[TowerTalk] Source for 20' Mast

[Fred Roberts]

Brian-

Most people are unaware that fence companies carry "top rail".  Whenever I mention 
fence top rail, everyone envisions the backyard fence and its 1" or 1-1/4" top rail. 
  There are, however, many larger diameters of top rail and they come in 22' (and I 
believe 24' lengths) - the largest diameters I have are 1-7/8" and 2-7/8".  And, if 
you need a longer length, one can be nested.  We have put up 1-1/2 lengths and 2 
lengths for Field Day - erecting and guying 1-1/2 lengths is easy, erecting and 
guying 2 lengths is harder.

We just completed a weekend operation with W1AW/6 and our antenna farm (3-el 20M 
Yagi, 2-el 15M Quad, 40M Inv V, 80M Inv V, 2M j-pole, and ATV dish) on the roof of a 
12-story hotel here in Riverside.  We had a 3-el 20M beam on a 22' length of 1-7/8" 
top rail - it was tied to cell phone structure which happened to be on the roof (the 
highest tie point was at 7').  There was no mast wiggle at all and we did have windy 
afternoons.

Oh, the top rail was about $20. several years ago, and although it is surely higher 
today, it can't be more than $40.  It is galvanized and sturdy - I used to use this 
to hold up an R7 vertical on my RV - 20 minutes to erect and 20 minutes to store.

This is a cheap, durable and very effective solution.  And, I presume the loss of the 
mast you are replacing was due to a poorly conceived guy wire system.  Years ago, I 
experienced the loss of a poorly secured guy wire which released and then the mast 
bent.  As they say, there's a lot to be said about respecting stored energy.  :)

73-
Fred, W6TKV

Brian Maynard wrote:
> Hi Folks!
> 
> For reasons I would rather not recount, I have a bent mast. I ordered  
> a replacement from HRO - a USTowers M-20R 2" O.D. x 20' reinforced  
> galvanized mast - listing at $259.  Turns out the shipping would run  
> $600-900!
> 
> My question is: What other options can I explore for masts of similar  
> length & strength (I am 3 miles from the Atlantic Coast)? Are there  
> other suppliers closer to Rhode Island?
> 
> Thanks for any advice.  73, Brian, K1NW
> _______________________________________________
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