Dipole antennas: Will paracord hold up well enough in the sun? Is there a better alternative?

Dipole antennas: Will paracord hold up well enough in the sun? Is there a better alternative?

Tower is up and pre-stretched multi-strand 14 Ga wires are cut terminated for a multiband fan-style dipole antenna system. Location is the desert southwest of the USA. Stringing up parts of it are going to be a challenge due to topography, and it will require lengthy tie-down cord on the end of the 7580 Meter portions. Monofilament would definitely stretch and break down in the sun. So Im intending to use paracord and have a quantity of Mil Spec 7 Stranded Type III Nylon black paracord on hand. My question: 1 Will paracord hold up well enough in the hot sun And does the color matter i.e., will black paracord degrade noticeably faster than white 2 Is there a better alternative FYI, I used the same antenna wire mentioned here: HF SWL antenna wire Will plain 16-Gauge copper wire work well enough

Paracord is a usurped and abused term for a wide variety of cords. The US Military previously specified 6 different types of paracord. It is also known as parachute or 550 cord. Originally constructed of nylon to allow shock absorbance in parachutes there are now many made of polyester and other materials. When considering its use for supporting an outside dipole there are three things to keep in mind: UV resistance, stretch and working strength. A UV resistant material should be used for outdoor applications or the material will turn brittle and ultimately yield. Nylon, for example, deteriorates under long term exposure to the sun UV. Check the suppliers specification and pick a UV resistant version. Color itself will not be a factor in UV susceptibility if the cord is already UV rated although some colors may fade under long term exposure to the sun. Paracord was originally designed to stretch. This may be helpful in providing some wind survivability for the dipole if stretched between trees, for example, but too much stretch may make it difficult to properly tension the dipole. A dipole with a balun and coax cable can require considerable tension in order to attain the desired catenary droop. You can use on-line calculators to determine the minimum working load for the paracord or simply use a pull scale fishing, luggage, etc. on your installation to measure the applied tension to ensure you are operating below the working load of your paracord. If your supporting cord will rub against trees or other supports, you should take measures to guard against abrasion or choose an abrasion resistant construction. If you are not committed to using paracord, there are several cords suitable for antenna applications. Mastrant by DX Engineering or Amazon is one such example.