The Fastest and Easiest Way to Deploy a Fiberglass Mast
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 апр 2019
- You say you don't have enough time to use a fiberglass pole when setting up for portable ham radio operations? Take a look at this video and you might change your mind.
Наука
Looks like a wonderful solution. Thanks for taking the time to show this! -Cliff (N4CCB)
You're welcome, Cliff. Congratulations on hitting 10,000 subscribers, well deserved!
Now that’s how you get a dipole up in the air! You aren’t messing around Tracey.
Go big or go home, Mike :)
Thanks for the time and work required on your part to share this with us Tracy. What a fantastic, simple solution. 73 de Brent
You're welcome, Brent!
Life took over my hobby for a few years, grandchildren and time stealers, lockdown in the UK gave me a respite to revisit an old friend that first introduced me to taking my hobby outdoors. You.
Well your channel has grown since the very first vids out in the cold on the edge of a lake, have HyEnd also that you introduced me to. So a big thank you. Today I found some plastic pipe and with four cargo straps I made one of these supports. Our first venture out with my KX3 can’t be far away, pandemic willing. Thank you 🇨🇦👍🏻 73 de M0AZE MIke
Hi Mike, glad to hear you are on the verge of getting out there! Yes, the channel has grown since those days...and I owe it all to people like you. Stay in touch. 73 from VE3TWM 🇬🇧🍻
I'm so happy this video came up on my feed! I've been thinking about deploying a tall, telescoping mast in the field as an alternative or replacement for my base-loaded vertical. I'd like the option of running either a fan dipole or an off-center fed dipole at least some of the time. This installation method will work for that and the additional equipment needed is negligible.
Thank you so much for posting this. 73 de AG7TX
You're welcome, and thank you for leaving your comment
As soon as I saw this, I thought this is what I have been looking for. Going to do some POTA activations with my kids and local Scouts. I bought two flat PVC caps, glued the bottom to create a carrier - put spider beam pole and stakes and two straps in it, then use the other two straps for shoulder carrying. Great video Tracy! 73, W1TEN
Thank you, Greg! Great idea for the carrier. Good luck with POTA and the kids. 73 from VE3TWM.
Great idea, just got my Spiderbeam 12m mast and it's awesome. Very strong all the way to the top. And your pvc pipe method works perfectly and quick.
Nice! Be sure to check out my version 2 video.
I came back to find this video. With my 30odd foot MFJ mast I will be up and running in the park in no time. Thanks, Tracy!
You're welcome! Enjoy yourself, Bruce.
This is great Tracy and thanks for taking the time to do this. I am going to get the parts to do the same. I think i will use a little piece of aquarium tubing and put the hose clamp through it just to take the "sharp" edge away from the clamp and the strap. I did similar with my mast for permanent home use to avoid the sections slipping.
Sounds like a good plan.
Very great job. You have a perfect response to erected my 12m Spiderbeam fiberglass poles for futures Sota operations with Delta Loop antenna. Thank you so much.
Jean-Noël - F4GDZ
Thanks for this video. I purchased a 33' fiberglass pole from MFJ sbout a year ago and have not deployed it yet to date. I have mobility issues and this is definitely an answer to how to use the pole.
73
Norm, KD9HAV
You're welcome! I hope you can get out soon with your new pole. 73 from VE3TWM.
I've always thrown a wire in a tree, but you've convinced me that there may be a better and faster way! Excellent video and many thanks for sharing your expertise for this simple, elegant solution! Jack KB4CG
Thank you, Jack!
Good pole. Your voice sounds like an actors who I can remember their name. Thanks for sharing. Great pole to make a loop with.
Thank you for your comment!
I'm a newbie and this looks like a great way for me to get started. Thank you so much.
You're welcome!
This has to be one of the best ideas I have seen so far you put up a dipole antenna anywhere even a temporary one for your home I have mine in the tree and it was a son of a gun to get it wrapped around the branches and only have it maybe about 25 to 30 ft. So now I found a better way to get my antenna up to at least 50 feet. I would like to thank you very much for sharing this video. I like the idea of the gentleman saying about strapping down the bottom of the tube so it won't kick out. We'll have to play around with the bottom so doesn't kick out I live in a very windy area in need to definitely have to figure out a way for get some kick out. Maybe if I make a small base at the bottom to put the PVC pipe on an anchor the base to the ground also. That should help it from kicking out. Thank you again for the great video.
You're welcome!
This is far and away the best ham radio channel on RUclips. I’m an over the road truck driver, so all my HF work is outdoors.
I was about to sell my fiberglass pole. This video proves I can still use my 20 meter dipole This is genius.
Thanks WBØAL.
Thank you very much for the kind words! Have fun with that 20 meter dipole. 73 from VE3TWM.
