Hello folks, I'd like to respond to comments ref. Flex-Weave Tm, a product that
I introduced in l988. First, I am very sorry that Jim, K9YC, experienced the
difficulties that he noted. DAVIS RF Co. has been well known for taking
extraordinary care of any issues brought to our attention. Our devotion to our
definition, "Client Satisfaction", has been paramount since day one. I only
regret that so many other companies leave a sour taste in many folks' minds
such that customers often are hesitant to contact an owner when dissatisfied.
Jim may contact me about his past problems and perhaps I can satisfy him in
some way, if only partially vs. the time which he indicates he has spent with
Flex-Weave Tm.
Many millions of feet of Flex-Weave Tm have been sold. Concerns by
customers have been very limited and of the many dealers, government entities,
and military units, nobody has ceased use of this product.
"Significant mechanical stress": I would likely be as subjective if I were
to say that, based on my wire and cable design standards, the only RF wire used
for significant mechanical stress should be copper clad steel, appropriately
sized. I would have to have seen the construction of the antennas that Jim
refers to in order to be able to judge if any mechanical stresses occurred
beyond the scope of Flex-Weave Tm. I have received many accolades regarding
the durability of Flex-Weave, over long years of life (also on TT from salty
Cape Cod, to "windy mountain top") .
To address Flex-Weave ( " FW " ) itself: The # 14 is 168 strands of a # 36
copper strand and the # 12 is 259 strands, both configured in a "rope lay"
production process which establishes best strength. Although we have received
many accolades about this product, and have sold it to the commercial and
military market, there is one environmental aspect that we have found over the
years which we must now make clear on our web site and in discussion with
customers. Acid rain, and salt air environment, carries with it an inherent
shortening of life with any
copper product, and more so with such multi stranded, very small OD, strandings
of copper. For many years we have had an alternative choice for hi acid rain
and salt air environments: one product with high UV resistant PVC (note: there
are many compounds of PVC, only a few are comprised of UV inhibitor).
We also use PE (polyethylene) jacketing. PE inherently is UV resistant
because it lacks UV sensitive plasticizers. Our PVC jacketing is obtainable
in black, clear and camouflage green. the most stealth and popular is black.
The PE is available only in black. NOTE: The PE is very abrasive resistant
due to a higher durometer and is very popular with hams that have limited space
and must drape some of the aerial over tree limbs, thus rubbing/abrasion
occurs. Someone else's comment referring to "tough PVC" is a bit of a
misnomer. In most cases, as with our products, PE is considerably "tougher"
(higher durometer/abrasion/UV resistant) than PVC.
Regarding THHN": A majority of our business is in specialty and custom
cable design and fulfillment of custom cables and wires. Thus we must know
numerous dielectric materials, cable design, conductive materials and ambient
influences. Ref. to THHN, in the context of one comment, is likely referring
to household AC circuitry wiring, as you all know. THHN is the type of
insulation system that is PVC with a nylon overcoat and this wiring comprises a
type of annealed copper that will eventually stretch. I respect the sometimes
circulated idea of using it for short wire antennas, but I do not recommend it
for any aerial of any length. It also ties into the old adage, "you get what
you pay for".
To clarify another comment: Flex-Weave Tm ( "FW ") was introduced first
to the ham market and was, and still is, the most flexible aerial wire on the
market. It did lend itself to rapid deploy, and use by the military. However,
it was never considered as a "short-life" wire. As noted, for longer life in
problem environments, use our jacketed types, and you can still tie it in
bowline or other knots to highly secure to insulators, etc. Also, jacketed FW
is virtually "kink-proof". Bare FW can kink if not handled somewhat carefully,
but kinks less than many other wire options.
With regard to "tough PVC" for long life, please opt for PE jacketed, like
"Poly Stealth 13" (13 AWG), and I can almost assure you that the PE jacket
will survive in "breathable" environments for 25-30 years or more, as far as
atmospheric influences are concerned ("current" atmospherics, and lets hope we
get "greener" as time evolves !! HI). "Poly Stealth 13" consists of a 19
strand CCS (copper clad steel, also ref'd to as "Copper Weld", a tm of
Copperweld Bimetallics, LLC.), it is NOT Flex-Weave Tm. FW12P and FW14P, and
the FW12 or 14 PVC is also available from us, or many of our authorized
dealers.
DAVIS RF Co. supplies wire materials to best suit particular applications.
I apologize for being remiss in not recognizing sooner that we need to put info
on our site as to the effects of acid rain and salt air on fine bare copper
lays. Also, I admit that if a Flex - Weave Tm wire didn't last a year, then I
can't blame Jim's Santa Cruz area salt air environment. All I can say,
honestly, is that I have only few concerns over the 19 years of Flex Weave and
yes, I've had maybe 10 questions as to how to easily deal with cleaning and
resoldering (which I will put on our website ASAP, and let TT know). Only
other few concerns: using bare FW for quads: as I have told many quad
planners, you must adequately
compensate for abrasion where passing through, or around spreaders. Think
"hair like" copper strands (# 36 AWG), but it WILL work, and you will like the
overall system flexibility. Better yet, use PVC jacketed FW.
I just hope that people will trust that I am honest, friendly, and more than
happy to discuss, and resolve, any of their concerns. It is never my intent to
sell product that is inappropriate for the application: electrically,
mechanically, or satisfaction worthy.
Thank you for your time to review this.
73,
Steve Davis, K1PEK
DAVIS RF Co.
sdavis@DavisRF.com
978-369-1738
~ Davis RF Co., Div. of Orion Wire Co.,Inc.
Distribution to numerous industries, Andrew
Heliax; Times Microwave LMR; RFS Celwave and others.
Cable design engineering. RF Peripherals.
www.davisRF.com
Tel: 1-800-328-4773 (1-800-DAVIS RF) Tech'l: 1-978-369-
1738, Fax: 1-978-369-3484
~ DAVIS/ORION Marine Wire and Cable Co., Distribution and Design: UL/USCG
Marine Stds. Tel: 877-242-2253 Fax: 603-787-2221 (Direct tel to Steve Davis:
978-369-1738 or Fax: 978-369-3484)
~Orion Wire Co., Inc., Design Engineers of Specialty/Custom Cable
Tel: 1-800-328-4773, 1-603-787-2200 Fax 1-603-787-2221,
email: j_stimson@davis-orionwiregroup.com
www.davisRF.com
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