I'm actually serious and I don't know the answer or I wouldn't ask.

I've seen both cases. Some people use them, some don't. What is the
advantage of using them?

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 18:32:03 -0700, "Rod Maupin"
wrote:

What is the advantage of using them?

Hi Rod,

Strain relief, which, by the way, can be achieve by simply strapping
it to the tower.

Downside: creates a voltage standoff too in the event of lightning
strike. This is solved by the alternative offered in the paragraph
above (grounding implied).

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

I'm actually serious and I don't know the answer or I wouldn't ask.
I've seen both cases. Some people use them, some don't. What is the
advantage of using them?

I don't recall you mentioned that you were ALSO putting up a tower, so
IF, for example, your coax is running up the side of your house and
then across the roof, another answer is "to keep the coax in place"
vs. letting the wind slid it across the roof.

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
Certified Instructor for the Kansas Concealed-Carry Handgun license

Rod
I see they are giving you a hard time. Stand offs are used on Andrews
coax when the coax is used as an antenna and you will see them in
tunnels or industrial areas to ensure communication to the home base.
The copper sheathing which is not visible because of the plastic
covering is perforated down one side and must be placed away from any
metal surface
Regarding your tower, the coax must always be grounded at the top of
the tower as well as the bottom and it is always advisable to have the
coax floating INSIDE the tower so in those circumstances a standoff is
useful. I'm guessing that putting the coax inside the tower is to
protect it from lightning strikes and I suppose if the coax sheathing
was stranded it would be to prevent cross talk between cables. I seem
to remember that Tom Rauch has some comments about this on his page and
is much more knoweledgable about these things than those who frequent
this newsgroup. As an aside if your tower is a new one check out the
drainage aspects, we had a local guy die because the bottom rusted thru
while he was up there and offcourse the rust was not visible on the
outside
Regards
Art

Rod Maupin wrote:
I'm actually serious and I don't know the answer or I wouldn't ask.

I've seen both cases. Some people use them, some don't. What is the
advantage of using them?