We could use the old Channel Master U-110 )(mast through the rotor housing )
with a trust bear about now.
Also mount the rotor at ground level and use guy slip rings for the rotating
mast. It keeps the center
of gravity low.
Jerry w2jcn
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com>
To: VHF Contesting <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 28, 2016 2:05 pm
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Yagis on masts
Hi. I tend to follow these threads with interest as I'm still looking for
better ways of setting up my portable / roving station.
Currently I'm using military surplus 4 foot long and slightly under 2" OD
stackable aluminum mast sections (I believe they were originally intended for
supporting camouflage netting ?)
Have used up to 6 or 7 sections with a 15 foot long 2M beam on top but 5
sections in total (including the fixed base) or less is much easier to handle
by my self and I doubt I will ever run 7 sections again and I have never used
these in any significant wind. I wouldn't want to run these in a permanent
setting and I can't vouch for the structural strength of the surplus mast
sections. I like the fact that these mast sections were presumably designed
to be repeatedly assembled and disassembled which seems to match my use case.
I've had very few issues with them.
I find it is usually easier and safer just to run one mast per antenna when I
am roving by myself or with a helper rather than trying to walk up a stack of
antennas. Guys help and I usually use them them. I usually support the
bottom mast section with a receiver hitch mount on my truck or I use a tripod
and use spikes to secure the tripod legs to the ground. (I usually need to
use a pry bar to remove the spikes.) I find I can usually manage 4 stacked
mast sections with an antenna on top, and I can set those 4 sections onto a
base section and get 20 feet in total. Having a helper is handy as well.
I typically only set these masts up in out of the way locations far away from
other people. I plan to spend 30 minutes per mast / antenna during setup.
Tear down is usually faster.
I do find that getting the antennas 20 feet or so up in the air helps with the
performance of my station on the lower bands. I figure there is also probably
some benefit in running separate masts on the lower bands vs stacking 6M, 2M
and 1.25M antennas on the same mast. Most of my contacts are in one general
direction and I've generally only found rotors to be of use on 432 MHz and up
(but I suspect my situation may be a bit unusual.)
I've yet to find an inexpensive (ie under $1K) telescoping mast solution that
I'm happy with and the expensive ones I've been happy with weren't available
for me to use in my Ham Radio activities. It is nice to hear from those who
have run Rohn pop up masts (or similar products) while roving. I'll have to
look more closely at those (but I like to be able to break everything down to
six foot sections or less.)
I've had issues over the years with inexpensive telescopic masts binding during
tear down. I still carry hammers, big pairs of water pump pliers, hack saws
etc to deal with the resulting issues just in case I can't break apart the
stackable masts I use. I figure many inexpensive telescopic products may not
be intended for repeated telescoping but that is just speculation on my part.
73 and be safe
Mark S
VE7AFZ
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