-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
-
A Winner has been selected for the 2025 Radioddity Cyber Monday giveaway! Click Here to see who won!
Steel Guy Wire or Dyneema Rope
- Thread starter Recon
- Start date
Wire rope guys can be used provided the lengths are not at/near a resonant length. Quality guy rope, properly installed, will do what's needed and has to be easier to work with without fear of coupling and/or causing pattern distortion.
Which to use depends on wind loading, mast or tower type, typical max winds you see, etc. etc.
7 3
Which to use depends on wind loading, mast or tower type, typical max winds you see, etc. etc.
7 3
Unfortunately, the guy wires / rope will not be the same length because of the location of the telescopic mast. Estimates lengths are; 15ft., 19ft., and 27ft.
Don't think guys (wire rope) need to be the same length, just not at a length that might be @ a half-wavelength long.
Using Dyneema or Mastrand or something like that removes the coupling issue, but obviously must be able to support your push-up mast and your Yagi under max wind load conditions.
Using Dyneema or Mastrand or something like that removes the coupling issue, but obviously must be able to support your push-up mast and your Yagi under max wind load conditions.
Last edited:
Thank you for replying. This will be my first experience with a beam type antenna and my intentions are to transmit and receive on 27.285 - 27.405 AM and LSB. The Colossal 10K has been a fantastic antenna for the past five years and I decided to try / experiment with the Maco beam as a second antenna installed horizontally on the opposite side of my home. I was uncertain if the 1/8" stainless steel guy wire I have would have a negative impact. I will take the exact measurements of the length of each guy wire / rope required tomorrow.
DXman
Yes, that's 3100 degrees F. Nine yrs of hard work.
You shouldn't have any problems with the steel guy lines being U R going horizontal with the beam.
I have run metal lines on my horizontal 5 element for over 45 yrs now (with insulators and without) and never notice any difference. But I am going to replace a couple of them with the Mastrand this year, like Crawdad mentioned.
I have a 330 ft. spool of Mastrant rope that I got from from DX Engineering a couple years ago - on sale $300 off!
I have run metal lines on my horizontal 5 element for over 45 yrs now (with insulators and without) and never notice any difference. But I am going to replace a couple of them with the Mastrand this year, like Crawdad mentioned.
I have a 330 ft. spool of Mastrant rope that I got from from DX Engineering a couple years ago - on sale $300 off!
Last edited:
I completed the installation and used Dymeema Rope. I had spoken with a representative at MACO and she recommended to use rope. Steel guy wire can be used with insulators. First insulators at three-feet from base of antenna and another at twenty-feet increments. The base of the antenna is only twenty-one feet above the ground and have good results.
Wire rope guy wires work just fine.....
I suggest using insulators to isolate the wire rope from the antenna system.....
I suggest using insulators to isolate the wire rope from the antenna system.....
I also say go with the Manstrant. The stuff is almost like Kevlar and it's UV resistant. The 5/32 Type M has a 970lb break strength. DX engineering has a good assortment of different sizes and spec's. Manstant come in 2 types, type P is good for most situations but if you want even stronger go with type M.
And to make guying easier, I recommend these tensioners by CamJam. They also come in handy for many other uses too. You can buy these at Lowes if you have one nearby or Amazon. They are available for different diameters of rope.
This make securing the guys to a stake or whatever you are using simple by just feeding the rope thru one side and simply pulling the end taught and it self locks. There is a quick release you can see on top so you can ease off the tension.
And to make guying easier, I recommend these tensioners by CamJam. They also come in handy for many other uses too. You can buy these at Lowes if you have one nearby or Amazon. They are available for different diameters of rope.
This make securing the guys to a stake or whatever you are using simple by just feeding the rope thru one side and simply pulling the end taught and it self locks. There is a quick release you can see on top so you can ease off the tension.
Last edited:
Niteize has came out recently with a better one, I think, than the one you linked. I have used both, and I like the SlideLocks the best.
niteize.com
CamJam® SlideLock® Rope Tightener
Tighten and connect virtually any cord or rope with this universal, knot-free tightener, featuring a simple pull-to-tighten cast aluminum cam mechanism, quick-release lever, and SlideLock carabiner for secure attachment.
niteize.com
I haven't seen those ones before, but looking at it I like the way rope feeds through the lock better on these ones. These ones are a bit costlier but for the ease they make securing guy lines and other uses, I say they are well worth it.Niteize has came out recently with a better one, I think, than the one you linked. I have used both, and I like the SlideLocks the best.
CamJam® SlideLock® Rope Tightener
Tighten and connect virtually any cord or rope with this universal, knot-free tightener, featuring a simple pull-to-tighten cast aluminum cam mechanism, quick-release lever, and SlideLock carabiner for secure attachment.