[HCARC] Antenna Mast

[Kerry Sandstrom]

Gary,

I used a 10 foot section from an old 40' TV mast for several years with 
no problem.  It was the next to the bottom section so it was fairly 
large diameter.  About 6 feet was above the tower bearing.  I had a 4 
element 15 m Yagi just above the bearing, a 4 element 10 m Yagi about 3 
feet above the 15 m Yagi and a 5 element 6 m Yagi at the top.  I had it 
up for several years in San Antonio, TX with no problems.

Forty years ago hams seemed to be more willing to take a chance than 
they are now.  Also, Yagis back then were considerably smaller than the 
current crop.  Now  everything seems to be a status symbol:  You have to 
have the "right" rig, "right" tower the "right" antenna, the "right" 
mast,  etc.  I believe this is all foolishness.  Things which are about 
the same size will perform about the same.

For your particular situation,  The Cushcraft A4S is a small light 
antenna.  If you mount the antenna a foot above the bearing on the top 
of the tower, almost any mast should work fine.  If you want to have the 
antenna 15 feet above the top of the tower, then you probably need an 
exotic and expensive mast.  Ask your self how much that extra 15 feet is 
worth?  If its worth $550 plus shipping and taxes plus the difficulty of 
getting it and the tribander installed - Go for it.  If it were me, I'd 
mount it right above the tower bearing and save my money.

Kerry


On 8/16/2014 1:05 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote:
> What do people use for antenna masts on crank up towers, etc.  My crank up tower will only have one antenna probably a Cushcraft A4S beam with possibly the 40 meter modification added.  It will go to a Yaesu 800DX rotator.  Another fixed tower may have a 20-10 meter Hex Beam on it with a Hy-Gain Rotator with possibly a DIY 6 meter beam below it.
>
> All I see are Chrome-Moly masts from DX engineering in 22 foot lengths that are in excess of $550.00 delivered.  There has got to be a better source than that.
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCARC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcarc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCARC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>