Uncommon handy information. People talk about fiberglass poles but don’t provide hands on information. Thank you so very much for your contribution to my education.
2 suggestions: Start by pounding a spike into the ground where you want your mast centered. It can be wood, plastic, or metal, so long as it is thin enough to fit into the bottom of your mast. Second suggestion: do not use the 3 or 4 foot piece of PVC pipe. Instead, install your hose clamp directly onto the top of the bottom section of your mast. This works just as well, and saves you from carrying some extra weight and bulk. If you use zip-ties instead of hose clamps, you can keep them from slowly creeping downward over time by adding a thin bead of RTV silicone gasket seal under the zip-tie before final tightening. A side benefit of starting with the center spike is that it helps hold your mast more or less upright while you are installing your guy lines. (BTW, 3 guy lines are quite sufficient if spaced 120 degrees apart.)
Very useful advice. I have a large spool of single strand hookup wire. I have a small yard with no trees, and being retired, can't afford to buy a fibreglass pole as shown in the video. But I have an extendable aluminium handle for my roof gutter cleaner. It extends to roof height on my house. So I took the brush bit off, and inserted the end part of an old fishing rod. Then I used duct table to tape the pole as high up on my side gate metal post just outside my bedroom window. I wrapped the wire around the post, and then centre fed a long wire at the top with one end attached south to my drive fence, and the other end attached north to the side of my garage. The highest point extends several feet above the peak of the gabled roof of my house, around 30 feet off the ground. The antenna is attached with an alligator clip to a length of braided speaker wire, and in turn clipped by another alligator clip to the telescopic antenna of my hand held world band radio. It is amazing how many shortwave and ham radio signals i receive, especially when I am located in Christchurch, New Zealand.
I made it out to a state park this year for my first Winter Field Day. I used a fiberglass mast to support the center of a 40/80/160 linked dipole, the first time I had enough room for a half-wave 160m dipole . . . had a blast and learned much. 73 de AB3ZI
I have used an MFJ 33ft pole for several years. It has suffered a lot of abuse and several sections have broken. Luckily I found an inexpensive fishing pole from the US that exactly fitted in place of the broken sections. My 33ft pole is now only 29ft high but still alive. Another good tip is to remove the top section of most poles. The top section is too thin and fragile and bends too easily. John, VA3KOT, Orangeville.
Hi John, thank you for sharing your experience. I own Jackite, Spiderbeam and DX-Wire poles and have never had a section break on any of them. I wonder if the brand you mention is not built to the same standard.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir My own fault really. The top section broke due to too much tension. A couple of lower sections broke when the fully erected pole came crashing down against a brick wall. It was supported on a modified tripod (for winter deployment). I have learned the hard way to treat my pole with more respect!
Excellent video Tracy, thank you. Most of these things l learned the hard way and wish I known some of these things years ago. Worst thing for me is pole collapsing down on itself (usually mid-QSO). I found that putting a little tension on antenna or one of the guys to make a slight bend in the pole is good for stopping this (at least without resorting to tape as you suggest).
I too use fibreglass poles and find them extremely useful when deploying my inverted "V" field antenna. The spider beam is a great pole if a little expensive so I tend to get them of amazon or other auction sites. Looked after a pole can last for a couple of years without too much difficulty.
I appreciate your videos on fiberglass poles! I'm getting frustrated with my end fed being heard all over the country but not being able to hear much while being deployed at my in laws place. I jumped in too low and got a 20 foot pole that is just too weak and really bends unacceptably , even with just a wire. My next move will be a 31-footer and the means to secure it using the techniques I've seen in your videos. Thanks so much de N2NLQ.
Handy video, these fibreglass poles are helpful for all of those situations when a permanent ariel set up is not possible. Recently setting up a JOTA station (GB4RUG) for the Rugby Scouts, we used two fibreglass poles. One pole supported a wire Delta Loop Antenna, with and the other pole a vertical cut for 40m. Light and flexible, we found them easy to assemble and dismantle. As conditions on the bands changed throughout the day, we could reposition the Delta Loop to make the best use of direction into North America and Europe. Andy G6TVK & Paddy G4MAD
Always enjoy your video's Tracy, I have several very large spruce trees in my yard that i use for deploying antennas, while they work quite well I am considering a fiber glass telescopic pole for my current endfed antenna and the down sloped end. Thanks so much!
