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In case anyone else is looking for a suitable spring, the one I found at Home Depot seems just about right. It’s 1-1/8″ x 16″ and has a working load limit of 31 lbs. Made by Everbilt. HD Store SKU #170733.
I installed it using a pulley as Paul suggested above.
For maximum wind resistance, it is necessary to keep the tension in the antenna wire relatively low so that when the wind blows in a way that increases tension, the breaking strength of the antenna wire is not exceeded. This usually accomplished by allowing some sag in the antenna wire. However, this sag may also degrade antenna performance. Google “antenna sag” for more info. Like everything else, choices involve tradeoffs!
Rick
K8EZB
Thanks for the spring suggestion. I could do that at the end I’m using to lower the antenna for maintenance. I’ll head over to Home Depot today and see if I can find a suitable spring.
I’m mostly concerned about ice on the ropes and wires. The trees I’m using are big. I watched yesterday during the high winds, and it looked like they were only swaying maybe 4-5 inches where my messenger rope is attached.
I’ve got one end tied off at the base of the tree and the other through a pulley and tied to a screen door spring. With all the wind today I got to see it working. I’ve also got enough line at the spring end that I could lower the whole antenna down and back up for maintenance.
Just another idea.
Could it be a from a voice synthesizer? I’m still learning my ICOM 756 Pro3 and a few weeks ago I somehow inadvertently tapped into it and now I get a voice announcing the new mode and frequency every time I change one of them. I wish I could figure out how to turn it off.
John Regan
KC1PRQ
I’ve been getting conversations on 60M, usually in the morning, I also have been having problems tuning 10, 20 and 40 meters on FT8. My tuner sounds like its in extremis, clicking, then grinding then chattering. That has cut me off from computer control as I cannot stop the tuning process through ft8 button. shuts down my second monitor; unplugged the tuner from the radio,turned off the tune step and reload FT8. Finally substituted my Z11ProII and problem went away. At-200 now boxed and ready to return to LDG for service. Must be the week for FT8 excitement.
Tom Mahon
AN1NSThis guy makes it look easy: https://youtu.be/5SyTgypPagw
Thanks for the heads-up. This was the first time I had tried to receive a signal from the ISS. I was surprised by how well my omni-directional vertical base antenna worked. I had solid reception for about 9 minutes. I had assumed I would need to point some sort of directional antenna up at the ISS.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>A lot of super suggestions. I followed Hamilton’s input and between us (99% Hamilton), I now need a seat belt. From 10 minutes warm up to 39 seconds. Pheeeeew, super speed.</p>
TNX Hamilton and everyone who pitched in. 73 Dennis K1LGQ.Following up on some earlier posts re putting a line over a tree limb to erect a wire antenna. I found a variety of devices recommended for this purpose including special slingshots, spud guns, bows, etc. Today I learned of a very simple, safe and inexpensive approach I hadn’t seen previously. I had an arborist on site doing some routine tree work and asked him about this. He demonstrated the use of a “throw weight” and “throw line,” and quickly put a line over a pine limb 70 ft up and in close proximity to other limbs. Here is a link to the gear he used: Notch Acculine and Throw Weight Combo Kit | TreeStuff https://www.treestuff.com/notch-equipment/; about $36. He also used a “throw line cube” to hold the throw line, but this isn’t essential, however may be useful if one is doing this frequently. Took about 15 minutes which included some time to position the line in exactly the right place. Simple, easy, inexpensive, no maintenance.