For smaller cable, I have used large paper clips bent open. --wunder, K6WRU
On Aug 20, 2013, at 2:50 PM, Bill Brooks wrote: > Jim, > > Wire coat hangers are perfect for this purpose and are in good supply. > Us Hams are nothing if not field expedient, yes? > > Bill, KE5OG > > On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, Jim Sheldon wrote: > >> Having done demos of my Elecraft equipment at a number of hamfests in the >> KS/Oklahoma area over the last couple of years, I try to get table space >> near an exit or other outside access so I can set up a vertical antenna >> external to the building. Live, on-air demo's work lots better than just >> having the equipment sitting there with the lights on, especially if the >> antenna can be placed outside the building for good reception. >> >> The major problem we usually run into is safely running the coax from your >> table out to the antenna. In the past we usually routed it along a wall, >> and any where that people had to cross it, we first tried duct tape, but >> that turned out to be difficult to remove without damaging something or >> leaving a sticky residue. Next came the "blue" painter's masking tape. >> This worked great when time came for removal, but didn't stick to floors >> or wall surfaces well enough to either support or keep the cable from >> loosening and becoming a trip hazard. >> >> At the Kansas State ARRL Convention this past weekend, we were in a really >> nice venue with the tables just inside the entrance to the flea market >> area. This gave reasonably close access to the main entry doors to the >> building, one of which was off to the side and allow cable access but not >> be used for normal in/out traffic. There was a nice grassy area about 20 >> feet out and clear of the concrete walkway with an aluminum bleacher being >> stored up against the building so it wasn't necessary to tape down the >> cables after getting out of the door. >> >> The major problem was running coax from the table to the door in the first >> place. Since the lobby area we had to string the coax through had an 8 >> foot, gridded acoustical tile ceiling, I got the bright idea to use some >> nylon mason's twine I had and make up a bunch of "sling" loops over the >> grid members and under the tiles. Ran the coax up the steel door jamb from >> the flea market room, taped it down with painter's tape, ran it through the >> loops hung from the ceiling grid well above the heads of anyone walking >> under it and over the top of the one door marked "do not use except in >> emergency". Outside, it was then easy to rout it along the building wall >> out of the way and connect up the antennas. >> >> This won't work for every situation but it's something to consider if a >> dropped ceiling presents itself. If you get a chance to scope out the >> venue before hand, you could even take some aluminum strap (available at >> hardware stores) and bend yourself some strips with a big hook on one end >> and a small straight flat on the other that could be slipped under a >> ceiling tile without having to lift the tiles up to tie a string loop over >> the grid. Keeps the coax up out of the way where the foot traffic can't >> trip over it. >> >> Jim - W0EB >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <javascript:;> >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Walter Underwood wun...@wunderwood.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
