[TenTec] Fiberglass poles?

[Jim Allen]

As it happens, I have both Spiderpoles and a 31' Jackite.  As the noted philosopher Yogi Berra might say, "their similarities are different."

For one thing, the 12M Spiderpole is longer, which means it is taller, too (for you Aggies out there!).  The Jackite is not quite 10M.  The Spiderpole is heavier, heavier duty, too.  The dark green Jackite is slim, almost unnoticeable from a distance, a good choice for appearance sensitive locations.

If you intend a permanent installation, the Spiderpole is probably the better choice, especially if you need the height.  I hasten to say that the Jackite mast I used in a homebrew S9v31 with Petlowaney coils was entirely satisfactory in a year and a half or so.  I took it out of service to put up something else, but the mast is in good condition and will be used again.  The Jackite does not require guying, but can be.  The 10M Spiderpole should be guyed using the nylon webbing they sell, and parachute cord.

Neither is particularly suited for horizontal loads, at least at the full height.  The top tube on both is too flimsy.  I originally bought 2 Spider poles to use in a horizontal loop, but there is no way these would survive with that kind of strain.  For horizontal antennas, a much better choice is offered by Max Gain Systems.  I have a 32' mast from Max Gain and a couple of the 38' masts.  These are considerably heavier than the Jackite and the Spiderpole.  They need parachute cord guying at several points.    I've used them for dipoles very satisfactorily.

A Spiderpole costs $140 with clamp set and guy ring.  The Max Gain 38' is $170 including the clamps and guy rings, and the 32' is $120.  A Jackite 31' is $80.

As often the case, which is best depends on what you want to do.  Few of us would happily tote a Max Gain mast very far from the car on a SOTA trek, but a Jackite mast would be less objectionable.  If you want a loop, dipole, etc. Max Gain is the only choice.

73 Jim Allen W6OGC 

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 6, 2016, at 02:06, rick at dj0ip.de <Rick at DJ0IP.de> wrote:
> 
> Jim broke the cardinal rule when he erected the antenna:
> He drilled a hole near the bottom of the pole and it broke at the hole.  
> NEVER DRILL A HOLE in these poles.
> 
> We have about 10,000 happy users of these poles, and then there is Jim.
> 
> Not a day goes by that we don't sell at least one of these poles in our
> European shop AND in our US shop (W4PA).
> Spiderpoles have been sold into over 130 countries.
> 
> Almost every major DX-pedition takes Spiderbeam fiberglass poles along for
> their antennas.
> They are not taking Jacklites.
> 
> In the past few years, several major DX-peditions have used Spiderbeam poles
> exclusively for all of their antennas.  100% of their antennas were built on
> these poles.  Besides the Spiderbeam (wire beam), Vertical-Dipole-Arrays
> were used instead of traditional aluminum horizontal beams.  This saved
> enormously on shipping cost to the islands.
> 
> But if you use them, please follow the manufacturer's directions, regardless
> of how much you think you know about poles and antennas.
> 
> BTW, Jim's broken segment was replaced for free, including shipping cost.
> I don't mind him telling hundreds of people at PACIFICON about his broke
> pole but I sure wish he would at least say that it was fixed for free.
> 
> I have personally used fiberglass poles for 35 years now.  I have had them
> on mountain tops, and ocean sides, all over Europe.  I have used several
> brands (pre-Spiderbeam) and broken several poles.  I have been using
> Spiderbeam poles myself for 15 years and I have never broken one.
> 
> You will find all kinds of tips about how to properly deploy fiberglass
> poles (including how to extend them without breaking them - JIM) on my web
> site, here:
> http://www.dj0ip.de/spiderbeam/fiberglass-spiderpole/ 
> 
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim Brown
> Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2016 5:15 AM
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Fiberglass poles?
> 
> My neighbor, W6GJB, has built a 40M horizontal dipole using two 33 ft
> Jackite poles. He's a Mechanical Engineer by training and retired from the
> space program where he worked as an Aeronautical Engineer. He says the
> Jackite poles are good poles.
> 
> We also built an antenna using a Spiderbeam pole. It broke in a 45 mph wind
> because it's not well reinforced.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
>> On Sat,11/5/2016 12:20 PM, Doc wrote:
>> Jackite collapsible
>> fibreglass poles, either 33' or 43' in length?  I have been 
>> considering a purchase in order to construct a wire vertical.
> 
> 
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