I am thinking about building a portable antenna mast and have batted about a bunch of ideas. I just wanted to get some input from the field before I start assembling parts. This will only be supporting an Ed Fong J-pole. Nothing HF related.
Option #3: A mix of the two. Use the 5' tripod with the military poles.
What do you guys think? I'm hoping to avoid having to guy anything. These will be temporary installations for special events only. I was planning to use an earth anchor type system under the tripod to securely anchor it to prevent tipping.
Thanks,
Mike
get an extendable fiberglass painters pole from home depot of lowes. use it with the tripod and you will be set.
EDIT, you will need to guy it in some way shape of form if there is any breeze no matter which you go with. i use an Al painters pole with my 2m yagi and use a tripod but still guy it with some 550 cord tied around the second or 3rd section and i use the ground screws to secure it to the ground.
Unless you're building the mount into a Reese hitch for a pickup or something like that, you will be guying it.
If you'd happen to be in a wooded area, just hoist the antenna up into a tree on a string.
If I was going to all that trouble to put up a mast I'd pick a higher performance antenna than a J pole.
I just need to get the antenna in the air to hit the local repeaters. I don't need to reach Outer Mongolia. This would be used at events like the Chicago Marathon.
Thanks,
Mike
Originally Posted By Gamma762:
Unless you're building the mount into a Reese hitch for a pickup or something like that, you will be guying it.
If you'd happen to be in a wooded area, just hoist the antenna up into a tree on a string.
If I was going to all that trouble to put up a mast I'd pick a higher performance antenna than a J pole.
Black Widow 20' crappie pole, will cost you about 24 bucks, and will support a portable j-pole or a wire for HF.
Originally Posted By mylt1:
get an extendable fiberglass painters pole from home depot of lowes. use it with the tripod and you will be set.
EDIT, you will need to guy it in some way shape of form if there is any breeze no matter which you go with. i use an Al painters pole with my 2m yagi and use a tripod but still guy it with some 550 cord tied around the second or 3rd section and i use the ground screws to secure it to the ground.
You might be on to something here. I just happen to be in a paint store today (work related) and was looking at a Purdy 6-12' pole. Very rigid. Had a round fiberglass outer shell with a square aluminum telescoping portion. Unfortunately, I can't carry it on the plane, or I would have bought it right then. I think it will fit the bill nicely.
Mike
my pole is 16ft tall and has a wood extension(because its AL) and with my yagi about 18ft up i have worked well up into new england nights that prop is up. talked to NYC several times and even more into Nj and even Pa and richmond Va with 50w FM. i use an "armstrong" rotator and just rotate till i hit the strongest signal and start working it.