have a couple of big trees in the yard, but only two! this sounds like a great way to efficiently experiment with orientations that aren't practical with the tall tree approach. i'm sure this video saved me headaches when i do! 73 - KC1OHD
My DX Commander 12.4m (41') vertical wire fan pole only went up this spring / summer. It has already been through tropical storm winds etc. This will be its first Atlantic winter. It is a fiberglass multi-section pole with aquarium tube over ss hose clamp retainers. They just switched to nylon hose clamps, eliminating the aquarium tubing and scratch potential. I've experimented with various means of tensioning the guy lines and while I have some cam locks from NiteEyez, I chose not to use them. Instead, I use a directional loop knot in the guy lines to create a pseudo truckers hitch with a line lock knot. That seems to retain the lines very well without additional tampering / theft enticing doodads.
I have a SOTA Beams fiberglass pole for portable use. I also am using military fiberglass tent poles in a permanent antenna mast at my home QTH. It holds up the centre of an inverted V 10-80 end fed wire. It's a solution which works pretty well for me on my current property. I've worked stations in Japan and Australia with that wire and 100 watts in spite of the fact that the wire is not really high enough. I also use it for NVIS and routinely work stations on ONTARS and other nets on 80 meters within 1000 Kilometers. I like fiberglass because, aside from not detuning the antenna, I suspect it will be less attractive to lightening.
Thanks for nice video... what are your base supports... I use bunji cords to tie off to a fence post or van rear view mirror... I use zip ties to attach antenna to pole... Use G5RV or dipole for antenna... easy to deploy for Field Day coming up in May.
Another useful and informative video Tracey, after seeing you and Gil, the 'Radio Prepper' using the Spiderbeam 12m mast I bought one.... quite a step up from the cheapo 10m mast I previously used! If I can't find anything to tie it to in the field, I simply stamp a garden fork all the way into the ground, and bungee the pole to it, as long as it's not too gusty this works fine for me. Thanks for the videos, always enjoyable, 73, M0KED, Lincoln, U.K.
Sir: I noticed in the background that you had a tripod. Can you tell me more about that item and source of that item? Love, absolutely love your informative messages which help all of us. I am going to purchase a pole because of you. N4KBM
Thank you! There are no sirs here, my friend. Look up my video "The Fastest and Easiest Way to Deploy a Fiberglass Mast". You'll see it profiled there. Have fun with your new pole. 73 from VE3TWM.
I normally use a small strip of plastic (e.g. perspex). The end of the antenna is looped through a small hole and tied off. With different size holes drilled in the rest of the strip, I can find a hole that suits whatever mast is used. Also, this allows it to be slid down the pole to different heights - 1st section, 2nd top, 3rd top etc. As Tracy said, you often don't want to use the top section for anything but the lightest loads. The strip is easy to remove without untying knots or removing tape, provides insulation from the pole and is reusable. It also serves as an insulator if I attach the end of antenna to a line rather than fibreglass pole.
I have a 17 foot long graphite fishing pole and would like to know if it is usable for field work as a support for a vertical EFHW setup, say for 10 meters.
Excellent video! I have a 31' Jackite pole and some LNR Precision (Par) EndFedz. I am building an EFHW tuner from the QRPGuys. A second mast is a 16.5 foot Crappie pole from Cabela's. You had some really good suggestions in the video.
Hello Tracy, any website were I can buy one of them fibreglass pole? I wll appreciate if you can recommend me one to buy a fibreglass pole like the last one you present with electric tape. thanks!
Hi Greg, Google "Jackite" and "Spiderbeam". If you can spend the additional amount, I suggest you opt for the Spiderbeam (greater height and stiffness).
Another great antenna building resource can be found at Menards’s. Made a hexbeam from these. www.menards.com/main/building-materials/concrete-cement-masonry/rebar-remesh/7-16-x-20-fiberglass-rebar/1831110/p-1520408262313.htm
Uncommon handy information. People talk about fiberglass poles but don’t provide hands on information. Thank you so very much for your contribution to my education.
You're welcome!
Another informative video without annoying music or foul language, well done!
Thank you! I intentionally keep my videos free of those things.
2 suggestions: Start by pounding a spike into the ground where you want your mast centered. It can be wood, plastic, or metal, so long as it is thin enough to fit into the bottom of your mast.
