[TVARC] Flagpole Antenna Recommendation

Mon Apr 17 20:48:53 EDT 2023

Rick: I have and highly recommend #3 based on NP2M’s article. I have 36 radials ranging from 15 to 30 feet. Do not skimp on radials.  If you can do more, so much better.

As a snowbird, I remove the flagpole for the hurricane season.  It’s easily done with a slight assist from my wife.  I cap the base with a PVC cap to prevent critters & debris from entering the exposed supporting PVC tube.

Feel free to stop by to see it.

73,

Tom Menas, K3WT
Village of Santo Domingo
Cell: 952-303-2086
tommenas.k3wt at gmail.com

Sent From My iPhone

> On Apr 17, 2023, at 16:40, tvarc-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Flagpole antenna choices for HF (rick at kd9my.com)
>   2. Re: Flagpole antenna choices for HF (Ken Kaplan)
>   3. Re: Flagpole antenna choices for HF (Rich Erlichman)
>   4. Re: Flagpole antenna choices for HF (tim )
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:24:47 -0400
> From: <rick at kd9my.com>
> To: <tvarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> Message-ID: <[email protected]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> I'm planning on installing a flag pole antenna this summer when we have our
> landscaping upgraded.
> 
> Which version would you recommend?
> 
> 
> 
> I've been looking at:
> 
> 1.    ZeroFive antennas
> 2.    Grayline
> 3.    Actual metal flagpole in PVC insulated base
> 4.    Home made PVC flagpole on TVARC site
> 
> 
> 
> I plan to use a remote tuner at the antenna.
> 
> Thanks for your input.
> 
> Rick KD9MY
> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:10:32 -0400
> From: Ken Kaplan <wb2art at gmail.com>
> To: rick at kd9my.com
> Cc: TVARC <tvarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> Message-ID:
>    <CAB2qLx4QcHN3pAG65JfUfDcXZYzSNv0Ehv=gH1usd4zUWTbm8Q at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> #3 has worked great for me for 5 years.
> As long as you can put down radials you're OK.
> I have an article by NP2B (he lives in the villages) I can send you.
> Ken wb2art
> 
>> On Mon, Apr 17, 2023, 1:25 PM <rick at kd9my.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I?m planning on installing a flag pole antenna this summer when we have
>> our landscaping upgraded.
>> 
>> Which version would you recommend?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I?ve been looking at:
>> 
>>   1. ZeroFive antennas
>>   2. Grayline
>>   3. Actual metal flagpole in PVC insulated base
>>   4. Home made PVC flagpole on TVARC site
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I plan to use a remote tuner at the antenna.
>> 
>> Thanks for your input.
>> 
>> Rick KD9MY
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:16:01 +0000
> From: "Rich Erlichman" <rich.erlichman at gmail.com>
> To: rick at kd9my.com
> Cc: "Reflector \(TVARC at mailman.qth.net\)" <TVARC at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> Message-ID: <emea2689e8-6dc2-4500-8356-84d9702a8288 at 923e74b1.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"; Format="flowed"
> 
> Hi Rick,
> 
> If you are the DIY type of guy, then I recommend you going the same 
> route I took. Your option 3.
> Here is a link to Amazon for the flagpole I purchased several years ago:
> Amazon flagpole 
> <https://www.amazon.com/Super-Tough-Residential-Flagpole-Valley/dp/B07K76PYTC/ref=sr_1_21_sspa?keywords=flagpoles+residential&qid=1681753928&sprefix=FLAGPOLE%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-21-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTUdXVTQ2R1NWUVEyJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTEyMzAyMTZPQVdRTllDWlFNTiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjcxODQ4M1U1UjRUVEwwSDdMVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=>. 
> The price has gone up over the years, but it came down a little from the 
> highest I saw last year.
> I recommend using a tilt-over mast, from DxEngineering to make it easier 
> to take apart and secure for Hurricanes, maintenance, etc. From 
> DxEngineering: OMNI-TILT 
> <https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-omnitilt-1p>.
> For a mast, I used a left-over 4' section of pipe from a satellite dish 
> mast, which conveniently fit nicely inside a 3" diameter section of PVC 
> pipe, which acts as the insulator between ground and the tilt-over 
> section. This section of mast is what is in the ground encased in 
> concrete. A 40 lb bag of Quikrete out of Lowe's does the job nicely.
> For some construction pictures of my project look at my QRZ page 
> <https://www.qrz.com/db/ND4G>.
> 
> Hope this info helps.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Rich, ND4G
> 
> 
> 
> ------ Original Message ------
>> From rick at kd9my.com
> To tvarc at mailman.qth.net
> Date 4/17/2023 1:24:47 PM
> Subject [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> 
>> I?m planning on installing a flag pole antenna this summer when we have 
>> our landscaping upgraded.
>> 
>> Which version would you recommend?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I?ve been looking at:
>> 
>> ZeroFive antennas
>> Grayline
>> Actual metal flagpole in PVC insulated base
>> Home made PVC flagpole on TVARC site
>> 
>> 
>> I plan to use a remote tuner at the antenna.
>> 
>> Thanks for your input.
>> 
>> Rick KD9MY
>> 
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:05:13 -0400
> From: "tim " <tfleonard at pacbell.net>
> To: <rick at kd9my.com>,    <tvarc at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> Message-ID: <[email protected]>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Hello Rick,
> 
> 
> 
> One other option that I have come across is a Cushcraft 5BTV inside a 3 inch
> PVC pipe with flag hardware.  The big issue I see with this is the size of
> the cover over the mounting bracket.  They used a 5 inch plastic rain gutter
> to cover it.  I have also considered doing the same with my Hygain 12AVQ but
> it suffers from the same mounting issue.  
> 
> 
> 
> There are probably others looking for outdoor antenna solutions so please
> pass along any off list responses you get.
> 
> 
> 
> The TVARC PVC flag pole looks interesting but I have doubts about its wind
> survivability. 
> 
> 
> 
> Tim AA6DQ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:tvarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of rick at kd9my.com
> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 1:25 PM
> To: tvarc at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [TVARC] Flagpole antenna choices for HF
> 
> 
> 
> I'm planning on installing a flag pole antenna this summer when we have our
> landscaping upgraded.
> 
> Which version would you recommend?
> 
> 
> 
> I've been looking at:
> 
> 1)      ZeroFive antennas
> 
> 2)      Grayline
> 
> 3)      Actual metal flagpole in PVC insulated base
> 
> 4)      Home made PVC flagpole on TVARC site
> 
> 
> 
> I plan to use a remote tuner at the antenna.
> 
> Thanks for your input.
> 
> Rick KD9MY
> 
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> End of TVARC Digest, Vol 74, Issue 18
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