Great video! I have used these poles for many years, but never saw one deployed like this. Thanks for sharing. 73 Bas PA5BAS
Great idea. That looks so efficient.
Really cool idea! I am going to put one together. I appreciate you putting this video together!
Tracy....I tried using an old Bogen Manfrotto tripod for a 32 footer. I bungee corded the top of the tripod to the mast. I then screwed in a dog leash anchor and bungeed the bottom of the mast to the anchor to keep the end from kicking out. It worked! I had it up for 7 hours. Now, I wouldn't trust this arrangement on a blustery day but it was good enough for my activation at K-2175 last Saturday. I hung an N9SAB EFRW from the top. This new antenna has effectively doubled my contact counts.
I like it. I have one similar to that but it uses a reversible base with a short spike to prevent the base from wandering. Great video as always
Thank you for your comment!
I use a 20 foot Black Widow crappie pole for my mast. I've been looking for a good way to put it up in the field. Thanks for solving my problem.
Nice! I’ve been running over and over this in my mind and now buying parts. I’m repurposing a 30’ smoke detector pole, without the attachments for detector tests. It’s a stout fiberglass, bit heavier than the pole you’ve erected, but think it’s fine. I’ll add to my base a foot or so to be sure. Great video, appreciate your work!
Thank you, John! Have fun with that project.
I just got a 31' telescoping antenna pole (actually a Jackite kite pole) and a 10-meter Endfedz antenna I intend to put up next to my house. You just showed me how to secure the bottom end to the ground. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Tracy - nice pictorial. Looks like a great method!
Thank you, Scott!
Love it. Another RUclipsr turned me on to the Bosch surveyor's tripod, which also does a great job.
Interesting, thank you for the heads up. I must admit I fiddled with similar tripods several years ago and was never comfortable with the stability I was ability to achieve. This mount has worked much better for me.
Love this method. I use PVC pipes for desert use with a DIY tarp shelter. I use 10" galvanized nails as tent pegs to penetrate the hard desert dirt. I also sometime use a 10" nail to set my PVC pipe used as a center support over the nail so it does not slip. Drive a NAIL straight into the ground and set the pipe over it. I also use trucker's hitches and/or Eskimo bowline knot to provide adjustable strap length. I am cargo-strap ratchet challenged and NEVER can get them to work as advertised LOL. In soft ground, I used cut to length metal fence wire support poles. The green flat type. Cut a sharp angle at one end and can drive it deeper into the ground which provides additional resistance from being pulled up and also to resistance to being pulled toward the pole by strap/rope tension.
Great tips, thank you!
Great idea!
Great video, Tracy… I've been using a four dollar Home Depot metal fence post to support my 33 foot fiberglass pole. It works well but often requires a 3 pound sledge to sink the fence post deep enough. I like your approach a lot better. This is so good, I'm also going to spread the word on your video on Twitter and Facebook. 73 de Robert K3RRR
Thank you, Robert! 73 from VE3TWM.
Wow! Just wow, Tracy! I've got 40 foot spiderbeam that takes me a good 20-30 minutes to measure out, stake, and deploy. Not to mention I can use an extra pair of hands in the process, and also not to mention the area I need for guy lines. I'm going to Home Depot this morning to get some straps and PVC and try this out today. 73... Roger / NQ8RP
Have fun with that, Roger! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Great video. You've given me some additional options on setting up my DX Commander antenna when portable. Thanks de VA3NIE
You're welcome! 73 from VE3TWM.
Definitely I need try this. This is brilliant!
This is exactly the same system I use. So quick and easy to put up and the pole is very stable when I attach my homebrew 10, 20 & 40 clipped dipole up in an inverted V configuration. The only differences I have are that I have cut the bottom in such a way that I have 4 little spikes to stop the tube pushing out from the bottom, and I use tent guy lines instead of ratchet straps. Real easy system and would recommend it to anyone wanting to use a pole setup.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I also got this idea from Ron. This system is great for uneven ground. I use this setup all the time. I use paracord or 7mm nylon cordage and 30cm rebar as pegs. The 70cm diameter pvc pipe is about 1 meter long. My 12 meter and 15 meter telescope poles stand great, even in very high winds. I even use this setup for my 8 meter squid poles, using smaller diameter pvc pipe. Not all ground is as soft as where you are in this vid. I have to use a short handle hammer to get my pegs into the rocky ground. Not 5 minutes, but still fast. Life is too short to "just throw a wire up into a tree." And the corollary: Getting it back down after the tree branches snare it.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
Excellent idea and demonstration. Subscribed!
Thank you!
Brilliant idea. Will have to try it out
Bravo! Thank you for sharing this with everyone!!
You're welcome!
Thanks - a great video and has given me some great ideas.
Very nice. This will be a great setup for a portable shortwave wire antenna mast.
