[NLRS] Portable antenna masts

[jim.k0mhc]

Been there, done that. Aluminum is not strong enough to withstand a side 
wind when elevated with any degree of wind load at the top.
Once I had to use the feed lines as impromptu guy wires in order to bend the 
mast back into position to be retracted.

Probably OK for a small (low wind load) vertical but NOT a rover stack.

73, Jim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Reed" <n0nas at amsat.org>
To: "NLRS List" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:06 PM
Subject: [NLRS] Portable antenna masts


>
>
> When I was shopping Saturday, I saw a possibility for a rover or portable 
> antenna mast.
>
> There is a 16' extendable aluminum flag pole at Harbor Freight on
> sale for about $70. This pole collapses to about 5' tall. It is around
> 2" diameter at the base and still around 1.5" diameter at the top. It is
> a fairly substantial pole as would be expected for something holding a
> flag in the wind. I'm guessing it could hold a small tri-band beam for
> Field Day or a 6M or 2M beam without much trouble.
>
> This might be an option for a trailer hitch mounted antenna mast that gets 
> extended when you arrive at a rover site. Before anyone takes that as 
> gospel, they better check out the mast themselves and decide what it can 
> hold. I think a single antenna at the top will be OK, but I expect any 
> antenna clamps lower down would crush the mast. That is one point where 
> the nested square tubing mast has some advantages....
>
> 73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.
>
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