[Lowfer] new vertical

[Lyle Koehler]

Steel is not as good a conductor as copper or aluminum, but it doesn't
matter when you have enough of it. The resistance of a 1 inch or larger
diameter steel mast will not add a significant amount of loss to a LowFER
vertical. Continuity at the joints could be an issue. On the heavy-duty
push-up masts made by Rohn, there is a big "set screw" with an L-shaped
handle at each of the joints, in addition to the pin that goes through the
holes when a section is fully extended. When the set screw is tightened, I
expect that it makes a pretty good electrical connection. But I think the
Radio Shack push-up mast may have only the pin, and it wouldn't hurt to run
an extra wire alongside the mast.

Rohn heavy-duty masts are fairly expensive, although I bought a used one a
few years ago for 50 bucks. That particular model extends to 46 feet. With
three people, it's possible to extend the mast on the ground and walk it up.
My friends and I used to do that every Field Day, until we acquired a more
elegant military crank-up mast. With any kind of weight on the top, it would
be best to use the push-up technique, though.

I would recommend something that provides a rigid extension to the base
section of a push-up mast, as opposed to some kind of insulator that it just
sits on. PVC pipe works well for a base insulator. The tower that used to
support one end of the LEK antenna is insulated from ground by a 3-foot
piece of 4-inch diameter shedule 80 PVC pipe. Probably 3-inch heavy-wall PVC
pipe is adequate for a push-up mast.

Lyle, K0LR