I have used these camo support poles for years as flagpoles. Applying a good dose of UV resistant car wax a couple times a year really can increase their longevity. Thanks for enjoyable informative video.
They make tripod mounts for these. Three or six sections make up the legs, and a center hole to drop the vertical poles. We've used these for field day in past years. You can also use a short section of gray electrical conduit and cap to attach a pulley at the top of the mast. Really versatile.
Great video as always, Tracy. I have acquired at least 40' of both the fiberglass and the aluminum through the years, and I cannot stress enough how versatile they are for amateur radio. You can use them to support literally any antenna configuration quite sturdily. Thanks for sharing a great tutorial! -K5SFC
I have a bunch of military masts. I also came upon the guy rings that are meant to go with the poles. I have a tire-mount that I place under the tire of a vehicle. The masts fit perfectly. I can get up to 20 feet without guying it at all. They also make trailer hitch mounts that should work the same. Thanks for sharing this video.
I have used these fiberglass poles for a permanent set up at my my QTH. I had no issues with them until a severe storm with unusually high winds took it down, The OCF dipole I had on it was for NVIS communication. I have since replaced the fiberglass poles for aluminum ones of the same dimensions and have had no issues since. I keep the fiberglass ones for portable operations.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir you are very welcome. On a side note, after 18 years in the US Army, I can tell you the ones I originally used, and what you show in the video were originally used for the camouflage system we used. They were used for antenna masting later, but the metal masts were always for communications.
I picked up a canvas bag full of these (maybe 20?) at a hamfest over a decade ago and we carry six of them on my search and rescue team's comms trailer. We have a tire mount that accepts the bottom 4--foot section and we can put up our VHF comms antenna up to 24 feet high to cover needed search areas. We either raise the mast from the ground or add on a section at a time, depending how many people we can pull over to help put up the mast. We sometimes use rope to tie them down to the side of the trailer or the towing vehicle to stabilize the mast. I use them personally, too, for temporary antennas. Sometimes they break off on the narrow section of the mast, but I have plenty to replace them when that happens!
I have 10 of these poles. I've cut and drilled an old plastic cutting board and slipped it down where I want to put the 3 guys using cheap carabiners, 550 cord, and sturdy aluminum tent stakes. It works great!
I think you are missing an accessory Tracy, there are guy line plates that go in between every two or three mast sections which will give you better stability and help erect the mast.
Find the metal poles... fiberglass pole will splinter (over time). They are meant to support radar (or non-radar) scattering camoflouge netting for the military in a tactical setting (read as in the woods). The netting helps to break up the outline of a tent or tactical vehical when properly used.
That's a great idea for making an inexpensive antenna mast. From a stability point of view, I would use that 4th 25' length of paracord as another guy out point and place the mast on a small square of plywood so it doesn't sink into the ground.. I've been a back country camper for years and would also suggest getting better tent stakes. Those shown in the video are good when the ground is relatively firm, but do poorly in looser soil or sand. Any aluminum 'Y' shaped steak would be better.
I had the same problem with a 9 foot fiberglass whip that was 'shedding'. It was unsafe to touch. I had to wipe it down with sandpaper then spray it with clear plastic resin. After that it was fine.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Yes. Lay out the poles and guys on the ground. And send up one pole at a time. I can put up 7 poles ok. Of course it is easier with some more help. Another issue with fiberglass poles is they are fiberglass. Used outside long term, they start shedding fiberglass unless you paint them. Got to use gloves, or you get fiberglass in your hands..
@@OutdoorsOnTheAirMeasure the length of your guy anchors from the base of the antenna. The next time you put it up (alone) stake those guys, then raise the mast. Those two guys will keep it upright while you grab the third guy and walk it out to its anchor point. Take down in reverse order.
Tracy --- I would caution against using these fiberglas poles as a mast. The function of these poles is to erect camoflage netting -- what's usually missing from these is the fiberglas spreaders that get placed at the top of typically two, but never more than three sections of these poles (total 12-feet, max), that help break up any straight lines found on equipment placed under the camo netting. The fiberglas is exceedingly brittle at the joints, and highly susceptible to cracking and failing -- especially under tension. In fact, the US military considers these fiberglas poles an expendable item -- precisely because of the high failure rate. However, they are not the right tool for the job, and it really doesn't take much of a breeze to have them crack when under tension -- like the tension of the guy lines, for instance. There exists aluminum poles, which are of a slightly smaller diameter, which the military utilizes as an antenna mast -- typically with the OE-254 VHF antenna. Those are purpose-built for erecting field antennas, and do not suffer nearly the failure rate of these fiberglas poles.
