@@watersstanton my pleasure Peter, such a well made useful piece of equipment for making all kinds of useful antennas, mono and multi band. Conveniently slips right onto an aluminium scaffold tube and stands up to the elements better than any other pole of its type.
12m telescopic mast by Spiderbeam is installed permanently here in Tallinn. Great mast, very sturdy and survived in a few heavy storms this winter. Greetings from Estonia. Ramil ES1RAM. 73!
@ Thank you. I love your passion. As I enter semi retirement I am excited to have HAM radio as a new and exciting hobby. Lucky to have an FT-710 to start my shack. Training booked for December and with luck an exam in January. Thank you for continuing to share your experience and passion for learning as a great example to us all. Young and not so 😉😁
We have a similar product in the USA. Jackite, originally designed for flying kites, small banners and flags etc. I’ve had one for almost 20 years and it’s brilliant. Inexpensive and very low maintenance. I just washed mine for the first time last week, was amazed at how much better it deployed and stowed once I took 20 years worth of grime off the poor thing. The Spiderbeam RCB-60mm looks like an easy option for SOTA/POTA/Field Day operation.
I have 80m band inverted L based on 12m long Spiderbeam. They pole is sturdy and good quality. It has taken some pretty stormy winds already with no problems. Spiderbeams are not the cheapest but I'd recommend them to anyone due to quality and sturdiness.
Purchased my 12m along with a purpose made heavy duty tow ball attachment where the base of the mast sits into. I also purchased the webbing attachment for the guys. I have not been out operating since Corvid-19 so I have not used the Spiderbeam in earnest yet. Choice of Full Length G5-RV flexe weave , Long wire Kevlar UnUN CG-2000 Longwire Tuner, so much to try and experiment when these restrictions cease. 73 Take Care and Stay Safe.
great tip about the hexagonal spanner Peter, I never thought of that. Much better than a slipping screwdriver...and the RCB60MM connector looks good...many thanks for another excellent video...
@@watersstanton are the nut sizes different from 6mm down to 4mm ? One size socket will not cater for all the jubilee clips as they get smaller in diameter. 73
I just got my 10m pole so I can tape a 29” wire, I didn’t do it today because it was windy. It is a Haverford brand in NSW, it is a squid pole. Another youtuber used a hose clamp on the lowest pole held up by 3 tent guy ropes and tent pegs. It looked rather good.
Thanks for video Peter. That connector box certainly looks useful. Just a thought about hose clamps - I would suggest using stainless steel clamps. The regular nickel coated ones start to rust fairly quickly in our climate.
Another very good and informative video. I am looking to get portable gear for POTA and am seeing telescoping fiberglass masts with more cost or price than I thought. So I am looking around. Thanks for the spider beam idea. I have been on their site (they actually have a US site (convenient for me). So to get portable I plan on carting my equipment out of the qth initially while I figure out what I like and want. So more to learn. That is a good thing. A day I learn something is a good day. A very good day to you and thanks again. 73 de KI5HXM
Really enjoy your videos Peter. I do a lot of h.f. Portable operation, usually QRP, using my trusty F.T.817 transceiver. I use a “Spider Beam” asymmetrical inverted “V” dipole and a collapsible 5m fishing pole, bought from a car boot sale for £3.00 some years ago. (The SpiderBeam should be supported at 7m, but it does work ok at 5m). Some of my operations are carried out in local parks, big wide open spaces. Or so you would think. It is always a source of amusement, whenever I assemble my antenna, in such a big wide open space, it attracts humans by the dozen. Even though they are not remotely interested in what I am doing, and there can be 100yds either side of me, they will head straight for me, often causing either myself, or friends to gently coax them around the potential trip hazards. Just a thought , does your company sell human repellent at all? Sorry for the long comment, but I thought I would share a small fraction of my portable operational experience. Keep up the great videos, Peter, stay safe and well everyone. 73’s de Geoff (G4SQJ).
Here's a way I've found for making a cheap, high performance, ground=plane, Yagi, quad, etc. I've used it for 6 & 2m, but it could be adapted to the lower bands, as well. PVC PIPE! It's cheap & light. You just cover it with copper foil tape, which you can get from Ebay. You can also use aluminum tape, which is easier to find, but more difficult to make electrical contacts to. An advantage of such an antenna is its fairly large diameter, relative to its length. This gives it a wider bandwidth, compared to small diameter metal tubes.
Hi I was lucky to get a vintage Fibreglass pole ( Made in the 80s/ early 90s ) back in the day ..........It's the main homemade antenna for 40Mt Easy to fit Two elements at 33 feet each with a home made 1.1 choke .............73s
Back in the 80's i used to use a DK9SQ 10m mast for portable use they was the strongest at the time I just ordered a spiderbeam 10m mini pole for portable use 😊
Hi Fred. Thanks for that. In fact I spend quite a bit of time taking my amtemmas up and down so I would get through quite a pile of cable ties! But for some, the cable tie idea might be best.
