[Elecraft] OT: looking for a very lightweight telescoping mast -- preferably motorized
Hi all, I'm hoping to put up a compact, lightweight rotatable dipole or 2-element yagi for 20-10 meters. This may not be a very efficient antenna, at least on the lower bands, but I have limited space available. The antenna may be home-brew and will weigh just a couple of pounds. I'd like to keep the antenna at roof level except when I'm actually using it, thereby minimizing scrutiny by Neighborhood Aesthetics Monitors. This calls for a 20 to 30 foot telescoping mast made of small-diameter tubing. If it's motorized, and goes up quietly, so much the better! I can guy it at the top if necessary, and it will be clamped to the side of the house. Anyone have suggestions on where to find such a mast? Thanks, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] OT: looking for a very lightweight telescoping mast -- preferably motorized
Hi Wayne: Perhaps we can help each other! :) See www.spiderbeam.com for DF4SA's new 40' heavy duty telescoping fiberglass pole that may fit the bill. Click on the banner header (in red) when you open the page. [See below for some of the blurb copied from the site]. I recently bought Con's (DF4SA) spiderbeam kit (5 band version) and can testify to the very high quality of components, including the fiberglass tubes used in the 10m (33ft) boom and spreaders. The 40'ft telescoping mast is made of similar construction and material. This pole is not 'moterized', however, and may be too lightweight for your intended use. So Wayne, if you do find an aluminum 30'-50' telescoping mast (moterized or not) I would be VERY interested to learn about it, for use with the above mentioned Spiderbeam in 'portable' (or rather 'transportable') situations like field day and longish trips to exotic places. While there are several European sources for aluminum push-up masts in the 33' to 50' range at reasonable (Euro) prices, I have so far found nothing equivalent here in the States. All I can find are VERY nice military kits (with military prices out of my league), or surplus masts that are not particularly lightweight or telescoping. Here's Con's blurb: In our continuing efforts to make our portable equipment even more rugged and durable we have now developed a new HEAVY DUTY version of our well-known 12m pole [40ft]. The first prototypes were tested last November/ December during 120km/h winds at the North Sea coast and performed just great! These are very strong poles, with a much greater wall thickness (up to 2mm!) than the usual fishing rod types. They are wound with a special reinforcing winding technique (several layers of fiberglass are wound in alternating direction (criss/cross winding), thus greatly increasing lateral and linear strength. Stronger joints are achieved by a much larger overlap between the individual tube segments than usual. These heavy duty poles are very well suited for building 40/80/160m wire GP or inverted L antennas. They can also easily support temporary lightweight 1 Element Quad or Delta loops for 20-10m, and dipoles for all bands, especially when used with open wire feedline. (Most baluns would be somewhat heavy). Even the top segment is 8mm in diameter (and 1.4mm wall thickness), so the poles can be used to their full 12m length - unlike other poles where the top segment is very thin as a whip. During our tests we were able to put 80m inv vee dipoles (made from 1mm diameter enameled copper wire (AWG 18) and open wire feedline) RIGHT AT THE TOP of the 12m pole... No way you can do this with a regular fishing rod! At 9-10m height, the poles can easily support small VHF/UHF yagis. The best (and cheapest) wire to use for such applications (verticals, loops, dipoles etc.) is AWG 18 (= 1mm diameter) enameled copper wire or similar. Thin fishing monofilament (1mm diameter) or similar rope is very suitable for guy lines. Of course, a single person can still put up these poles very easy within minutes. Pole dimensions: full extracted length (height): 12m (40ft) transportation length: 1.18m (3ft 10'') weight: 3.3kg (7lbs) bottom diameter: 55mm (2 1/6'') top diameter: 8mm (1/3'') wall thickness: 1.4 - 2mm (1/18 - 1/12) number of segments: 12 segment length: 3ft 10 (1.18m) Pole material: Black Fiberglass, UV protected Price: 79 EUR Hope this is of some help, 73 John, N6JW K2 #3290 --- Hi all, I'm hoping to put up a compact, lightweight rotatable dipole or 2-element yagi for 20-10 meters. . . This calls for a 20 to 30 foot telescoping mast made of small-diameter tubing. . . Anyone have suggestions on where to find such a mast? Thanks, Wayne N6KR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: looking for a very lightweight telescoping mast -- preferably motorized
On Apr 11, 2005, at 12:22 PM, wayne burdick wrote: I'd like to keep the antenna at roof level except when I'm actually using it, thereby minimizing scrutiny by Neighborhood Aesthetics Monitors. This calls for a 20 to 30 foot telescoping mast made of small-diameter tubing. If it's motorized, and goes up quietly, so much the better! I can guy it at the top if necessary, and it will be clamped to the side of the house. Wayne, Looks like another un-met need for Elecraft to fill ;-) Best Regards My Friend, John AA2BN ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] OT: looking for a very lightweight telescoping mast --preferably motorized
Take a StepperIR(?) yagi and use one of the motorized elements for your vertical 'tower' eh!?!...hihi...sri Wayne, couldn't resist...still love my K2#2032 - 72 Bruce. 72/73 - Bruce ve5rc/ve5qrp - QRP-C#1, QRP-L#886, A1 Operator ** Enter QRP-Canada's RUN with RAC contest - details at http://www.qrp-canada.com ** -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wayne burdick Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 10:23 AM To: Elecraft Reflector; QRP-L Subject: [Elecraft] OT: looking for a very lightweight telescoping mast --preferably motorized Hi all, I'm hoping to put up a compact, lightweight rotatable dipole or 2-element yagi for 20-10 meters. This may not be a very efficient antenna, at least on the lower bands, but I have limited space available. The antenna may be home-brew and will weigh just a couple of pounds. I'd like to keep the antenna at roof level except when I'm actually using it, thereby minimizing scrutiny by Neighborhood Aesthetics Monitors. This calls for a 20 to 30 foot telescoping mast made of small-diameter tubing. If it's motorized, and goes up quietly, so much the better! I can guy it at the top if necessary, and it will be clamped to the side of the house. Anyone have suggestions on where to find such a mast? Thanks, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.6 - Release Date: 4/11/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.6 - Release Date: 4/11/2005 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