Thank you very much for this useful information! I once tried to raise a pole with 5 sections (with a heavy antenna attached) only to have one section crack at one of the joints. The aluminum is certainly a more robust option, but costs more and the metal can interact with the antenna. 73 from VE3TWM.
You are looking really well and healthy these days - not sure whats changed, but good to see you looking so well. Raising masts . ok - so i always practice at home, then inevitably things go pear shaped in the field, i've managed to snap 2*Sotabeams mast (thankfully they sell spares) but I do use the same technique at home for getting my EFHW which sits up a DX Commander mast (I dont use it as an antenna for a logn time!) - its really robust and keeps the wire up nicely. As I dont get much time for radio, i'm always looking for the quickest way to get on teh air, so inevitbly that means a whip with radials or a mag loop. I've also used 'unknown dipole' which done pretty well with a ATU, but as for a 'bigger' mast like this, i've just had one too many bad experiences of putting up the masts (admittidly my own fault :D). Thanks again tho Tracy, I always enjoy your videos and inspiration to get out on the radio!
I have used these fiberglass poles but for camouflage netting in the military. We used an aluminum mast system for comms. This comprises of a base assembly that holds three shorter legs and then the longer poles are used as the mast. There is also a screw in anchor that is placed below the base assembly where a short cord is passed through the hole in the center of the mast base and into the eyelet of the screw in base. The top mast piece I hav3 is made of fiberglass that fits into the top of the last mast pole. This configuration allows for the use of a dipole configuration with the two legs tied off to trees, as a sloping dipole fastened to the ground with the three foot insulated ends.
What I need to make are a pair adapters to interconnect the fiberglass poles to the aluminum poles. This will keep the metal from interfering with the radiation pattern or SWR of the antenna.
I'm using the aluminum, though I'll eventually get some fiberglass as well. I have a permanent 40 ft installation on the back of the garage. Over a year now with hard wind and ice, and no problems. I have a second set for portable, and made a brace for the back of the truck. I can go 32 feet comfortably with that. I have boards with eye bolts, and sand bags for anchoring, as not all parks want folks poking anything in the ground anymore. Fiberglass will be nice for making a portable vertical with wire, rope, and a pulley.
Hi Tracy, I had the same type of military poles. They are sturdy. I made a small aluminum plate that fits over the top of the pole. Since it's rotatable I could even turn the pole with my hands (when using a VHF beam). Keep those videos coming ;-) 73 Phil ON4VP
Tracy, as always another great video. If I can use it, my first pick is always an 80m-10m EFHW. In fact, later to day I should be tuning up one inspired by Colin-MM0OPX. It use a non-standard 43 mix torroid that is thicker, smaller diameter, and taller than a standard FT240-43 torroid, but it has noticeably better efficiency. Of course with the bands the way they are just about anything works. It looks like you've lost weight. Congratulations. Hopefully it wasn't a health issue.
Thanks old timer! Great video! Now I can get my modified dual 50w Baofeng UV-R radios configured as a repeaer up high with a pole like that and blast my pirate signal far and wide! Righteous!
Good informative video. I use those poles. My grandson and I have erected a 40 foot mast using those same poles. But on top of our mast, we only had rope guys and one extra rope with a pulley at the top. I can erect a 30 foot mast by myself, but it's tricky to do. Again, a pulley at the top, not raising the mast with an antenna on it. Barry, KU3X
If the ground is soft, you might put a support "cup" under the mast and see how that helps the antenna stay up in the rain, if it rains but does not thunder, in the middle of the day ( because it always rains at odd times on soft soil, RIGHT) A stake under the cup helps it not sink,
If you consider the mast as the Adjacent side of a right triangle and the guyline as the Hypotenuse of that triangle, you can calculate exactly how far from the base of the mast you should be staking down the guy lines; that distance would be the Opposite side of the right triangle. So if your mast is 16' and your guys are 20', your stakes would be 12' out from the base of the mast. In your video with a 16' mast and arguably 24' guy lines (25' minus a foot for knots), your stakes would be roughly 17'-9" out from the mast. Trigonometry is your friend. 73 de W8ZZX (Yes, I *am* a nerd. Why do you ask?)