I purchased from the likes of Aldi a pack of multi coloured Cable ties in various sizes, some come with a push to release tension lever making them reuseable. Available from the likes of Aldi and Lidl suppose other places too
good stuff indeed ! That RCB-60mm looks interesting, but an so239, a couple of stainless bolts/wingnuts/washers/glueline heatshrink and what looks like a plastic box should not be £40 even if it is made in DL. Also, very odd they didn't use a HOT bolt on the top instead of the wire+ring terminal. An easy project for anyone really. 73 Richie.
Hello Peter. Love the video on your fiberglass mast videos but I do have a great question for you. With these adjustable mast, how would you ground your antenna??? I have tried to find other videos and website online and I can’t find this answer. I live in Florida which is the lighting capital of the world so if I’m not close to home and cannot lower my mast, I need to know I have some type of protection. Any ideas? Thank You!
Hasn't anyone seen re-usable cable ties? They're very handy for portable antenna work. You occasionally see bags of 100 in Lidl. There's also velcro straps but they quickly get messy IMHO.
Very fine video. Can you suggest what is the largest gauge wire that would fit an EFHW 4010 at the top of the 12m pole? I have a 14 gauge EFHW and am wondering 1) if it would be too heavy at the top and 2)would I gain more performance by putting a lighter gauge at the top vs putting the 14 gauge a few sections down. Intend for 100 watt SSB portable. Thank you, keep up the great series. 73
I bought the 12m spiderbeam and put the center-point of a commercially made ZS6BKW, the stupid mast was bending very badly just under the weight of that and the two wires. I was told by the seller that I need to lower the mast by two segments to keep it from bending. over. So, I guess, what's the point of it being 12m tall if you can't use it at its full height? Sorry, but that's kind of stupid.
@@watersstanton Well, I'm not sure what the point is of it being 40' tall if it has to be lowered in height to support even a minimal weight. I already had a 34' mast. I got the spiderbeam so I could get the antenna up to 40' tall, not so I could have a fiberglass version of what I already had.
That's like buying a boat from someone and have them say "You'll be fine with this boat as long as you don't put it in water that is more than 5' deep."
iHi Peter! Is a Spider beam good for a permanent mount or a bit too nice to leave out for years in the weather? I have trees so an EFHW I might can do with no mast.
Great mast but can be differcult to get down when the weather sets in, the compression system can get stuck. Mole grips and WD40 on standby. John G4YDM
Paul, I tend to use plastic coated multi-strand of whatever I have around. Flexweave is a bit heavy. There is no magic wire, despite what some would have you believe! The main thing is that it does not break under normal circumstances.
Hi Peter, That's OK, I've been using some wire I got from a BT engineer years ago, the kind that used to be on the poles outside very thin & very strong I use 4 inch long springs on either side after the insulators on the ends to the fixing point, no idea what is called, but I'll give it a go
I use 2x 12m spiderbeam masts in my 20x10ft garden had them up for 10years now they are not guyed They have taken 60mph winds ok over that i take them down for singal wires i use power pole conecters But at the moment i am useing 5/8 wave virtical dipoles for 15m and 12/10m chris G0WFH
Out of all the fibreglass masts of this type, this is the best quality available, highly recommended.
Thanks Bob.
@@watersstanton my pleasure Peter, such a well made useful piece of equipment for making all kinds of useful antennas, mono and multi band. Conveniently slips right onto an aluminium scaffold tube and stands up to the elements better than any other pole of its type.
I've only just become licensed, and i'm learning hatfuls of info from your video's, many thanks Pete 73's
Many thanks
12m telescopic mast by Spiderbeam is installed permanently here in Tallinn. Great mast, very sturdy and survived in a few heavy storms this winter. Greetings from Estonia. Ramil ES1RAM. 73!
Nice to hear from you. Peter
Keep finding more of your stuff. Love it. 🎉
I will so my best.
@ Thank you. I love your passion. As I enter semi retirement I am excited to have HAM radio as a new and exciting hobby. Lucky to have an FT-710 to start my shack. Training booked for December and with luck an exam in January.
Thank you for continuing to share your experience and passion for learning as a great example to us all. Young and not so 😉😁
We have a similar product in the USA. Jackite, originally designed for flying kites, small banners and flags etc. I’ve had one for almost 20 years and it’s brilliant. Inexpensive and very low maintenance. I just washed mine for the first time last week, was amazed at how much better it deployed and stowed once I took 20 years worth of grime off the poor thing.
The Spiderbeam RCB-60mm looks like an easy option for SOTA/POTA/Field Day operation.
Thanks for the info! 73 Peter
Love my SpiderPole. Use it to support an inverted V. Love your aviation artwork too!
