[TowerTalk] Wire Antenna Supports

[Lux, Jim]

On 2/16/21 4:18 PM, Michael Poteet wrote:
> This is a request for opinions.  I am thinking about putting up a wire
> antenna.  At my age (81) I have no interest in climbing towers, trees or the
> roof.  Nor I am I interested in installing any support that requires a
> concrete base or that weighs over 100 pounds.
>
> I've noted there are at least a couple of telescoping masts (up to 50 feet)
> that could be used to support simple wire antennas (when guyed
> appropriately).  One is carbon fiber, the other is aluminum.  Is there any
> advantage of one of these over the other for "permanent" antenna support?
> Initial cost is not a factor.



I have one of the 40-ish foot carbon fiber collapsible poles. It's 
fairly sturdy and easy to put up, but the top part *does* bend (it's 
pretty small, think fishing rod tip).

The challenge is coming up with a way to support the bottom so it stands 
vertically.

You don't want a big concrete base, which makes supporting a challenge, 
to resist the overturning moment from wind loads and the wire. With a 40 
foot lever arm it doesn't take much force at the top to have impressive 
forces at the bottom.

I've tried things like driving a 8 foot T-post about 5 feet in, leaving 
3 feet sticking up, and lashing a vertical to that.  Aside from the 
spectacular "trip hazard" of the T post, even with a tennis ball on the 
top, it *will* bend or shift if the antenna is loaded.  And that's a 
fair amount of work to drive (my shoulders and back felt it for days).

What kind of surface are you putting this mast up over? Grass? dirt?