[Ham-Mac] PVC as a Mast for 2-meter antenna

[Phil Stripling]

Scott Clausen [scottclausen at mac.com] wrote:
> At my old QTH I had trees for hanging antennas. At the new QTH I need  
> a mast to attach a 2-meter antenna to the house. I'm looking at  
> mounting either a parelectronics omni or a W5ncd GP-2 2-meter antenna.
> 
> Has anyone used PVC for a mast or is it to fragile? I'm also thinking  
> of trying a painter pole but wonder if it is also a little too  
> fragile. My QTH is very about a mile off the Straits of Juan De Fuca  
> and high winds can be an issue on occasion.

I have used Schedule 40 PVC for banners in a place with winds gusting to
75mph. I would not say it's to fragile, but I do think it's too flexible. 

For helpful information, I'd like to know your proposed height and whether
you'll do guying and such. I'm not familiar with the weather there -- any
lightning? Limitations on getting the mast to Juan de Fuca?

If you can guy and if the ground is soft enough, I'd suggest conduit pipe.
Drive a 2 or 3-foot length of rebar into the ground halfway, put the
conduit over the rebar, then guy it. Metal masts have their problem, of
course, but the strength is there.

-- 
Phil Stripling
The Civilized Explorer
http://www.cieux.com/