Fong antenna on a DX heavy duty telescoping mast

[thetimbo]

New guy here. Preparing to assemble a system. A Fong antenna on a DX Engineering TFK-46 mast using lmr-400 coax. I'll raise the mast to about 30ft. My question concerns the cable. As the telescoping mast is lowered for storms, how do people manage the coax? This sounds like a dumb question, but I can't find many examples of this to copy. I don't want to damage my brand new expensive cable.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[mmckenna]

Coil it up as it comes down. It is kind of stiff, but the allowable bend radius is something around 2 inches. Just coil it up in a 2 foot or bigger diameter loop and you'll be fine.

Just be sure to support the coax very well just below the antenna. The connectors won't like 30 feet worth of LMR400 pulling down on it all the time.

 

[prcguy]

I have a similar mast, the MFJ 1908HD 50ft I think. That mast will not hold up LMR400 without swaying all over the place without guys, something to consider.

 

[thetimbo]

Thank you for the replies. I hadn't realized the effect the coax might have on the mast or connectors. PRCGUY will the effect be pronounced even at 25-30ft in your opinion?

Thanks
Tim

 

[thetimbo]

Sorry, also mentioning that the mast will be secured in two places to the side of a heavy shed. The highest attachment point will be 6ft.

Tim

 

[prcguy]

Thank you for the replies. I hadn't realized the effect the coax might have on the mast or connectors. PRCGUY will the effect be pronounced even at 25-30ft in your opinion?

Thanks
Tim

For holding up the end of wire horizontal wire antennas and small vertical VHF/UHF antennas I keep my mast at about 30ft max. For just running a wire up the mast connected to a tuner at the base it works ok at the full 50ft. Or maybe its 48ft. A mast attachment at 6ft will help a little.