[Lowfer] Time to build a new antenna - Insulator question

[Mike Staines]

I have found that some of the better military surplus stores often carry 5 foot lengths of fiberglass rod that the military uses for antenna supports. The rods fit together like vacuum cleaner rods.
I have seen them as cheap as $1 for each 5 foot length although $3-$5 a length seems to be the going rate.

Mike
WM1KE

On Fri, 2010-04-16 at 11:44 -0400, craig wasson wrote:
> I would suggest fiberglass.  Wood would probably be too brittle and weaken 
> over time.  Some sort of solid fiberglass rod - but don't ask me where to 
> find it.  I'd start at a marine supply place.
> 
> If you could find some sort of fiberglass mast material maybe the entire top 
> 10 feet could be that fiberglass mast so you would not have a sandwich 
> between metal and fiberglass.  The top part could flex in the wind and maybe 
> be less likely to break.
> 
> Craig - N6IO
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Andy - KU4XR" <ku4xr at yahoo.com>
> To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>; "Part-15 Yahoo" <part15 at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 10:19 AM
> Subject: [Lowfer] Time to build a new antenna - Insulator question
> 
> 
> Hi All:
> 
> The PVC pipe supporting the wire antenna here for " XR " has done
> its job, allowing for easy up, and down, experimentation. However
> it is becoming brittle due to the UV exposure, and will be on the
> ground not long from now, so it's time to put up something that
> will last for more than a couple of years.
> 
> My antenna idea will be to use 10 foot sections of Aluminum chain
> link fence pipe. The 1 inch pieces that run along the top of the
> fence. They are light guage, but I'm only going up 30 feet, so not
> really a problem with wind hopefully. Also, the pipe is very
> economical so the antenna won't break the bank.
> 
> My Question ::: I want to side mount an elevated loading coil at
> the 20 foot above ground level, so I will need to Insulate the top
> 10 foot section of pipe from the bottom 20 feet. What material will
> be good for that purpose ??? Would a wooden Dowel 1 inch in diameter
> do the job and not break off from too much load ??? It will need to
> be strong, because I will be connecting the tophat to it also, and
> that will add to the strain on the insulator separating the pipes.
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions:  73 :::
> 
> 
> 
> Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
> LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
> Coordinates:  N:  35º 43' 54" - W:  84º 3' 16"
> http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
> http://webpages.charter.net/ku4xr/
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