[R-390] No tubes involved nor radios OT Antenna Masts suggestion

[rbethman]

Howdy Y'all!

I'm taking a break from the three day circus of obtaining the materials, 
(It too started with insanity and total oblivious Humans!), as I also 
spent a trial assembly of these antenna masts that I'd suggest for folks!

Max Gain Systems has a good array of fiberglass nested masts that they 
make and sell.

They all come with the clamps that must be properly *glued* with THEIR 
recommended items to secure them on the top of each joint.

Definitely do NOT forget to also order their Guy plates that correspond 
to the mast model that gets selected.

The price for a pair of 38 foot Heavy duty mast kits *and* the guy 
plates cost $423.25.

They are heavy walled fiberglass tubes.  The clamps are to be preferably 
epoxied or Liquid Nails adhered to the top of each tube in the set.

I received mine yesterday, and took a good hour or so to do a trial 
assembly of one mast and clamps *without* the adhesion since it IS/WAS a 
*trial* assembly and fit.

I have to say the quality, the shipping and packing are great, and I 
believe I stole this whole two mast sets!

I believe they are listed as mgs4u.com, but don't take my word for it.  
Do a search with Bing.com and you'll get them right at the top of the 
list results.

They will never corrode.  The screws in the clamps have only one quirk 
that I have to keep in mind, they are left-handed threaded ones.  A bit odd.

The trial assembly went pretty good.  Only thing is trying to remember 
the screws are backwards!

I constantly had to remind myself of this.  They are a #3 Phillips head 
or so, definitely beyond ANY #2, could even be #4.

These things are heavy!  They will support anything besides a three 
element beam, and specifically state to USE NO ANTENNA Rotor!

Fine with me.  Only dipoles are going up.  Don't own a beam anymore, it 
croaked.  Don't have a rotor.

They will support a VHF/UHF beam - still NO rotor.

They are in my estimation a lot cheaper that enough Rohn 25, and will 
never rust.  The screws are Stainless Steel.  They "may" develop a light 
layer of rust over a couple of decades.

If you are looking for masts that are push up, are non-conductive, and 
well done, then go take a look!

[The three day circus was actually just the morning of day one. Three 
different locations, two different outfits.  One had their rental truck 
out front with a dead battery and didn't seem concerned enough to 
contact Hertz to have them come out and even look at it yet.  The other 
two were - 1) They are out and you have to stay here and wait, or call 
Penske to reserve one.  2) One of them had two of the Penske trucks 
standing in the parking lot. You have to call Penske to reserve one so I 
can then be allowed to rent it if Penske accepts and passes on the 
*blessing*.  The two of us went to U-Haul, rented a Pickup, went to one 
of those three, and they had a palette stacked with beautiful Maple 3/4" 
sheets of Plywood for the price of $41.38 per sheet.]

Bob - N0DGN