[TowerTalk] Short (5') mast OK?
jknodel M Knodel
jknodel at msn.com
Wed Feb 21 12:50:16 EST 2007
Greetings TT,
I am planning (finally) my R25 installation this spring. I am currently
shopping around for masts and found that I have a few options. The first is
to get a 10' mast from Home Depot. This is the same mast that is used for
new overhead electrical services. I would like to go with a ten footer but
dont have any information on the material used for these masts. My other
option is to order a high-carbon steel mast. Again, I would like to go with
a ten footer but the shipping price is ridiculous. It would cost $400 plus
just to ship the darn thing. I can get a high-carbon steel 5' mast that
will ship by UPS. Shipping by UPS is only a few dollars for a 5' mast.
So, my question is this: Is a 5' mast adequate for my installation of a 3
element SteppIR with passive 6m element at 60'? This will be the only
antenna I have installed on the mast. I have read that a longer mast (10'
or more) will reduce the torque and twisting moment on the rotor. Is there
really much of a difference between 5' or 10' in this regard? By the way, I
will be using a BPL25G top plate on the tower with a thrust bearing to
reduce the load on the rotor.
Thanks for any help you can give. I appreciate it.
Jon, N7XW
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