Cheap Tilt-Over Antenna Base - Why Didn't I Think of This?
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Cheapest Tilt-Over mechanism you can find. Strong, brilliant and available anywhere in the world! If you went down this route, the hinge point needs to be slightly higher off the ground so that when your antenna, (say DX Commander) is layed down, the ground and driven plates (SO239 etc) have some room. So ideally, block it up by say 100mm / 4-inches off the ground with with long bolts or a lump of wood. Love it! 73, Callum.
Searching in your country? Look firstly for "Key Clamp" then afterwards, "Scaffolding Connectors" or "Hand Rail" connectors.
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Nice! This works with DX Commander and a weather station. Kills 2 birds with one stone! All the best from north Texas! 73 de KI5HXM
That gift from Theresa just put a smile one my face. How cool is that!
Awe yeah! :)
Before long the DX Commander will build itself, tune itself, guy itself, turn on your radio, And make your breakfast! It is awesome to see all of these improvements keep rocking buddy!
That's the plan!
Thanks for the mention Our Amazing Cal 🎉... Happy weekend! 👍 Mabuhay 73!
AWE! YOU ARE SO AMAZING - THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Always tinkering, always messing with something.....that’s what this hobby is supposed to be about. Good show!
Thanks!
That's a great idea for a tilt over! Very useful when you are solo operating and no help is on hand.
So kind of Theresa to make and send the cross stitch for you, must have taken her hours and shows you are loved all round the world. That can't be bad! 😁
Yes - amazing :)
Thank you, I have been trying to find a custom setup to go in the hitch of my SUV and what you showed helped me out a lot.
No problem 👍
Great idea Lord CALLUM, 👍🏼👋🏼
Thanks for the visit!
Heii Call! Nice one ageine 👍👏 Regrads from Slovenia 🇸🇮
Great idea for a tall tilt over vertical. N2SN in sunny Florida (ex G4FEB) from Feltham, Greater London.
I made a cheap tilt-over for my Hustler 6-BTV. Made from two 42mm gal-steel pipes. One pipe is concreted into the ground, the other holds the antenna making sure that the antenna is as far at the top of the pipe/end cap as possible. Both are bolted together. When I need to lower it, just remove the bottom bolt, and the top bolt acts as the pivot. It’s cheap, effective, and strong as. Simple and elegant.
It reminds me of how they used to mount flag poles, with two pipes in the ground, and the flag pole in the middle! It's a great idea!
Thank you for the suggestion. If the pipe is smaller than the swivel you can sleeve the pipe to fit in the swivel 73s all Happy Friday all
Yeah, could do. But it's not "structural" so not too important.
Thank-you Callum. Another good video thank-you.
Very welcome!
Thats awesome Callum!!
Yeah :)
I'm going to do do this at the ranch in texas to take down the mast in a storm, preferably before. I'm mounting it like I did on my shack in AZ, a few minor differences, but similar.
For lighter masts, the J mount DirecTV and Dish mount your satellite dish on work too. And free
Scaffolding stuff is great for making towers too makes climbing a ton easier too maybe supports more wind loading, looks can be a factor ☺️
Yes, I made a 60-foot tilt-over once.
I was 👍 #450 and I approve genius cheap ideas like this!
Haha Joe - yeah it's an easy one this time! :)
they use the swivel for chain link fencing as well… farm supply store may have the larger ones.
Ah - OK!
Great idea, just when I'm putting up my DX Commander in my new Florida QTH. Thank you Cal! AA7MO
Have fun!
Have a led tl bar which also can be chained at Action. Lot’s of light and easy mounting clips.
Ah!
Baltimore seems the brand. In the shack under the board mounted
Absolute great idea. Thanks Cal.
Yeah!
Most interesting device. You could even drill a hole or two through it to help support it while up. Drill a hole all the way through while it is in whatever position you want and stick a pin or bolt through it and presto, instant hold. Would make getting your guy wires up a tad easier.
Yes maybe!
Dude, another accessory for your antennas. You should put together a kit that you know works and sell it. People are short on time and will happily pay for convenience. Best Regards!!!
Noted!
You rule! Thanks Callum and team. :)
Sincerely, KJ7NUX
Thank you so much!
Swivel flange.. I've found a more common term for the part is a swivel flange. At least here in the states.