Cheers👍
Awesome idea! I'm going to send this video to my son (N9LUC) because he'll love it too. He's getting into POTA. Thanks for sharing. N9XFX
Thank you!
2.2k likes. you're a star now. 🙂 great video.
😂 thank you!
Since getting on HF all I have used is various ground mounted antenna with loaded coils. Your finished before I have untangled my 4 radials, I actually timed it.
Brilliant! Thanks for the video Tracy. Will be making this this week for my Sotabeams antenna I just got. Kevin
Enjoy it, Kevin! Be sure to check out my new video on version 2 of this.
Thanks for sharing this tip, was looking for a solution, I got it now. 👍✌
You're welcome, hope you get to go out and try it soon.
What a great idea Tracey, guess I wont need to bring the garden fork along on expeds any more! As a previous commenter wrote, I'd be inclined to peg the base of the pipe too, to prevent it sliding sideways. All the best, M0KED.
It's an interesting point.
Brilliant!! Saves me a couple hundred bucks and it’s easier than a ground screw.
Ignore my question on the other video. Great idea for the tripods!
Great solution!
I cannot believe I haven't seen this video before. Awesome solution Tracey 73!
Thank you and 73, Tim!
Great video and well demonstrated. Best regards👍🏻
Thank you! 👍
Thank you for sharing this good idea!
You're welcome!
Hello Tracy
Thanks for the viedo.
It has inspired me to adopt your attachment style.
However, I use slightly stronger tent pegs, I have made these from angle iron 20 x 20 mm. But the execution with you, with the PVC pipe is great.
Thanks and 73 de DG1RUG
Great tip! Thank you and 73 from VE3TWM.
Great idea, I will be trying this forsure. Thank you great idea.
You're welcome!
Hi Tracy, great vid,...always a simple solution somewhere, brilliant. Im still using the HiEndFed 3 Band Antenna as well, nice bit of kit, used in a sloper config.
Thank you! Glad to hear (but not surprised) the HyEndFed is working for you.
Great idea! I'll be building one. Believe I'll put a removable end cap with a spike to insure the lower end doesn't slip sideways. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comment and have fun out there!
Awesome idea, thanks for the video.
You're welcome!
Absolutely love it! I am a big fan of field portable vertical work and will definitely give this a run. I will try some aquarium tube (or similar) around the hose clamp to protect the straps a bit. Thanks Tracy for sharing.
Good idea Radio Axe, I've just read your comment after i posted similar.
That seems like a good idea to me!
I would use 4 zip ties to create 4 individual loops around the pipe clamps. Then you can use carabiners to attach or remove the straps anytime.
@@kszx11 another good idea!
This mount idea is really what I’ve been looking for. This will be made by the end of the week for sure. Just in time for summer fun.
Best I've seen yet ! KUDOS 👍
Thank you!
Great idea Terry. Looks easy
Sure is!
Brilliant.
There are only two things I'd add to this.
One is some protection, perhaps a bit of bicycle innertube, around the mast where it meets the top of the PVC so there isn't such a sharp edge grinding on the mast.
The second might be attaching one of those stakes at the bottom of the PVC pipe so a strong wind won't cause it to rotate over.
This is excellent.
Thank you for your suggestion!
What a great idea, thanks for the knowledge
You're welcome!
Amazing! What a wonderful idea!
Get out there and give it a try.
Thanks for sharing this video!
you're welcome!
I like the idea- thanks for a great video!
You're welcome and thank you for your comment!
I also got the idea from Ron. I do it even quicker. For not too strong weather conditooions I put the hose clamp directly on my 12m Spiderbeam pole, made some loops with paracord and put them on the hose clamp. I then use some paracord and good, light weight tent stakes. I have used the PVC tube, but for the 12m Spiderbeam I found it not necessary. I did take an end cap for PVC tube, put a long nail in it and set the Spiderbeam pole in in to keep it from sliding off to the side. I also found this useful with the PVC tube. I also sometimes just lean the extended pole against a tree. This method is useful in my vacation qth which is on very rocky ground, and it is very difficult to hammer stakes into the ground. 73! David SV0SGS
Thank you for sharing your experience, David! I must admit I am reluctant to fasten the hose clamps to my poles due to fear of damaging the pole. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.
Outdoors On The Air i haven't seen any damage to my spiderbeam pole. been doing it for a year now. cut a piece of innertube to put between hose clamp and pole. that is what spiderbeam basically sells for its 18m and taller poles. vy 73! david sv0sgs
Great idea I'm going to get me some pipe and make one for my fishing pole I use for my radio antenna the simple ideas are the best, atb John.
Have fun with it, John!
Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!! 73
Very AWESOME!
Excellent idea. Definitely going to try this. Tnx & 73
Thank you! 73 from VE3TWM.
Excellent!
Tracy great idea. Going to try it
Good luck and good DX, Paul!
