Topband: Portable transmit antenna suggestions:

Fri Mar 12 09:39:49 EST 2021

Hi, I'm new to the group and could not find a way to reply to this original
thread, so I started a new thread, same subject.

I can offer a lot of information on this topic, especially on the usage of
Spiderbeam telescoping fiberglass poles.

I show plans for building Topband Verticals and Verticals for other bands on
my private web site, here:

.> 160m on 26m Pole:
https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/160m-on-26m-pole/ 

.> 160m on 18m Pole:
https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/160m-on-18m-pole/ 

.> 160m Inv.-L on 12m Pole:
https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/160m-inv-l-on-12m-pole/ 

.> Other Bands:  https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/ 

I would like to offer a bit of advice on how to properly use the Spiderbeam
telescoping fiberglass poles ("Spiderpoles") - without breaking them.

Obviously, if we do silly things with them, they can break.  But if we
deploy them properly, they usually survive.

I recently retired, after 9 years working for Spiderbeam (Germany) as the
Tec Support Manager.

Prior to that, I personally founded Spiderbeam-US in the states (2009), ran
if for the first couple of years, and then Scott Robbins (W4PA, and owner of
VIBROPLEX and INRAD) took over and ran the business for us, so that my XYL
and I could return to Germany.   Scott purchased Spiderbeam-US in 2014;
it's his company now.

Spiderbeam has sold over 30,000 of its Spiderpoles, to customers in over 130
different countries.

As Tec Support Manager, I was aware of the circumstances of just about every
case of a broken pole.  

People come up with all kinds of ideas of things to do with these poles,
some are ingenious and some are . . . well, let's just say "silly."

Spiderpoles were purpose designed  "by traveling contesters",  for
"traveling contesters."

When we travel, especially by air, size and weight are critical.

The challenge is to find the right combination of "height/reliability"  vs.
"transport-size/weight."

THIS IS BEST ACCOMPLISHED BY USING LIGHTWEIGHT TELESCOPING POLES, SUPPORTED
BY GUY ROPES.

The purpose of the guy ropes is to limit the amount of horizontal sway in
strong winds, thus limiting the amount of force applied to its base.

Nobody likes guy ropes but it was the only way to achieve reliable height,
while minimizing weight.

Spiderbeam has special guy belt options and lightweight (Kevlar) guy rope
available for each of the various Spiderbeam poles.

Spiderbeam has sponsored well over one hundred DX-peditions, to all corners
of the globe.

Indeed, 8 out of 10 DX-peditions use Spiderpoles for supporting their low
band wire antennas.

Experienced teams continue to use Spiderpoles in all of their expeditions -
because they are very reliable - WHEN USED PROPERLY.

In one case, a well-known, well respected ham in California purchased a 12m
(40') Spiderpole, but did not purchase any guying material.

Rather than use it as foreseen, he drilled a hole in it, near the bottom of
the Spiderpole, then bolted it on top of a long aluminum mast, to be used as
an 80m vertical.  It was then erected.  The wind broke the un-guyed
Spiderpole.

1)  Obviously, a pole raised high into the air is subject to a lot more wind
than when mounted on the ground.

2)  When we fail to guy the pole as per the Spiderbeam guying instructions,
it is a lot weaker than when properly guyed.

3)  And, when we drill a hole into the pole, near it's base, it weakens the
pole considerably.

When we combine these three things, it was no surprise that the pole broke.

Never-the-less, Spiderbeam replaced the broken parts free of charge,
including free shipping to California, in recognition of the excellent
contributions this OM has made to our hobby.

You will find guying instructions for each of the Spiderpoles on my web,
here:

https://www.dj0ip.de/spiderbeam/fiberglass-spiderpole/guy-ropes/ 

Have a safe trip and gud luk in the contest!

(and PLEASE don't forget to guy your Spiderpole)

73 - Rick, DJ0IP/NJ0IP

(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)

May the Sunspots be with Us!