I'm trying to work up my vertical mast atm. Lots of Google and eBay searches and found the swivel flange. Yeets..
Cheers antenna goat!
Still hinges!
Love the QSL card!
Yes - sweet..!
I currently have a single 20ft scaff pole with antennas on top.
Currently the ground is taking the weight and it is held up using two heavy duty wall clamps (like tv antenna brackets)
This keeps the weifht on the ground and the pole secure.
Only problem I have is it’s a nightmare to get down.
I think If I put on of these on it. Bolted to the ground. Means the ground still takes weight.
But I can unclamp it and then winch it down.
At home, I winch mine down by hand with a 6:1 pulley.
Brilliant idea!
Great idea!73
Yes, if in USA, check out public handrail suppliers.
Very nice 👍🏽😁
Thank you! Cheers!
8" of rope, 8" of a wooden broom stick handle. That's all I used, already had it laying around, most people do. You can use a wooden dowel, piece of PVC, whatever. It tilts over in multiple directions and you can remove it in an instant.
Drill a hole in the wooden dowel (or whatever you're using) and tie one end of the rope to it. Tie the other end to the ground mount you made. Could use one of those dog chain anchors that screw into the ground if you want. Dowel should have about 3-4" of play when you're done. Lay the bottom of the pole, cap off, next to the dowel and push the dowel into the bottom of the pole. Go lift the middle of the antenna. The dowel will bind sideways and keep the bottom of the pole on the ground. As long as you have lateral pressure on the pole, which you will when raising and lowering the antenna, the dowel isn't going anywhere. The bottom of the pole isn't going anywhere. I've used this in pretty high winds. 1/4" rope and 1" dowel is solid.
And why not :)
Another great cheap tilt over, can be made from a simple Gate hinge !
One like you might find on a pasture gate !
Simply attach the hinge to the base of the antenna, and using all thread and a few nuts to attach the all thread to the hinge, drive the all thread into the ground as your anchor point, and stand your vertical in place, and secure with appropriate guy lines !
Easy Peasy !
Oh...and did I say,
" CHEAP " ?
👍😉
Great tip!
@@DXCommanderHQ
Thanks !
'73 !
Been using similar for 10 plus years
frame it and put it on the wall brother... amazing work.
Good idea John!
Very cheap great idea cal 👍
SMOKIE! :)
Good catch.
Thank you! Exactly what I wanted to see…
So glad!
I use that exact piece and 20 ft of pipe to support my cobweb antenna. I tilt it up and it anchors to my house.
Perfect!
Great suggestion!
I wonder if you could make an adapter insert for that, say 48mm on the side that goes into the hinge, and then have it say 6" long and the OD be the same as the ID of the DX Commander you are inserting it into.
I did that on the 3" pole I concreted into the ground that used to hold my Hustler antenna but now holds my DX Commander 12.4 Signature.
Honestly, the diamaters don't matter. So long as it doesn't wobbly about too much.
There is an easy way and that is to use a brass bushing, and use a larger size scaffold coupler than your stub pole. The bushing adapts the inside diameter of the scaffold coupler to the outside diameter of the stub.
Looks akin to a flag pole bracket, though those are usually smaller diameter.
You can also find these by searching for "metal hand rail connectors"
What would this bracket actually be called so that I can search for it on scaffolding supply web sites?
Look for scaffolding handrails
I believe they are also sold as bases for flag poles. A salesperson at a hardware store should know what it is, if you describe it.
@@Pootycat8359 Thanks I will investigate
Google "swivel flange"
Is there a part number or where to be found?
It's easier to so a search on your fav search engine for "scaffolding and handrail connectors" - they'll show up in your location.
Hi Callum, a couple of weeks ago you mentioned something about a guy-less DX Commander but I must have missed what it was all about, any further info on it maybe? Thanks, MW7 CZY (the light house keeper of old Abergavenny town)
Soon... Please hang on.. SUper-busy with new website, Fedex/DHL integration and a ton of other stuff...
I wonder if you could rig it up so it stays at a 45 degree angle or similar and turn your dx commander into a NVIS antenna.
Clinton, a couple years ago, I layed one on the ground and had a few contacts on 80m and 40m :)
Could I please have the exact name for this thing.
Or a link to the website please.
Look for a scaffolding handrail connector sales website.
@@DXCommanderHQ As always, You are a gentleman.
