[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Telescoping mast

[Zack Widup]

Well, the price is right!

I built the 6m beam from scratch. I think it cost about $40 in parts.

73, Zack W9SZ


On Fri, Jun 17, 2016 at 1:24 PM, Mary Brown <maryalanab at gmail.com> wrote:

> Why not go with one of these?
> http://www.staples.com/Channel-Master-Telescoping-Antenna-Mast-15ft/product_2089811?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:2089811&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=2089811&KPID=2089811&gclid=CNe8h57Xr80CFRCRaQodEvYG5g
> with what an antenna costs why risk the damage from something flimsy.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VHF [mailto:vhf-bounces at w6yx.stanford.edu] On Behalf Of Zack Widup
> via VHF
> Sent: Friday, June 17, 2016 1:17 PM
> To: VHF Contesting Reflector; VHF REFLECTOR
> Subject: Re: [VHF] Telescoping mast
>
> I've received quite a few replies from people about this. Thanks to all of
> those who replied!
>
> Several people have said they have used EMT pipe as masts, and quite a few
> people have told me not to use it because it bends easily. A few people
> recommended fiberglass and a few said not to use fiberglass. So I'm not
> completely sure which way I'm going to go, but I didn't say in my original
> posting what I wanted it for.
>
> I have been doing portable operations for many years using the Radio Shack
> stackable 5-foot long steel mast sections. I have used these to put up
> antennas up to 20 feet using a very simple tilt-over base. I have no
> problem with that arrangement with Yagis for 144 MHz and up. But my 6 meter
> beam is unwieldy. It is four elements on a 13 foot boom. It's difficult for
> me to put it up by myself using a tilt-over base. It's difficult to balance
> one end of the beam on the ground while fastening it to the mast and
> raising it. Once a strong wind caught the antenna and tilted it as I was
> putting it up, snapping off half of the reflector.
>
> So I figure if I can mount some sort of telescoping mast vertically and
> use that to push up the 6m beam, there is less risk of damaging it.
>
> I'm trying to keep the cost down, so I'm looking into aluminum tubing
> sections that nest into the next size up.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 10:51 AM, Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi, does anyone here have any experience with building a telescoping
> > mast out of EMT pipe sections? Specifically the 1.25, 1.5 and 2 inch
> O.D. pipes.
> >
> > I'm thinking of making something with them for portable and rover
> > operations.
> >
> > 73, Zack W9SZ
> >
> >
> >
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