Re: Topband: -: Dacron & varmits
Folks, Thank you so much for the many replies. I now have several sources and I'm going to take a photo of a piece of the cut end of what I am already happy with and send it to the sellers. Unfortunately I cannot get pullys up to run ropes through, or for that matter the antenna, should I try to do that. All of my HF antennas are WD-1A and all of them are randomly launched over tree tops and I have them anchored at the distal end via Dacron, tied to fallen tree branches 2"-3" in diameter . When the wind blows the trees, the branches come up & down & that acts as a spring to allow the trees to blow and not pull the antenna apart. So, the Dacron has to endure contact with upper tree branches. I have two kinds of the old green Dacron with my least favorite being three smaller ropes woven into one, not braided, just a spiral of three. My favourite is a true braid of many small Dacron fibres and makes a very flexible rope that is for me, ideal. Thanks again for the excellent suggestions on Dacron prepping and the links. I appreciate your sharing the time. Cheers & 73, Gary KA1J _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
Gary, Look at qualitynylonrope.com. I bought a 500' spool of 3/16" polyester (dacron) rope from them about 6 yrs ago using it for my dipoles and guys for my 60' 160M vertical and so far no issues. They sell rope up to 1/2" dia. and, the best part is free shipping on orders over $25. Russ,N3CO Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
Here in KY the squirrels and raccoons are the problem. Not sure which one is the problem. So far I have not seen any nibbling. They just untie and unroll it. They never untie and drop the antenna. I was told it's the sent on your hands that make them do this. Let us know what you do. Good luck Fred KB4QZH Original message From: klie...@myfairpoint.net Date: 2/18/20 2:59 PM (GMT-05:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits The line from� http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html�is good stuff. Buy it directly from them in 1000' spools, and cut out the middle man prices at the various amateur radio retailers (they sell the same line!). Tie a knot today, come back a year or two later and it will come apart and can be used again. Not recommended for passing over tree branches directly, the black sheath will eventually fray, use pulleys to those installations.� �For my 160M and 80M inverted Vee's, I use the line for a 'carrier' or 'messenger', so the weight of the wire is supported by the line and not the 14g THHN or what ever. Every arms length or so I place a wrap of Scotch Super 33+. Every other or so a UV rated tie wrap, then tape. The line will stretch slightly and pull the antenna wire tight.YMMV73 Kriss KA1GJU�� _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
The line from� http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html�is good stuff. Buy it directly from them in 1000' spools, and cut out the middle man prices at the various amateur radio retailers (they sell the same line!). Tie a knot today, come back a year or two later and it will come apart and can be used again. Not recommended for passing over tree branches directly, the black sheath will eventually fray, use pulleys to those installations. � �For my 160M and 80M inverted Vee's, I use the line for a 'carrier' or 'messenger', so the weight of the wire is supported by the line and not the 14g THHN or what ever. Every arms length or so I place a wrap of Scotch Super 33+. Every other or so a UV rated tie wrap, then tape. The line will stretch slightly and pull the antenna wire tight. YMMV 73 Kriss KA1GJU � � _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Dacron & varmits
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 08:04:55 -0800 From: Grant Saviers To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html https://www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Welcome.html is one helluva lot stronger than the textile industries version. And a lot cheaper too! Also available in 25 ft increments up to aprx 1400 ft. Jim VE7RF _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
I was plagued by vermin as well as the elements. Living next to a state park has its problems. I was introduced to Mule Tape by a fellow PVRC member and am in the process of replacing all my ropes with Mule Tape. I ordered a 1000 ft spool of 3/4 inch with a load factor of 2500 lbs. this stuff is really tough. The vermin don’t mess with it. The only drawback is that it only came in white. I remedied this by hitting it with a light dusting of flat black spray paint before installing. This stops the look of toilet papered trees. I’d recommend Mule Tape as an install it and forget about it. Great stuff. Bob KT3RR Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 18, 2020, at 03:01, Gary Smith wrote: > > Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I > have is from the 80's & finally at its > end. I bought some replacement but it's > not what I had. What I had was greenish > and solid braid, tough and incredibly > resistant to nature. > > What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center > conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black > braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides > over the center conductor. It's OK but > difficult to work with and certainly not > what I am going to keep using. I contacted > one source who said he sells pure Dacron > rope but never buying from him before, > asked for a photo of an end piece so I > could see if it's what I'm