Second suggestion: do not use the 3 or 4 foot piece of PVC pipe. Instead, install your hose clamp directly onto the top of the bottom section of your mast. This works just as well, and saves you from carrying some extra weight and bulk.
If you use zip-ties instead of hose clamps, you can keep them from slowly creeping downward over time by adding a thin bead of RTV silicone gasket seal under the zip-tie before final tightening.
A side benefit of starting with the center spike is that it helps hold your mast more or less upright while you are installing your guy lines. (BTW, 3 guy lines are quite sufficient if spaced 120 degrees apart.)
Very informative and enjoyable video. I have used PVC pipes in the same manner however PVC does become brittle in the sun light after a few years.
Thank you for sharing your experience, George!
George I have some questions about using PVC.
Very useful advice. I have a large spool of single strand hookup wire. I have a small yard with no trees, and being retired, can't afford to buy a fibreglass pole as shown in the video. But I have an extendable aluminium handle for my roof gutter cleaner. It extends to roof height on my house. So I took the brush bit off, and inserted the end part of an old fishing rod. Then I used duct table to tape the pole as high up on my side gate metal post just outside my bedroom window. I wrapped the wire around the post, and then centre fed a long wire at the top with one end attached south to my drive fence, and the other end attached north to the side of my garage. The highest point extends several feet above the peak of the gabled roof of my house, around 30 feet off the ground. The antenna is attached with an alligator clip to a length of braided speaker wire, and in turn clipped by another alligator clip to the telescopic antenna of my hand held world band radio. It is amazing how many shortwave and ham radio signals i receive, especially when I am located in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Well done! Thank you for sharing your experience.
I made it out to a state park this year for my first Winter Field Day. I used a fiberglass mast to support the center of a 40/80/160 linked dipole, the first time I had enough room for a half-wave 160m dipole . . . had a blast and learned much. 73 de AB3ZI
Thank you for sharing your experience!
If you aren’t already, you’re gonna make a heck of an Elmer for someone. Love your videos and hope to catch you on the air
I have used an MFJ 33ft pole for several years. It has suffered a lot of abuse and several sections have broken. Luckily I found an inexpensive fishing pole from the US that exactly fitted in place of the broken sections. My 33ft pole is now only 29ft high but still alive. Another good tip is to remove the top section of most poles. The top section is too thin and fragile and bends too easily. John, VA3KOT, Orangeville.
Hi John, thank you for sharing your experience. I own Jackite, Spiderbeam and DX-Wire poles and have never had a section break on any of them. I wonder if the brand you mention is not built to the same standard.
@@OutdoorsOnTheAir My own fault really. The top section broke due to too much tension. A couple of lower sections broke when the fully erected pole came crashing down against a brick wall. It was supported on a modified tripod (for winter deployment). I have learned the hard way to treat my pole with more respect!
Thank you for the background information. It's a cautionary tale for others.
Excellent video Tracy, thank you. Most of these things l learned the hard way and wish I known some of these things years ago. Worst thing for me is pole collapsing down on itself (usually mid-QSO). I found that putting a little tension on antenna or one of the guys to make a slight bend in the pole is good for stopping this (at least without resorting to tape as you suggest).
That's a great tip, Steve! Thank you for your comment.
I too use fibreglass poles and find them extremely useful when deploying my inverted "V" field antenna. The spider beam is a great pole if a little expensive so I tend to get them of amazon or other auction sites. Looked after a pole can last for a couple of years without too much difficulty.
Thank you for your comment.
I appreciate your videos on fiberglass poles!
I'm getting frustrated with my end fed being heard all over the country but not being able to hear much while being deployed at my in laws place.
I jumped in too low and got a 20 foot pole that is just too weak and really bends unacceptably , even with just a wire.
My next move will be a 31-footer and the means to secure it using the techniques I've seen in your videos.
Thanks so much de N2NLQ.
Thank you! If you could spend a little more, I'd recommend buying a Spiderbeam 40' mast. It's worth the extra cost and weight.
@Michael Thompson Or the original DX Commander antenna and get most bands in a relatively easily collapsible to a transportable size unit.
Handy video, these fibreglass poles are helpful for all of those situations when a permanent ariel set up is not possible. Recently setting up a JOTA station (GB4RUG) for the Rugby Scouts, we used two fibreglass poles. One pole supported a wire Delta Loop Antenna, with and the other pole a vertical cut for 40m. Light and flexible, we found them easy to assemble and dismantle. As conditions on the bands changed throughout the day, we could reposition the Delta Loop to make the best use of direction into North America and Europe.
