[TowerTalk] DX Engineering 66-Foot Vertical?

Sat Mar 14 16:34:36 PDT 2009

In this quest for a telescopic mast for supporting an inverted vee, the first one I ran into was the Spiderbeam "Aluminium Telescopic Mast 18m (60ft)". Yes, they spell it "aluminium" throughout the ad. They claim that it will support the portable Spiderbeam HF antenna at 60 ft, and the Heavy-duty version Spiderbeam when extended to a height of 14m (46 ft). It is 11 sections, transportation length is 6'-7", using tubing from 2-3/4" down to 1-1/6", the weight is 40 lbs.

However, the price is $759.    http:/www.spiderbeam.us

-----Original Message-----
>From: Pete Smith <n4zr at contesting.com>
>Sent: Mar 14, 2009 5:47 AM
>To: "larryjspammenot at teleport.com" <larryj at teleport.com>, towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] DX Engineering 66-Foot Vertical?
>
>You might try www.tmastco.com.  It is run by Henry, K4TMC, and stocks a 
>variety of fiberglass and aluminum products that will meet your needs, 
>probably for a lot less than you can build them yourself.
>
>I'm a satisfied customer.
>
>73, Pete N4ZR
>
>  At 02:21 AM 3/14/2009, larryjspammenot at teleport.com wrote:
>>I was particularly interested in the construction of the 66' DX 
>>Engineering vertical, not to use as an actual vertical antenna, but to 
>>mount in a tripod on my roof and then use it as a tall support for an 80M 
>>inverted vee. I figured an aluminum mast (it doesn't have to actually be 
>>the full 66 feet tall) would be stronger than buying one of those 
>>telescoping fiberglass poles that I see frequently advertised on most of 
>>the ham radio web sites. They appear to become pretty small at the top and 
>>can probably only support a number 18 to 22 wire inverted vee for a field 
>>day weekend, at best. Just a sturdy, tall support for a wire antenna was 
>>my real interest in considering this telescoping mast project. My Buternut 
>>HF6V more than performs well for any DX I might want to chase.
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Jack/W6NF <vhfplus at bmg50.com>
>> >Sent: Mar 13, 2009 8:05 PM
>> >To: n8de at thepoint.net
>> >Cc: towertalk at contesting.com, N7KA at comcast.net
>> >Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] DX Engineering 66-Foot Vertical?
>> >
>> >On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM, <n8de at thepoint.net> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Let me calculate:
>> >>
>> >> 6 x 11 = 66'
>> >>
>> >> 64' vertical
>> >>
>> >> this means the TEN overlaps occupy only 2' ?
>> >>
>> >> 24/10 = 2.4 inches.
>> >>
>> >> I'd never put up a vertical with only 2.4" per overlap... disaster
>> >> looking to happen.
>> >>
>> >> Now, if there are 12 sections with 11 overlaps:
>> >>
>> >> 6 x 12 = 72'
>> >> 64' vertical
>> >>
>> >> 8' of overlap in 11 places
>> >>
>> >> 96/11 = about 9" per overlap.
>> >>
>> >> Much safer construction, in my humble opinion.
>> >>
>> >> 73
>> >> Don
>> >> N8DE
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Quoting N7KA at comcast.net:
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Tubing cost alone is $142.20 from DXE plus the mast kit comes with
>> >> > clamps.  Not to bad a deal for the mast kit.  Note that most tubing
>> >> > is slit at one end for use of "hose" clamps.  It takes 11 6ft
>> >> > sections to be for 64ft vertical.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Arne N7KA
>> >> > ----- Original Message -----
>> >> > From: "Jim Brown" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
>> >> > To: "TowerTalk" <towertalk at contesting.com>
>> >> > Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 1:06:11 AM GMT +00:00 Monrovia
>> >> > Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] DX Engineering 66-Foot Vertical?
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >> It would be interesting to see a printout of all the diameters,
>> >> >> lengths wall thicknesses and any other relevant info for each of
>> >> >> the aluminum tubing pieces that comprise one of these 66' vertical
>> >> >> antennas.
>> >> >
>> >> > Yes, it certainly would. But DXEngineering PAID an engineer to
>> >> > design that antenna, and they deserve to sell that product to
>> >> > recover their costs. It's what's called free enterprise.
>> >> >
>> >> > 73,
>> >> >
>> >> > Jim Brown K9YC
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
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>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>> >
>> >I have two of the DX Engineering 65-foot vertical kits...one on 80-meters
>> >and one tee-loaded for 160. They both have 1/4-wave radials...40 on 80 and
>> >39 (at present) on 160. Both are mounted on 8-foot 4x4's set in concrete and
>> >pivot on long bolts. The performance of both is excellent with my first EU
>> >on 160 with this antenna...something I never was able to do with my
>> >inverted-L.
>> >
>> >The bottom sections are 5-6-inch overlap with diminishing overlap as you go
>> >up. I have the both antennas guyed with Dacron line at 3 levels, as
>> >recommended by DX Engineering, plus I have two extra guys at right angles to
>> >the tee-wires on the 160 antenna. I have experienced 65-70MPH (minimum)
>> >winds with no detrimental effects at all. Basically, I'm pretty happy with
>> >the verticals and have no qualms about the construction technique.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Jack, W6NF
>> >Silver Springs, NV
>> >DM09ji
>> >
>> >Migrating my e-mail to vhfplus at gmail.com. Please update you address book.
>> >Thanks!
>> >_______________________________________________
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