I don't understand all the guys you are talking about, when you said you were going to be the only guy doing this by yourself? (I'm sorry, but this warranted some guy humor! see what I did there guy?). So now that you are making me really, really want to do this, where can I buy these poles? Also, great explanation, great video!!!
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I actually used them yesterday for International Lighthouse weekend while set up with my mobile shack at the Kincardine lighthouse. 6 or 7 lengths..I have a swivel bracket at the top left corner of my trailer that I can pivot up the pole. Two lanyards on opposite sides at the top. Pulled up a 15M and 20M vertical element attached to a feed point at the back middle top of the aluminum roof trim. Trailer body as the ground plain. One of the several antenna variants that I use depending on space around the vehicle.
I had my Kenwood TS850 set up inside the trailer. My son and I both had our laptops there connected to my HF remote station, Tugce, TA3TGC from Turkey and Emilia, YO8YL from Romania joined us on the remote for several hours of operation.
Both stations on the same frequency, VE3IHR used for the portable station, VA3YLR used for the remote. Dual station contacts for others. All live streamed. Unfortunately the band conditions were not the best and the local wx not good either..
I had 3 of the duffel bags full of these poles in my storeroom to use for field antenna masts. Then my storeroom burned down. Now I'm starting all over.
That is the kind of stake you can use to build a fence, two to a hole with them facing away from each other. if they have two sizes for securing fence panels, Get the larger ones ( DUH)
To get a 45 degree angle the distance from the bottom of the mast to the guy anchor is the same as the height of the mast. Knowing that, I use the mast to lay out the anchors. Set one end of the mast where you want to erect it. Then lay it down and place an anchor at the other end. Move the mast 120 degrees and repeat two more times. I also use the mast to measure the guy lines. Run the guy the length of the mast. At the bottom, fold it back half way. In this case, the line is 4 mast sections, top to bottom. Add 2 more sections to the line's length. I like to add an extra foot to tie a taunt line hitch on the end. My knot of choice. I like to leave the guys a little lose at this point. Go ahead and attach 1 line to its anchor of either side of the mast and stand it up. If he guys are lose enough the mast can be stood up a bit beyond vertical. Attach the third line to its anchor and start tightening the guys until the mast is absolutely vertical. If it takes more that 5 minutes, start to finish you're doing it wrong. As W8ZZX said, "Trigonometry is your friend." 73, Dan, W8AAU. The Ham Math Guy
Depends on the antenna, of course. On the day I recorded the video I used a commercial antenna that had U-bolts so I simply fastened the U-bolts to the mast. For Field Day, I had one leg of a dipole tied off to paracord and tied the other end of the paracord to the top of the mast.
I have rings that slip over the top, for securing guy lines. there will be an extra hole or two, depending on your guy plan. I use the extra holes with pulleys to hoist whatever antenna I'm using.
Be careful to NOT put too heavy of a side load on the connecting joints. The joints are surprisingly easy to break if a bending stress is applied. Experience talking here.
you had 3 guys. if you had had 2 more you would've had a hamburger :) lol sorry there's a company called 5 guys its a hamburger joint that's really expensive but really tasty and messy. :)
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I'm not unsubbed, but I must say that the "tweety bird" audio on the front of your videos certainly hurts my ears. I HATE when I forget to turn down the volume before I click on your videos. Personally I'll only use FG if I find some inexpensively enough to purchase. If I spend real money it's going to be Al. I don't like maintenance on FG, nor the result of lack of maintenance. UV is powerful. If I had access to really good bamboo (large diameter) I'd try cutting and adding joints to the bamboo for a temporary support pole. It could happen. Perhaps I should plant some-then I could use the full length.
@@wadepatton2433 Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Wade! I will reduce the volume of the White Throated Sparrow call on my future videos. Good thinking re: fiberglass versus aluminum, too.