Cool, thanks
I have 80m band inverted L based on 12m long Spiderbeam. They pole is sturdy and good quality. It has taken some pretty stormy winds already with no problems. Spiderbeams are not the cheapest but I'd recommend them to anyone due to quality and sturdiness.
Many thanks. Peter
Very interesting and informative Peter down to earth stuff look forward to seeing your planned presentation on radials 73
Many thanjs
Purchased my 12m along with a purpose made heavy duty tow ball attachment where the base of the mast sits into. I also purchased the webbing attachment for the guys. I have not been out operating since Corvid-19 so I have not used the Spiderbeam in earnest yet. Choice of Full Length G5-RV flexe weave , Long wire Kevlar UnUN CG-2000 Longwire Tuner, so much to try and experiment when these restrictions cease. 73 Take Care and Stay Safe.
Many thanks for that. 73 Peter.
great tip about the hexagonal spanner Peter, I never thought of that. Much better than a slipping screwdriver...and the RCB60MM connector looks good...many thanks for another excellent video...
I have been on the wrong end of a screwdriver a few times!
@@watersstanton are the nut sizes different from 6mm down to 4mm ? One size socket will not cater for all the jubilee clips as they get smaller in diameter. 73
I just got my 10m pole so I can tape a 29” wire, I didn’t do it today because it was windy. It is a Haverford brand in NSW, it is a squid pole. Another youtuber used a hose clamp on the lowest pole held up by 3 tent guy ropes and tent pegs. It looked rather good.
I have the 12m pole as semi-permanent install for an end-fed. Excellent product from Spiderbeam.
Thanks Craig
Thoroughly recommend the 12 meter Spiderpole, very well made. Just don’t expect to take them up a mountain (quite heavy). Thank you Peter. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for sharing!
Good info, thank you. I’ll have to check out stores stateside to see if they have videos as good as yours.
DX Engineering has some videos, but they are not nearly as helpful as is Mr. Waters.
Ha ha - Thanks Nelson. Peter
Thanks for video Peter. That connector box certainly looks useful. Just a thought about hose clamps - I would suggest using stainless steel clamps. The regular nickel coated ones start to rust fairly quickly in our climate.
Good tip!
The nylon ones are becoming very popular. Nylon screw clamps, who would have thought?
Another very good and informative video. I am looking to get portable gear for POTA and am seeing telescoping fiberglass masts with more cost or price than I thought. So I am looking around. Thanks for the spider beam idea. I have been on their site (they actually have a US site (convenient for me). So to get portable I plan on carting my equipment out of the qth initially while I figure out what I like and want. So more to learn. That is a good thing. A day I learn something is a good day. A very good day to you and thanks again. 73 de KI5HXM
Really enjoy your videos Peter. I do a lot of h.f. Portable operation, usually QRP, using my trusty F.T.817 transceiver. I use a “Spider Beam” asymmetrical inverted “V” dipole and a collapsible 5m fishing pole, bought from a car boot sale for £3.00 some years ago. (The SpiderBeam should be supported at 7m, but it does work ok at 5m). Some of my operations are carried out in local parks, big wide open spaces. Or so you would think. It is always a source of amusement, whenever I assemble my antenna, in such a big wide open space, it attracts humans by the dozen. Even though they are not remotely interested in what I am doing, and there can be 100yds either side of me, they will head straight for me, often causing either myself, or friends to gently coax them around the potential trip hazards. Just a thought , does your company sell human repellent at all? Sorry for the long comment, but I thought I would share a small fraction of my portable operational experience. Keep up the great videos, Peter, stay safe and well everyone. 73’s de Geoff (G4SQJ).
Many thanks Geoff
Thanks for the video and 73 from Germany!
Great to hear from you. 73 Peter
Here's a way I've found for making a cheap, high performance, ground=plane, Yagi, quad, etc. I've used it for 6 & 2m, but it could be adapted to the lower bands, as well. PVC PIPE! It's cheap & light. You just cover it with copper foil tape, which you can get from Ebay. You can also use aluminum tape, which is easier to find, but more difficult to make electrical contacts to. An advantage of such an antenna is its fairly large diameter, relative to its length. This gives it a wider bandwidth, compared to small diameter metal tubes.
Hi I was lucky to get a vintage Fibreglass pole ( Made in the 80s/ early 90s ) back in the day ..........It's the main homemade antenna for 40Mt
Easy to fit Two elements at 33 feet each with a home made 1.1 choke .............73s
@782 Matt and what a fabulous signal you have OM! Thanks for the QSO the other day 5/9++ 73
Very cool!
Back in the 80's i used to use a DK9SQ 10m mast for portable use they was the strongest at the time
I just ordered a spiderbeam 10m mini pole for portable use 😊
Another great Vid Peter thanks so much !
