Best thing I did was watch Steve's VE6WZ wonder videos on Beverage antennas. Go
to YouTube search for VE6WZ.. Fred KB4QZH
-------- Original message --------From: Randy via Topband
<topband@contesting.com> Date: 9/15/21 7:58 AM (GMT-05:00) To:
topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Results: "Fusing" Beverage Antennas
From Falling Trees I thought that I would report to the reflector the results
of my efforts to find a way to deal with falling branches and trees causing my
beverage wires to need constant repair. My beverages are 8 feet high and 650
feet long and run through densely wooded areas. I use WD-1A military comm wire
which is tough stuff but breaks when a large branch or tree fall across it.
Several months ago I posted a request on the reflector looking for ideas as to
how to deal with the problem. I got several very good suggestions including
one from Steve VE6WZ. He suggested using a counterweight on the ground at each
end of the beverage. The weight would will be pulled upward if a tree fell
across the wire and hopefully the wire would not break. Knowing that we have
lots of summer storms with high winds I arranged one of the beverages with the
weights in May. The new system worked great. I had large trees fall across
the beverage on more than one occasion and all I need to do was remove the
trees and the weights came back to their resting position. I found that a 15
pound weight at each end kept the 650 foot wire taut but would also be light
enough to be lifted by a falling tree. I used plastic electric fence
insulators to support the beverage along its length except at the ends where I
used small pulleys to lessen the stress on the wire where it bends downward. I
have now installed all my beverages using this system. It will be interesting
to see if they survive the winter storms. Thanks to VE6WZ for the idea. 73
Randy W9ZR_________________Searchable Archives:
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