I bought a set of eight of these poles at Hamvention in 2023 and have yet to put them up. Yet again Tracy, you have posted an inspirational video.
Let me know how they work for you, Stuart!
I have used these camo support poles for years as flagpoles. Applying a good dose of UV resistant car wax a couple times a year really can increase their longevity. Thanks for enjoyable informative video.
Great tip, thank you!
They make tripod mounts for these. Three or six sections make up the legs, and a center hole to drop the vertical poles. We've used these for field day in past years. You can also use a short section of gray electrical conduit and cap to attach a pulley at the top of the mast. Really versatile.
Thank you for the info!
Great video as always, Tracy. I have acquired at least 40' of both the fiberglass and the aluminum through the years, and I cannot stress enough how versatile they are for amateur radio. You can use them to support literally any antenna configuration quite sturdily. Thanks for sharing a great tutorial!
-K5SFC
Thank you for sharing your experience! 73 from VE3TWM.
I have a bunch of military masts. I also came upon the guy rings that are meant to go with the poles. I have a tire-mount that I place under the tire of a vehicle. The masts fit perfectly. I can get up to 20 feet without guying it at all. They also make trailer hitch mounts that should work the same. Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for the info!
Been using these for years and now have the aluminum version at my QTH and been in service for 10 yrs plus, 73
Nice! 73 from VE3TWM.
How many sections do you use?
@@raytreinen 7 sections for each leg of my 80m horizontal delta loop.
@@48661 Thanks!
I have used these fiberglass poles for a permanent set up at my my QTH. I had no issues with them until a severe storm with unusually high winds took it down, The OCF dipole I had on it was for NVIS communication. I have since replaced the fiberglass poles for aluminum ones of the same dimensions and have had no issues since. I keep the fiberglass ones for portable operations.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir you are very welcome. On a side note, after 18 years in the US Army, I can tell you the ones I originally used, and what you show in the video were originally used for the camouflage system we used. They were used for antenna masting later, but the metal masts were always for communications.
I picked up a canvas bag full of these (maybe 20?) at a hamfest over a decade ago and we carry six of them on my search and rescue team's comms trailer. We have a tire mount that accepts the bottom 4--foot section and we can put up our VHF comms antenna up to 24 feet high to cover needed search areas. We either raise the mast from the ground or add on a section at a time, depending how many people we can pull over to help put up the mast. We sometimes use rope to tie them down to the side of the trailer or the towing vehicle to stabilize the mast. I use them personally, too, for temporary antennas. Sometimes they break off on the narrow section of the mast, but I have plenty to replace them when that happens!
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I have 10 of these poles. I've cut and drilled an old plastic cutting board and slipped it down where I want to put the 3 guys using cheap carabiners, 550 cord, and sturdy aluminum tent stakes. It works great!
Awesome tip, thank you!
You just answered my question for getting my windom antenna up. Great video thank you
I think you are missing an accessory Tracy, there are guy line plates that go in between every two or three mast sections which will give you better stability and help erect the mast.
Good point, John! By the way I've found those round guy plates also make great throw weights for getting a rope into a tree.
Our club kits also have a base piece and came as a kit in the original bags. We guy them in 3 places because we raise them hire for our wire antennas.
These are awesome! I have about 2 dozen of them and most are up around my yard keeping my wires up.
Nice!
Find the metal poles... fiberglass pole will splinter (over time). They are meant to support radar (or non-radar) scattering camoflouge netting for the military in a tactical setting (read as in the woods). The netting helps to break up the outline of a tent or tactical vehical when properly used.
Thank you for the informative comment!
Thanks for the tips. I've never used one of those style masts before, but you made it look easy.
Hi Mike! As you know, if I can make it look easy, ANYONE can do it 😂
That's a great idea for making an inexpensive antenna mast. From a stability point of view, I would use that 4th 25' length of paracord as another guy out point and place the mast on a small square of plywood so it doesn't sink into the ground.. I've been a back country camper for years and would also suggest getting better tent stakes. Those shown in the video are good when the ground is relatively firm, but do poorly in looser soil or sand. Any aluminum 'Y' shaped steak would be better.
