived far
better than my feet did.

I have two wires suspended between my tower and trees on nylon rope.
It's been a long winter, however it does look like it's ending and we'll
be in "forever clear and sunny" weather in triple digits soon [we hope
:-)  The rope shows no deterioration, been up for at least 4 years now.

What am I missing here?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010
- www.cqp.org
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[Ken Kopp-3]

Hi Fred,

Is that long-in-the-tooth rope something other than white?  
OD maybe, therefore resistant to UV degradation?  Does
it stretch, indicating it's actually nylon?  I've seen "military"
rope in various forms and it seems to be Dacron or similar
material, but not nylon.  I have some 3/8" black Dacron here
holding up a heavy dipole that doesn't stretch or degrade in
the sun.

73! Ken - K0PP

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[k6dgw]

Ken Kopp wrote:
>
> Hi Fred,
>
> Is that long-in-the-tooth rope something other than white?

I have no color vision so I don't know what the GRA-4 rope color is, but
it isn't white.  The rope I have up for my current antennas is white and
was labeled "Nylon."

   OD maybe

Looks medium gray to me ... sort of like some shades of red, orange,
yellow, green ... you probably get the idea :-)

> therefore resistant to UV degradation?  Does it stretch, indicating it's
> actually nylon?

It stretches a little not a lot, but it's only about 1/4" in diameter
and fairly tightly woven.  Very smooth, I sealed the end with a match.
It's been out in the open for maybe a dozen years, the rest of the time
in my truck.

   I've seen "military" rope in various forms and it seems
> to be Dacron or similar material, but not nylon.  I have some 3/8" black
> Dacron here holding up a heavy dipole that doesn't stretch or degrade in
> the sun.

Hmmm ... we always thought this was nylon, like the shroud lines on our
parachutes which did stretch a little too.  If Dacron doesn't degrade,
maybe I'll pull some of it over the pulley before the nylon rope breaks.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010
- www.cqp.org
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[W8JI]

> Oooh Kay.  The US military GRA-4 antenna [5' Al poles that
> you could
> push up by adding sections at the bottom, had nylon guy
> ropes and nylon
> haul ropes for the [usually] fan dipole.  My team and I
> used these in
> Vietnam and Laos for 4 years.  Nothing ever broke or fell
> down, and I
> still have about 150 International Feet of that now 45 yr
> old rope under
> the back seat of my truck ... not sure why, but it seemed
> like a good
> idea at the time.  Even if you weren't there, you can
> probably imagine
> the tropical sun, rain, and resultant mold.  This rope
> survived far
> better than my feet did.
>
> I have two wires suspended between my tower and trees on
> nylon rope.
> It's been a long winter, however it does look like it's
> ending and we'll
> be in "forever clear and sunny" weather in triple digits
> soon [we hope
> :-)  The rope shows no deterioration, been up for at least
> 4 years now.
>
> What am I missing here?

Nothing Fred.

http://www.us-rope-cable.com/rope.html

http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/rope/

http://www.lehighgroup.com/fiber.htm

http://www.nylonnet.com/

and this is a post from a fellow involved in the textile
industry that explains why you and I and many others observe
what we do:

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,43983.msg303332.html#msg303332

All of my ropes and strings are nylon, and they last several
years or longer in the sun.

73 Tom


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