Antec Double Stop

Technical details

I acquired my Antec Double Stop from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 1999.

The Antec Double Stop consists of a control handle/upper bollard assembly and a lower bollard casting, each pivoting between two 3 mm. stamped aluminum side plates. The side plates have raised portions in their lower half to provide some rigidity. Each plate has a 15.5 by 19 mm. pear-shaped hole at the base for attaching to one's harness. The two plates are compressed toward each other at the lower side of the hole. The control handle pivots from a rivet near the top of the side plates. The upper bollard is a 32.2 mm. aluminum turning mounted on the same rivet as the control handle. The pivoting bollard assembly is a steel casting with integral lower bollard, upper bollard and guide pin. It mounts midway on the frame with a rivet that passes through the approximate center of the lower bollard.

One side plate is stamped with the ANTEC logo, "CE0123", "ANTEC", "DOUBLE STOP", "3501370", a figure showing the normal rigging, "DRISSES/ROPES" and "Ø9 - 12 mm." The other plate is stamped with "1698-A", a page icon with an explanation mark beside it, "PROPER TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE USE", another figure showing the normal rigging (a mirror of the other side - one is looking at the reverse), and "PATENTED."

Comments

Despite its name, the Antec Double Stop is designed for single ropes. The bollards are on a pivoting frame. When the handle is released, the rope tension pulls the bollards inward, squeezing the rope between the upper bollard and a third bollard (not visible) mounted on the handle pivot. This stops the rappeller, although it doesn't work unless there is tension on the rope below the rappeller (i.e., don't count on it working at the end of a drop). Squeezing the handle forces the bollard assembly to rotate outward, allowing one to descend. Squeezing the handle further squeezes the rope between the handle and an auxiliary bar on the bollard assembly, again causing the rappeller to stop. The entire system relies on squeezing the handle enough, but not too much (position 2), so that if the rappeller either lets go (position 1) or panics and over-squeezes (position 3), they will stop. I find these types of systems take getting used to, and in my mind are somewhat of a nuisance, but that is a personal preference that some others don't share.

Note that the tail end of the rope is trapped instead of hanging free from the upper bollard like it does on many other bobbins. This eliminates the need to add a second maillon or rapide as shown on the Bobbins: General Comments page.