Great video
Excellent video, Tracy. Thank you. I used heat shrink tubing on the hose clamp and a few turns of self amalgamating tape beneath the attachment point for the hose clamp to prevent downward slippage. 4mm paracord was sufficient to hold everything taut. 12m Spiderbeam is my mast of choice, although I did wimp out and use the webbing guy belt which attaches at 7m. This provides 4 additional anchor points which are easy to deploy as the mast is already vertical. All told, the additional guying added a mere 5 minutes to the whole process, making less than 10 minutes in all and dramatically adding to stability and my confidence. I was able to source an end cap for the outer pipe which reduces the risk of the bottom sinking into soft soil. For the totally bananas, sand off the cut edges of the outer pipe to avoid injury. 73. 2E0HWO
Great tips, thank you for sharing! 73 from VE3TWM.
Fantastic! Just bought an RV...so looking forward to trying this out at a campsite. Norm, VE7APF
Thank you for your comment, Norm! 73 from VE3TWM.
Brilliant, thanks for sharing.
You're welcome!
Ignore my comments just made by me on the other video about the support... you just solved my issue... Off to Lowe's ... will use nylon cord and line adjusters at the base ... good job pointing out the issue of soft camping pegs... they bend... good ones are stiff... off I go and Thanks 73 N6BOB
Get out there and enjoy the hobby! 73 from VE3TWM.
Love it!
Great video very good idea, superb.
Thank you for watching!
Great video!
Thank you!
like the video . I cut the hook off on one side of the straps so I have a single strap . It looks much nicer. Also I took
a cap , cut off the bolt head , put a point on it & used the threads for the cap. I did not glue the cap on so I could
take it off if needed. Still used hose clamp but put it thrue loop of strap after cutting hooks off.
Thank you for sharing your mods!
Thanx for the video! That gave me an nice idea how to make it even simplier, want to test it
Please share your results!
And...?
Thanks Tracy!
You're welcome!
pretty slick I like it
I Missed this video the first time round. Just came across it on PE1OUW's QRZ page. Just what I need when I don't have a deck, my car's bike rack or even an upturned picnic table to help hold up my Spiderbeam pole. Off to Canadian Tire now to get some cargo straps! TNX. VO1OK
Upturned picnic table 😂 Thank you for your comment, Michael!
Thanks Tracy...Works like a charm for my Spiderbeam 12m mast...and cheap as hihi de ZL1REY
Glad to hear it's working out for you! 73 from VE3TWM.
Brilliant!
This is great!
Now get out there and give it a try :)
Ingenious! I wonder if this is something I could utilize in my back yard. I just now am looking for a way t o put up a 22 ft fiberglass pole for my doublet. It would sure save drilling into my lanai. hihi.
Very nice idea. I'll be doing this also.
Good luck!
Good luck, Dean!
Love the idea. I was going to use a 5 foot fence pole and strap my telescoping flagpole to it. This looks even easier. And I already have tent stakes.
Good luck and have fun!
I give it a try with my 12m Spiderbeam. Works well. Thank You KG5ZQ
You're welcome, thank you for letting me know it worked for you!
Awesome!!!
I like it and very easy….. thanx & 73’s
Thank you for watching! 73 from VE3TWM.
Great video, thanks so much. I'm stealing this idea! Lol, that's the point of youtube right. Sharing of ideas? So you gave me a tip for improvement. I will return the favor. Get a 'dead cat' for your microphone to clear out the wind noise. They come in all shapes and sizes and make a huge diff. Hope that helps...you certainly helped me. :)
Helping others is the whole point of my channel, Tom :)
My point and shoot camera does not have an external mic jack so I bought some "dead cat" stick-ons for the internal mic a couple of years ago. The stick-ons get flattened over time and as a result lose their effectiveness. It's time to replace the first set I had on. Thanks for the tip, though!
A wonderful setup. I want to understand the physics behind that.
It doesn't look right, but it works (most of the time).
This is perhaps the best idea since hot water! You can even use dog ground « screws » from the dollar store for more stability. I will definitely try this. Again, thanks for sharing and have a great day! 73 de VE2VHE
Hi Jean-Francois, thank you for the dog ground screws idea! 73 from VE3TWM.
brilliant
Killer idea! Thanks. Dumb question: how would you recommend affixing a VHF antenna (like a comet or DBJ-1) to such a telescopic?
I'll be trying that next weekend! Thanks so much for the demo, 73 VE3KIU
You're welcome! 73 fromVE3TWM.
Hello, and thank you for the video you shared. I would kindly add some small addition to your setup. If you use another 4 ropes of any kind and tightened them around the bottom of the PVC pipe you will get rid of eventual slip of the unsupported bottom part in case of rapid wind blow.
Regards,
Rossen
LZ5RG 73
Thank you for your suggestion. Your modification makes sense to me. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.