A PVC mast 3' into the ground will easily break off - use 2" galvanized
pipe and allow several feet above the grass level. This will allow you
to connect the 50' mast to same. Best to make a swivel mount several
feet off the grass level to allow for putting it up and down. You must
guy this tower every 10 feet or it will do the dance in the wind. For a
light weight installation that is well guyed you can use post setting
mix. You should use a tube and make a mushroom at the bottom to keep
frost heaving at bay.
Guying is very important - you will gain most of your wind resistance
strength from it. It will not survive even modest winds without guying.
I do something similar with a 25' piece of 2" aluminum pipe fastened at
the grass level to an 8' T-post driven in 4'. The tower is guyed at 12'
and the top. Guys go to T-posts and are tied off above 4' to provide for
easy mowing. T-posts must be the heavy cast types - rolled are just junk
and will easily fold under any load.
My NVIS wire antennas (75 and 40 meters) have survived in excess of 70
MPH winds with no problems at all. My system has been up for about 10
years without any failures.
Just remember, 50' is about four times more of a problem than my 25'.
Also, aluminum pipe, although more expensive, will be much more solid
than any plastic tube.
Bill W2BLC
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