Andy G6TVK & Paddy G4MAD
Thank you for sharing your experience! I'd like to try that Delta loop one day.
Always enjoy your video's Tracy, I have several very large spruce trees in my yard that i use for deploying antennas, while they work quite well I am considering a fiber glass telescopic pole for my current endfed antenna and the down sloped end. Thanks so much!
You're welcome! Thank you for your comment.
have a couple of big trees in the yard, but only two! this sounds like a great way to efficiently experiment with orientations that aren't practical with the tall tree approach. i'm sure this video saved me headaches when i do! 73 - KC1OHD
Thank you for your comment, Ed! 73 from VE3TWM.
My DX Commander 12.4m (41') vertical wire fan pole only went up this spring / summer. It has already been through tropical storm winds etc. This will be its first Atlantic winter. It is a fiberglass multi-section pole with aquarium tube over ss hose clamp retainers. They just switched to nylon hose clamps, eliminating the aquarium tubing and scratch potential.
I've experimented with various means of tensioning the guy lines and while I have some cam locks from NiteEyez, I chose not to use them. Instead, I use a directional loop knot in the guy lines to create a pseudo truckers hitch with a line lock knot. That seems to retain the lines very well without additional tampering / theft enticing doodads.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thanks for this video, I'm shopping for a fiberglass pole and your information will help me. 73
You're welcome! 73 from VE3TWM.
I got a 6m HD pole for hiking and lately I got a 12m spiderbeam. I reached out stations i never dreamed of using the 12m and 6m in combo :)
Well done! Thank you for sharing your experience.
HD? What is that?
I have a SOTA Beams fiberglass pole for portable use. I also am using military fiberglass tent poles in a permanent antenna mast at my home QTH. It holds up the centre of an inverted V 10-80 end fed wire. It's a solution which works pretty well for me on my current property. I've worked stations in Japan and Australia with that wire and 100 watts in spite of the fact that the wire is not really high enough. I also use it for NVIS and routinely work stations on ONTARS and other nets on 80 meters within 1000 Kilometers. I like fiberglass because, aside from not detuning the antenna, I suspect it will be less attractive to lightening.
Thank you for sharing your experience. How high is the high point of the antenna?
Silicon or "Rescue" tape is good for holding wires to the Mast and should provide enough grip to keep sections from slipping.
Great tip, thank you!
Another excellent video,,all your videos are very informative.
I use sotabeam poles which are very good.
Alan in the UK
Thank you, Alan!
Just got a 32' from The Mast Company. It opens up more antenna options.
Nice!
Great tips Tracey.
Thank you!
Thanks for nice video... what are your base supports... I use bunji cords to tie off to a fence post or van rear view mirror... I use zip ties to attach antenna to pole... Use G5RV or dipole for antenna... easy to deploy for Field Day coming up in May.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
These are all really excellent tips, Tracey, thanks! 73, k1rsk
You're welcome, thank you for watching!
Again Excellent Tracy , Trig
Thank you, Trig!
Another useful and informative video Tracey, after seeing you and Gil, the 'Radio Prepper' using the Spiderbeam 12m mast I bought one.... quite a step up from the cheapo 10m mast I previously used! If I can't find anything to tie it to in the field, I simply stamp a garden fork all the way into the ground, and bungee the pole to it, as long as it's not too gusty this works fine for me. Thanks for the videos, always enjoyable, 73, M0KED, Lincoln, U.K.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Andy! 73 from VE3TWM.
Sir: I noticed in the background that you had a tripod. Can you tell me more about that item and source of that item? Love, absolutely love your informative messages which help all of us. I am going to purchase a pole because of you. N4KBM
Thank you! There are no sirs here, my friend. Look up my video "The Fastest and Easiest Way to Deploy a Fiberglass Mast". You'll see it profiled there. Have fun with your new pole. 73 from VE3TWM.
RE twisting and not breaking loss. Lower your grip on the larger section to about 1/2 way down. Less tension will do the trick as well. Malen VE6VID
Thank you for the tip!
I'am Your Newest Subscriber Great Videos
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much for this very informative video.
Thank you also for prividing this video without youtube advertisment :-)
73 de Roman HB9XBK
Hi Roman, thank you for your comment! 73 from VE3TWM.