looking for. He > never sent it to me so I'm still looking. > > For the moment I need 500', soon, double > that. If there's a known source for the > good stuff in the states, please let me > know. > > Now the Rodents, vermin, beasts; I don't > know what it was, but I've been plagued > with wildly varying SWR/antenna problems > often getting a SWR of 9 and then later > the normal SWR of 1.2. I'd get varying SWR > that was fine till say 30W and then the > LP-100A would jump to 9. I'd go out, check > things and find nothing wrong. It's been > driving me nuts. Intermittents suck. I > finally found the little miseries had been > chewing on the ferrite choke on the > control wires to the remote band-switch. > Amazing they only went for the 90 degree > bends, I'm sure they'll go for the > straight length again (did that once 6-7 > years back). I have a Green Heron remote > with wireless transmitter ready to go out, > I'll do that in better weather. > > Removed the rodent's teething ring & > reattached the wires to the remote box and > all's well, just some touch-up stuff to do > and prepare to put up an 80 sloper. The > tree above the radial plate is rotted, it > holds the current 80 vertical wire and > looks to come down soon, probably on the > plate or remote band-switch. But other > than that, I'm back on the air. Sure > delayed me getting into the contest on > Friday, but still knocked out 62 Q's & 37 > countries on 160. Couldn't do much on > Saturday but t'was still fun. > > Thanks for any thoughts on the Dacron. > > 73, > > Gary > KA1J > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
Grant has the answer as far as we are concerned. The Dacron from Synthetic Textiles is good rope. Been using it for mni years. Currently guying my 5 el 80 M array that has been up 25 years. Looks bit weathered but no failures. Charlie, W0CD (SK) used the same rope and when we dismantled his low band array, the rope was still in FB shape. His antennas had been up over 25 years. FWIW 73 George W8UVZ On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 11:05:24 AM EST, Grant Saviers wrote: aircraftspruce.com (but airplane stuff is $) If it is really dacron then http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html And available at several ham radio suppliers. Maybe you want nylon based, this ebay seller has high quality "para-cord" also called "550 line" I suspect originally mil-spec as parachute riser lines, pretty important. I have bought from others but the sheath was loose on the core. This may not affect the strength, don't know, but it sure makes for messy cutting, heat sealing and poor handling. Also, red based colors while highly visible fade very quickly in sun. The herringbone patterns even in blues and greens are still highly visible, if that is desired. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulk-1000ft-Spool-of-550-Parachute-Paracord-Type-III-7-Strand-Nylon-Cord/233012186762?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Grant KZ1W On 2/18/2020 01:25, Roy Morgan wrote: > There is a company that sells aircraft parts and supplies. The name is > something like "American Spruce" or some such. Memory is unreliable on this. > > They sell spark-plug shaped silica gel de humidifier devices used in > preserving piston engines and also used in early Collins PTO's. > > Some creative searching will turn up the company name. > > Roy Morgan > K1LKY Western Mass > >> On Feb 18, 2020, at 3:01 AM, Gary Smith wrote: >> >> Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I >> have is from the 80's & finally at its >> end. I bought some replacement but it's >> not what I had. What I had was greenish >> and solid braid, tough and incredibly >> resistant to nature. >> >> What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center >> conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black >> braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides >> over the center conductor. It's OK but >> difficult to work with and certainly not >> what I am going to keep using. I contacted >> one source who said he sells pure Dacron >> rope but never buying from him before, >> asked for a photo of an end piece so I >> could see if it's what I'm looking for. He >> never sent it to me so I'm still looking. >> >> For the moment I need 500', soon, double >> that. If there's a known source for the >> good stuff in the states, please let me >> know. > .., > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
On 2/17/2020 11:53 PM, Gary Smith wrote: Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I have is from the 80's & finally at its end. I bought some replacement but it's not what I had. What I had was greenish and solid braid, tough and incredibly resistant to nature. What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides A local ham (W6REC) told me that he was the original person who repurposed Dacron line used by fishermen and introduced it to hams, decades ago. He never mentioned any alternate construction like your legacy rope. Are you sure it was actually Dacron, and not some other marine rope? Someone posted on this reflector or towertalk within the last year about using marine rope impregnated with tar to make it UV proof. Is it possible that your legacy rope might be that? One trick that makes the Dacron rope easier to handle is to use one of those fire starters that generate an electrical arc. You can use the arc to cut the rope and melt it together. Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