Hi Tracy,
Don't forget to paint the poles from time to time with clear varnish.
It will protect them (and your hands😉)
73's DG4RBS Stefan
Great tip, thank you Stefan! 73 from VE3TWM.
I had the same problem with a 9 foot fiberglass whip that was 'shedding'. It was unsafe to touch. I had to wipe it down with sandpaper then spray it with clear plastic resin. After that it was fine.
I have used them in the ARMY. Another way to raise them is Jungle Penetrator mode. Stick them up vertically one at a time.
Can 1 person do it that way? Trying to imagine doing that and anchoring the guys alone.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Yes. Lay out the poles and guys on the ground. And send up one pole at a time. I can put up 7 poles ok. Of course it is easier with some more help. Another issue with fiberglass poles is they are fiberglass. Used outside long term, they start shedding fiberglass unless you paint them. Got to use gloves, or you get fiberglass in your hands..
@@OutdoorsOnTheAirMeasure the length of your guy anchors from the base of the antenna. The next time you put it up (alone) stake those guys, then raise the mast. Those two guys will keep it upright while you grab the third guy and walk it out to its anchor point. Take down in reverse order.
Tracy --- I would caution against using these fiberglas poles as a mast. The function of these poles is to erect camoflage netting -- what's usually missing from these is the fiberglas spreaders that get placed at the top of typically two, but never more than three sections of these poles (total 12-feet, max), that help break up any straight lines found on equipment placed under the camo netting. The fiberglas is exceedingly brittle at the joints, and highly susceptible to cracking and failing -- especially under tension. In fact, the US military considers these fiberglas poles an expendable item -- precisely because of the high failure rate. However, they are not the right tool for the job, and it really doesn't take much of a breeze to have them crack when under tension -- like the tension of the guy lines, for instance.
There exists aluminum poles, which are of a slightly smaller diameter, which the military utilizes as an antenna mast -- typically with the OE-254 VHF antenna. Those are purpose-built for erecting field antennas, and do not suffer nearly the failure rate of these fiberglas poles.
Thank you very much for this useful information! I once tried to raise a pole with 5 sections (with a heavy antenna attached) only to have one section crack at one of the joints.
The aluminum is certainly a more robust option, but costs more and the metal can interact with the antenna.
73 from VE3TWM.
You are looking really well and healthy these days - not sure whats changed, but good to see you looking so well. Raising masts . ok - so i always practice at home, then inevitably things go pear shaped in the field, i've managed to snap 2*Sotabeams mast (thankfully they sell spares) but I do use the same technique at home for getting my EFHW which sits up a DX Commander mast (I dont use it as an antenna for a logn time!) - its really robust and keeps the wire up nicely. As I dont get much time for radio, i'm always looking for the quickest way to get on teh air, so inevitbly that means a whip with radials or a mag loop. I've also used 'unknown dipole' which done pretty well with a ATU, but as for a 'bigger' mast like this, i've just had one too many bad experiences of putting up the masts (admittidly my own fault :D). Thanks again tho Tracy, I always enjoy your videos and inspiration to get out on the radio!
Thank you for your comment! And thanks for sharing your experience. I really like to hear that. 73 from VE3TWM!
I have used these fiberglass poles but for camouflage netting in the military. We used an aluminum mast system for comms. This comprises of a base assembly that holds three shorter legs and then the longer poles are used as the mast. There is also a screw in anchor that is placed below the base assembly where a short cord is passed through the hole in the center of the mast base and into the eyelet of the screw in base. The top mast piece I hav3 is made of fiberglass that fits into the top of the last mast pole. This configuration allows for the use of a dipole configuration with the two legs tied off to trees, as a sloping dipole fastened to the ground with the three foot insulated ends.
And the antenna mast on a tripod had both large diameter wooden tie-down stakes for sand, and small diameter metal stakes for firmer ground.
What I need to make are a pair adapters to interconnect the fiberglass poles to the aluminum poles. This will keep the metal from interfering with the radiation pattern or SWR of the antenna.
Thank you for this information!
@@Subgunman Cool idea!
I use 4 guys, with a similar method. My poles came with a guy ring. I also have a metal hinged stake for the pole to slip over.
you did a REALLY good job by yourself im impressed.