@m0mcx Apparently, the technical term for it is a "swivel flange connection."
Brilliant!
Good info! Thanks
Any time!
I used a hardware store Caster wheel base. "remove wheel" and replace with EMT conduit of the needed diameter, and mounted it to a steel plate My cheap version still in service 14 years on supporting a Military Aluminium tube antenna at 22 feet.jim KB1PFL
Lovely!
great idea... any idea what they call it? I'm searching for one but can't find it on line because I don't know how to describe it.
Try hand-rail connectors or scaffolding connectors.
Genius!
Callum, I seem tp prefer the shop lighting. It plays well with informal/relaxed feel of your videos.
Just strip lights right now.. I want is VERY natural but easier to film.. But I hear you.
Awesome
maybe I am a little dense.....I watched this video several times and never heard of the name of that swivel device. I know it has something to do with scaffolding. thanks
OK, search for scaffolding or "handrail" connectors.
Good video Sir! You gave me a good idea doing a tilt over base, so I am going to run with it. Need to pick yours and whomever else would loke to chime in. I recently got a good deal on an A99 and want to get it in the air safely and make it wind safe. Thought about putting a 4x4x6 treated post in the ground with cement and am looking at using chain link top rail 10.5 2x's for a total of 21ft. attaching the A99 to that. How many feet in ground would the wood post need to be to keep the mast sturdy and stand up to wind? I live in SC and we can have wind gust up to 40mph average throughout the year sometimes. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and keep the videoa coming! 73's from 191 SC.
Hello.. That'll work, I'm sure. You will probably need 30 inches into the ground, possibly more depending on terrain. Have you considered a scaffold pole on home-brew a tilt base instead? Roughly same hight.
@@DXCommanderHQ I did look at scaffold poles! May go that way instead. Thanks!
@@Timberwolf191 BTW.. Sailboard/ Windsurf masts fit OVER scaffold poles nicely...!
Shims made from coke cans make great 'slack taker uppers'. (other drink manufacturers are available).
Pepsi! :)
Hi Callum, how does one get hold of you regarding distribution opportunities of the DX Commander in other countries?
You can email me. BUT the short answer is this: In USA, because it's under $800, there is no sales tax and no import duty. If we shipped to a distributor, each consignment would be over $800, triggering the whole tax regime. Further, we are shipping to most parts of the world, within 3-days for about $45. Difficult!
Brilliant! Top tip of the day!👍... not the top Twitt.😆 RIP Twitter!
Tip of the day. Like it..!
Can somebody tell me where I can purchase this for a part number or where to order I like this idea and I'd like to get some feedback if possible thank you community
Try "hand rail suppliers" or "scaffolding connectors"
Another option, a short length of scaffold pole in the ground. add a swivel scaffold clamp (cost about 3 -4 pounds job dome.
If you want a locking type mount, make the pole a little longer and use two swivel clamps separated by a foot or so.
Andy
this is going to sound silly but what are they actually called? if I want to google or find them on ebay...... it's hard to buy or research something if you don't know the name of the thing your actually looking for...... I'm from Australia if that matters.
OK, look for firstly "Key Clamp" then afterwards, "Scaffolding Connectors" or "Hand Rail" connectors.
Cal, I can confirm from personal experience, that these are sufficient for 1 steel 48mm scaffold pole, about 21 feet. These ARE NOT sufficient for 2 poles end on end, 42 feet..... It broke during the force of pulling/pushing the pole up. :) GI0UTE
Woah!! Good learning curve!
What are those tilt over mechanisms actually called?
Look for hand-rail connectors.
Key clamp/kee Klamp fitting
What is one of these?
A thing
Where is a American source for this ?
Don;t know.. Search for hand rail connectors.
Nice video Cal. Mark. 2E0MSR
Thanks 👍
That 'workshop' is clearly a fake - it's way too neat ! I'll bet that Callum's real workshop is in another room where there the camera never goes :-)
HAHAHA!!!
That is too posh! I use scaffold poles :)
haha
Why don't you put in for a military contract, they throw money at you and it will keep you busy!
I'm happy in my world.. Good idea though.
As always good stuff and enjoy the kudos from around the world Callum you deserve it de W9US
Tnx Ed!
Thank you. A nifty device. N0QFT
So simple :)
Nice 1, and what a great qsl package you rx from DW3TRZ 👍
Yes it was!