[TowerTalk] Temporary tower/antenna question

[Gene Fuller]

Hi Jim -

For supporting those collapsible masts for portable operation I've found 
that an old shovel handle, sharpened at one end,  driven into the ground, 
and used with a couple of hose clamps, makes a convenient support post. 
Just a short post, a rock or hatchet to do the pounding, and a couple of 
hose clamps or some small rope.  Fence posts and motel deck railings are 
also often available.

At first I liked your idea of Velcro to hold the wire to the mast but then I 
realized you couldn't collapse the mast with the Velcro on it.  I just use a 
little electrical tape and throw it away when it's time to pack up.

Gene / W2LU

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Lux" <jimlux at earthlink.net>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 7:18 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Temporary tower/antenna question


> On 2/1/13 1:36 PM, K7LXC at aol.com wrote:
>> Howdy, TowerTalkians --
>>
>>      I'm researching temporary antenna installations  (like Field Day) 
>> and
>> was wondering if you have some input. What did you  use? How did you 
>> erect
>> it? Materials? Hints and kinks?
>>
>>      This is with an eye towards safety and  effectiveness. I don't need
>> real specifics (like what antenna to use) but  general thoughts and
>> considerations. Tnx for any input.
>
>
> Temporary guys..  We've used static line (non-stretchy kernmantle rope) to 
> guy a tower trailer as well as a "iwo jima" erected 20 foot (two sections 
> of 25, I think).  I don't know how good it really is if the wind comes up, 
> especially because the anchors are something like steel t-stakes.
>
>
> For myself, I've recently been fooling with one of those 40 foot carbon 
> fiber collapsible masts. It works pretty well (albeit a bit bendy at the 
> top), but you need some way to support the bottom upright, particularly 
> during erection.  In any case, it nicely supports a couple inverted Vs at 
> right angles which also serve as "quasi-guys".. I do expect it to collapse 
> in any decent wind, but the wires and nylon cord (mason's twine in nice 
> visible dayglo colors) do help prevent it from waving around.
>
> I run a tuner at the base, and RG-8X up the mast.  Velcro works very well 
> to hold the wires to the mast as you erect so they're not waving around. 
> I have given serious thought to a sort of improvised open wire line.. 
> basically bring 4 loose wires down the side roughly distributed evenly. 
> Who cares what the Z is, because the tuner will take care of it.
>
> Some years ago I was trying to build a field deployable phased array made 
> with 4 verticals using collapsible fishing poles (20 foot from Cabela), 
> but I don't know that it gives enough performance improvement. I think the 
> extra height from the 40 foot pole and using the crossed dipoles to form a 
> null is as effective.
>
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