I'm using the aluminum, though I'll eventually get some fiberglass as well. I have a permanent 40 ft installation on the back of the garage. Over a year now with hard wind and ice, and no problems. I have a second set for portable, and made a brace for the back of the truck. I can go 32 feet comfortably with that. I have boards with eye bolts, and sand bags for anchoring, as not all parks want folks poking anything in the ground anymore. Fiberglass will be nice for making a portable vertical with wire, rope, and a pulley.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Hi Tracy,
I had the same type of military poles. They are sturdy. I made a small aluminum plate that fits over the top of the pole. Since it's rotatable I could even turn the pole with my hands (when using a VHF beam). Keep those videos coming ;-)
73 Phil ON4VP
Thank you for the tip, Phil! 73 from VE3TWM.
Tracy, as always another great video. If I can use it, my first pick is always an 80m-10m EFHW. In fact, later to day I should be tuning up one inspired by Colin-MM0OPX. It use a non-standard 43 mix torroid that is thicker, smaller diameter, and taller than a standard FT240-43 torroid, but it has noticeably better efficiency.
Of course with the bands the way they are just about anything works.
It looks like you've lost weight. Congratulations. Hopefully it wasn't a health issue.
Thank you! I'll bet that antenna will work well for you. No major health issues over here, thank you for your kind comment.
Great video. I plan on using this for my POTA activation
Have fun, they work well!
i've seen a few guys use these. nice video! i'll have to keep an eye out for those.
Thank you!
Those look like the ones strong enough for a mess tent, good stuff
They should be!
I have one myself. Looks fairly simple. I hope it is.
You can do it!
Thanks old timer! Great video! Now I can get my modified dual 50w Baofeng UV-R radios configured as a repeaer up high with a pole like that and blast my pirate signal far and wide! Righteous!
😂
Good informative video. I use those poles. My grandson and I have erected a 40 foot mast using those same poles. But on top of our mast,
we only had rope guys and one extra rope with a pulley at the top. I can erect a 30 foot mast by myself, but it's tricky to do. Again, a pulley
at the top, not raising the mast with an antenna on it.
Barry, KU3X
Holy cow, Barry, 40 feet! Never thought that was possible with these, even without an antenna on the top.
If the ground is soft, you might put a support "cup" under the mast and see how that helps the antenna stay up in the rain, if it rains but does not thunder, in the middle of the day ( because it always rains at odd times on soft soil, RIGHT) A stake under the cup helps it not sink,
Interesting!
I'd love to find a source for these polls. They would be ideal for my needs
Big hamfests like Dayton is a good place to find them. Also keep on eye on eBay.
@OutdoorsOnTheAir yeah $300 on ebay 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
If you consider the mast as the Adjacent side of a right triangle and the guyline as the Hypotenuse of that triangle, you can calculate exactly how far from the base of the mast you should be staking down the guy lines; that distance would be the Opposite side of the right triangle. So if your mast is 16' and your guys are 20', your stakes would be 12' out from the base of the mast. In your video with a 16' mast and arguably 24' guy lines (25' minus a foot for knots), your stakes would be roughly 17'-9" out from the mast. Trigonometry is your friend.
73 de W8ZZX (Yes, I *am* a nerd. Why do you ask?)
Excellent work. Can I hire you for my next activation? 😀
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir Sure, but you've gotta come over to the wrong side of Lake Huron. :-D
Very interesting and helpful. Tks
I don't understand all the guys you are talking about, when you said you were going to be the only guy doing this by yourself? (I'm sorry, but this warranted some guy humor! see what I did there guy?). So now that you are making me really, really want to do this, where can I buy these poles? Also, great explanation, great video!!!
😂 Thank you for your comment!
I've used them for several years in many ways.
Thanks for the comment, Rob!
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I actually used them yesterday for International Lighthouse weekend while set up with my mobile shack at the Kincardine lighthouse. 6 or 7 lengths..I have a swivel bracket at the top left corner of my trailer that I can pivot up the pole. Two lanyards on opposite sides at the top. Pulled up a 15M and 20M vertical element attached to a feed point at the back middle top of the aluminum roof trim. Trailer body as the ground plain. One of the several antenna variants that I use depending on space around the vehicle.