aircraftspruce.com (but airplane stuff is $) If it is really dacron then http://synthetictextilesinc.com/supportham.html And available at several ham radio suppliers. Maybe you want nylon based, this ebay seller has high quality "para-cord" also called "550 line" I suspect originally mil-spec as parachute riser lines, pretty important. I have bought from others but the sheath was loose on the core. This may not affect the strength, don't know, but it sure makes for messy cutting, heat sealing and poor handling. Also, red based colors while highly visible fade very quickly in sun. The herringbone patterns even in blues and greens are still highly visible, if that is desired. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulk-1000ft-Spool-of-550-Parachute-Paracord-Type-III-7-Strand-Nylon-Cord/233012186762?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Grant KZ1W On 2/18/2020 01:25, Roy Morgan wrote: There is a company that sells aircraft parts and supplies. The name is something like "American Spruce" or some such. Memory is unreliable on this. They sell spark-plug shaped silica gel de humidifier devices used in preserving piston engines and also used in early Collins PTO's. Some creative searching will turn up the company name. Roy Morgan K1LKY Western Mass On Feb 18, 2020, at 3:01 AM, Gary Smith wrote: Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I have is from the 80's & finally at its end. I bought some replacement but it's not what I had. What I had was greenish and solid braid, tough and incredibly resistant to nature. What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides over the center conductor. It's OK but difficult to work with and certainly not what I am going to keep using. I contacted one source who said he sells pure Dacron rope but never buying from him before, asked for a photo of an end piece so I could see if it's what I'm looking for. He never sent it to me so I'm still looking. For the moment I need 500', soon, double that. If there's a known source for the good stuff in the states, please let me know. .., _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits
There is a company that sells aircraft parts and supplies. The name is something like "American Spruce" or some such. Memory is unreliable on this. They sell spark-plug shaped silica gel de humidifier devices used in preserving piston engines and also used in early Collins PTO's. Some creative searching will turn up the company name. Roy Morgan K1LKY Western Mass > On Feb 18, 2020, at 3:01 AM, Gary Smith wrote: > > Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I > have is from the 80's & finally at its > end. I bought some replacement but it's > not what I had. What I had was greenish > and solid braid, tough and incredibly > resistant to nature. > > What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center > conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black > braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides > over the center conductor. It's OK but > difficult to work with and certainly not > what I am going to keep using. I contacted > one source who said he sells pure Dacron > rope but never buying from him before, > asked for a photo of an end piece so I > could see if it's what I'm looking for. He > never sent it to me so I'm still looking. > > For the moment I need 500', soon, double > that. If there's a known source for the > good stuff in the states, please let me > know. .., _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Dacron & varmits
Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I have is from the 80's & finally at its end. I bought some replacement but it's not what I had. What I had was greenish and solid braid, tough and incredibly resistant to nature. What my new "Dacron" is, is a white center conductor I assume is Dacron, with a black braided sleeve/outer-layer which slides over the center conductor. It's OK but difficult to work with and certainly not what I am going to keep using. I contacted one source who said he sells pure Dacron rope but never buying from him before, asked for a photo of an end piece so I could see if it's what I'm looking for. He never sent it to me so I'm still looking. For the moment I need 500', soon, double that. If there's a known source for the good stuff in the states, please let me know. Now the Rodents, vermin, beasts; I don't know what it was, but I've been plagued with wildly varying SWR/antenna problems often getting a SWR of 9 and then later the normal SWR of 1.2. I'd get varying SWR that was fine till say 30W and then the LP-100A would jump to 9. I'd go out, check things and find nothing wrong. It's been driving me nuts. Intermittents suck. I finally found the little miseries had been chewing on the ferrite choke on the control wires to the remote band-switch. Amazing they only went for the 90 degree bends, I'm sure they'll go for the straight length again (did that once 6-7 years back). I have a Green Heron remote with wireless transmitter ready to go out, I'll do that in better weather. Removed the rodent's teething ring & reattached the wires to the remote box and all's well, just some touch-up stuff to do and prepare to put up an 80 sloper. The tree above the radial plate is rotted, it holds the current 80 vertical wire and looks to come down soon, probably on the plate or remote band-switch. But other than that, I'm back on the air. Sure delayed me getting into the contest on Friday, but still knocked out 62 Q's & 37 countries on 160. Couldn't do much on Saturday but t'was still fun. Thanks for any thoughts on the Dacron. 73, Gary KA1J _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