Thanks Jon
Good afternoon on a hot and sunny afternoon in wellington Somerset
Hi Favid - yep around 33C here at the moment. Peter
Hi Peter Cable ties are quite handy for that, as opposed to hose clips and elastostraps, you can get quite large ones...Fred g4vvq
Hi Fred. Thanks for that. In fact I spend quite a bit of time taking my amtemmas up and down so I would get through quite a pile of cable ties! But for some, the cable tie idea might be best.
I purchased from the likes of Aldi a pack of multi coloured Cable ties in various sizes, some come with a push to release tension lever making them reuseable. Available from the likes of Aldi and Lidl suppose other places too
Hi 👋🏻.
Where would you use a aluminium pole ?
Home base more permanent setting?
Great channel by the way.
Play up Pompey!🏴
good stuff indeed ! That RCB-60mm looks interesting, but an so239, a couple of stainless bolts/wingnuts/washers/glueline heatshrink and what looks like a plastic box should not be £40 even if it is made in DL. Also, very odd they didn't use a HOT bolt on the top instead of the wire+ring terminal. An easy project for anyone really. 73 Richie.
Good to hear from you. Peter
Hi there, Could the Spiderpole be mounted on T&K brackets?
Hello Peter. Love the video on your fiberglass mast videos but I do have a great question for you. With these adjustable mast, how would you ground your antenna??? I have tried to find other videos and website online and I can’t find this answer. I live in Florida which is the lighting capital of the world so if I’m not close to home and cannot lower my mast, I need to know I have some type of protection. Any ideas? Thank You!
Hasn't anyone seen re-usable cable ties? They're very handy for portable antenna work. You occasionally see bags of 100 in Lidl. There's also velcro straps but they quickly get messy IMHO.
Thanks John.
Very fine video. Can you suggest what is the largest gauge wire that would fit an EFHW 4010 at the top of the 12m pole? I have a 14 gauge EFHW and am wondering 1) if it would be too heavy at the top and 2)would I gain more performance by putting a lighter gauge at the top vs putting the 14 gauge a few sections down. Intend for 100 watt SSB portable. Thank you, keep up the great series. 73
14swg would be too heavy. Check iut the Spidermast that I will cover in a new video shortly.
watersstanton thank you, looking forward to your next video
I bought the 12m spiderbeam and put the center-point of a commercially made ZS6BKW, the stupid mast was bending very badly just under the weight of that and the two wires. I was told by the seller that I need to lower the mast by two segments to keep it from bending. over. So, I guess, what's the point of it being 12m tall if you can't use it at its full height? Sorry, but that's kind of stupid.
Many users deploy it as a vertical but to supprt a downwRd weight, you do need to relescope in a couple of sections. Peter.
@@watersstanton Well, I'm not sure what the point is of it being 40' tall if it has to be lowered in height to support even a minimal weight. I already had a 34' mast. I got the spiderbeam so I could get the antenna up to 40' tall, not so I could have a fiberglass version of what I already had.
That's like buying a boat from someone and have them say "You'll be fine with this boat as long as you don't put it in water that is more than 5' deep."
iHi Peter! Is a Spider beam good for a permanent mount or a bit too nice to leave out for years in the weather?
I have trees so an EFHW I might can do with no mast.
I have never used one so cannit help. Sorry. 73 Peter.
Great mast but can be differcult to get down when the weather sets in, the compression system can get stuck. Mole grips and WD40 on standby. John G4YDM
I am at a total loss of how exactly the balun is being connected SECURELY to the pole. Not blowing in the wind or Micky moused.
Peter, Great video. Just subscribed. Are you also a pilot? Gary K5GLB
Hi Gary, Did a bit of flying but an eye defect grounded me! 73 Peter
Simpleman..... for simpleman.... so simple....
Nice...
Thanks
UK Box Spanner = US Socket Wrench
Hi Peter, can you recommend a thin wire, to make an inverted V, I thought of flexi-weave, but would that be to heavy
100 w max
73 Paul M0BSW
Paul, I tend to use plastic coated multi-strand of whatever I have around. Flexweave is a bit heavy. There is no magic wire, despite what some would have you believe! The main thing is that it does not break under normal circumstances.
Hi Peter, That's OK, I've been using some wire I got from a BT engineer years ago, the kind that used to be on the poles outside very thin & very strong I use 4 inch long springs on either side after the insulators on the ends to the fixing point, no idea what is called, but I'll give it a go
500 pounds, must be made of gold
The clue is in the title!
I use 2x 12m spiderbeam masts in my 20x10ft garden had them up for 10years now they are not guyed
They have taken 60mph winds ok over that i take them down for singal wires i use power pole conecters
But at the moment i am useing 5/8 wave virtical dipoles for 15m and 12/10m chris G0WFH