Good practical advice. Keep it up.
Thank you!
Great tips Tracy
I enjoy your Videos.
Thank you, Ed!
Keep them vids coming, Tracy, great work. hope to have a qso with you one time.
Thank you! I'm looking forward to that QSO.
Thank you. Excellent tips. How do you fasten the EF antenna wire to top of pole?
I use electrical tape. Not the cleanest or most elegant, but it works very well.
my Jackite brand pole came with a small ring attached. I use a small snap clip to that.
I normally use a small strip of plastic (e.g. perspex). The end of the antenna is looped through a small hole and tied off. With different size holes drilled in the rest of the strip, I can find a hole that suits whatever mast is used. Also, this allows it to be slid down the pole to different heights - 1st section, 2nd top, 3rd top etc. As Tracy said, you often don't want to use the top section for anything but the lightest loads. The strip is easy to remove without untying knots or removing tape, provides insulation from the pole and is reusable. It also serves as an insulator if I attach the end of antenna to a line rather than fibreglass pole.
I have a 17 foot long graphite fishing pole and would like to know if it is usable for field work as a support for a vertical EFHW setup, say for 10 meters.
Yes, it should work fine for 10 meters.
Where does one find great telescoping fiberglass poles like this?
Check out Spiderbeam for their 12 meter mast.
What were you using as tripods to hold the poles up? looked interesting.
Ignored :)
Excellent video! I have a 31' Jackite pole and some LNR Precision (Par) EndFedz. I am building an EFHW tuner from the QRPGuys. A second mast is a 16.5 foot Crappie pole from Cabela's. You had some really good suggestions in the video.
Thank you! If I'm not mistaken, you commented on my original video back in 2011. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Other than your audio, your videos are quite good. What you're missing is a lavalier mic. Don't depend on your camera mic.
Just bought 5 20ft crappy fiberglass fishing poles $100 free shipping for Field day!
Great video... I am now subscribed!!!
Thank you!
hello if i may ask ! what kind of mast is the smaller white mast
It's made by DX-Wire out of Germany. It's a 10 meter tall mast.
I haven't worked portable yet but I do intend to. At this stage I mostly work 40m. What's a good all round pole length ?
Nothing less than 30 feet. 40 or 50 work even better.
I've just found your channel Tracy. Very good. New subscriber:)
Thanks Sandy
g0vqw
Thank you for the sub, Sandy!
Hello Tracy, any website were I can buy one of them fibreglass pole? I wll appreciate if you can recommend me one to buy a fibreglass pole like the last one you present with electric tape. thanks!
Hi Greg, Google "Jackite" and "Spiderbeam". If you can spend the additional amount, I suggest you opt for the Spiderbeam (greater height and stiffness).
Appalachian speak: "Buy one of them... " "Can recommend me..." Cute stuff.
@@usernamemykel sorry to hurt you perfect English. Lol
Very good advice! Anyone who wants to go outdoors and on the air is OK in my book! I would subscribe if I hadn't done so already. Thanks.
Thank you, David!
I've just found your channel Tracy. Fantastic video. New subscriber. 73, V_3WZW
Thank you very much! 73 from VE3TWM.
Hi, do you think this is suitable for a permanent setup?
Yes.
Do you have vendor links to the poles that have worked for you?
Google Jackite, Spiderbeam and DX-Wire.
Ever considered a career in making corporate videos. Very good indeed.
I might have missed my calling 😀thank you very much!
Tracy tnxs what is the green tape
Hi Paul, it's Scotch brand electrical tape rated for outdoor use.
Great vid. Good tips
Thank you!
Great tips!
Thank you!
so interesting, thank you
You're welcome!
What poles do you recommend and where can I source them?
Spiderbeam 40 foot (12m) mast. Google it and you'll find both German and US distributors.
Thanks... your videos have inspired me to take up the hobby! Studying for the exam now.
@@olivetoride i just received my spiderpole. I agree. It's awesome. Well made and worth the $$.
I fire a firework rocket with light line attached over trees (can easily reach over the top of 35m). cost: 5 bucks.
hmmm.
Another great antenna building resource can be found at Menards’s. Made a hexbeam from these.
www.menards.com/main/building-materials/concrete-cement-masonry/rebar-remesh/7-16-x-20-fiberglass-rebar/1831110/p-1520408262313.htm
Buy a cheap fishing 11 metre fishing pole.