I had my Kenwood TS850 set up inside the trailer. My son and I both had our laptops there connected to my HF remote station, Tugce, TA3TGC from Turkey and Emilia, YO8YL from Romania joined us on the remote for several hours of operation.
Both stations on the same frequency, VE3IHR used for the portable station, VA3YLR used for the remote. Dual station contacts for others. All live streamed.
Unfortunately the band conditions were not the best and the local wx not good either..
I had 3 of the duffel bags full of these poles in my storeroom to use for field antenna masts. Then my storeroom burned down. Now I'm starting all over.
oh no! sorry to hear that.
I have a set of those also but I find that 20/24 feet is maximum. After that the horizontal part of the lift starts getting sketchy.
Thank you for sharing this good information!
That is the kind of stake you can use to build a fence, two to a hole with them facing away from each other. if they have two sizes for securing fence panels, Get the larger ones ( DUH)
Put a spike at the pole and attach to keep the bottom from kicking out.
Good idea, Philip!
To get a 45 degree angle the distance from the bottom of the mast to the guy anchor is the same as the height of the mast. Knowing that, I use the mast to lay out the anchors. Set one end of the mast where you want to erect it. Then lay it down and place an anchor at the other end. Move the mast 120 degrees and repeat two more times. I also use the mast to measure the guy lines. Run the guy the length of the mast. At the bottom, fold it back half way. In this case, the line is 4 mast sections, top to bottom. Add 2 more sections to the line's length. I like to add an extra foot to tie a taunt line hitch on the end. My knot of choice. I like to leave the guys a little lose at this point. Go ahead and attach 1 line to its anchor of either side of the mast and stand it up. If he guys are lose enough the mast can be stood up a bit beyond vertical. Attach the third line to its anchor and start tightening the guys until the mast is absolutely vertical. If it takes more that 5 minutes, start to finish you're doing it wrong. As W8ZZX said, "Trigonometry is your friend." 73, Dan, W8AAU. The Ham Math Guy
Great video!🇺🇸
Thank you!
How do you install the antenna on the mast
Depends on the antenna, of course. On the day I recorded the video I used a commercial antenna that had U-bolts so I simply fastened the U-bolts to the mast. For Field Day, I had one leg of a dipole tied off to paracord and tied the other end of the paracord to the top of the mast.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir thanks keep doing a great job with your videos 73s Kk6ikw
I have rings that slip over the top, for securing guy lines. there will be an extra hole or two, depending on your guy plan. I use the extra holes with pulleys to hoist whatever antenna I'm using.
Been using them for years
Tracy you just R O C K . . . 💯👍
Hi UG! 73 from VE3TWM.
Looks easy enough
Be careful to NOT put too heavy of a side load on the connecting joints. The joints are surprisingly easy to break if a bending stress is applied. Experience talking here.
Great tip, thank you!
These are not military antenna mast sections they are camouflage net poles.
Thank you for raising this point. I omitted stating this on the video.
Where can we find these surplus military masts?
Check local surplus outlets, also eBay is a decent source.
you had 3 guys. if you had had 2 more you would've had a hamburger :) lol sorry there's a company called 5 guys its a hamburger joint that's really expensive but really tasty and messy. :)
😂
Those are NOT antenna mast sections.
They are if you use them to hold up an antenna.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir
Incorrect. Better look at military manual. Military never uses them for antennas
@@bobdaney48 I'm not in the military.
unsubscribed
care to explain?
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir I'm not unsubbed, but I must say that the "tweety bird" audio on the front of your videos certainly hurts my ears. I HATE when I forget to turn down the volume before I click on your videos.
Personally I'll only use FG if I find some inexpensively enough to purchase. If I spend real money it's going to be Al. I don't like maintenance on FG, nor the result of lack of maintenance. UV is powerful. If I had access to really good bamboo (large diameter) I'd try cutting and adding joints to the bamboo for a temporary support pole. It could happen. Perhaps I should plant some-then I could use the full length.
@@wadepatton2433 Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Wade! I will reduce the volume of the White Throated Sparrow call on my future videos. Good thinking re: fiberglass versus aluminum, too.