[HCARC] Antenna Mast

[Gary J - N5BAA]

It's why I ask the questions - that and an article in the latest QST about 
masts.  Paying in excess of $500.00 for a 22 foot piece of metal tubing just 
sort of struck me as down right STUPID.  I guess there are people who can 
afford that kind of money - I had trouble even thinking of the $129.00 
shipping to get it here from DX Engineering.  The mast would have cost me as 
much as the whole tower did.  Didn't even think about Texas sales tax too.

Gary J
N5BAA

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kerry Sandstrom
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2014 1:44 PM
To: Gary J - N5BAA ; HCARC Reflector
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Antenna Mast

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
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