Text 718, 53 rader
Skriven 2007-09-06 06:15:36 av Richard Webb (1:116/901.0)
Ärende: quick deploy field antenna mast
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Hello all!

I've tinkered with all sorts of systems to at least get a j pole and/or a wire
antenna in the air for a quick field operation such as a public service event
or emergency. These include thick walled pvc pipe, tall boy mic stands for
recording and quite a few makeshift systems using everything from duct tape to
some rope to anything i had handy.  USually this meant securing my mast to a
fence, another structure, tying off to my van, etc.

WHIle looking for some ring terminals and a couple of other items at Lowes
yesterday I came across these neat little 5 ft. sections of mast pipe.  1 inch
OD at the bottom, about 3/4 inch at the top end with a little notch that fits
against a nub in the next section.  sUre would work better than what I used
last year at our ms 150 mile bike ride. That system utilized a tall microphone
boom.  STill not enough height when fully extended.  So grab my stepladder out
of the van.  WEdge the tripod legs of boom stand through top step of stepladder
and other leg onto that little paint bucket platform, lots of duct tape and
some rope. Twin lead j pole hit the repeater 30-40 miles distant fair.
I sure needed some elevation to get out of that hole if I
wanted to use low power with my mobile rig though, and the
mic boom by itself wasn't giving me enough.  Had to run
high power and that saps batteries quick.


NEedless to say, four of these mast sections went home with me.  Two 10" masts
can support a wire along with another structure.  Also we have our remote audio
truck which will sometimes need a mast for wireless microphone receive antenna.
 THIs is the easy part as a couple of U bolts attached to the truck box will do
the job nicely.

FIeld deployment though is a different animal.  SUre I can play with a stake
for the mast itself and other stakes for guy ropes.  OR tie off to nearby fence
or structure.

Best case would be if I could find some kind of ready made and available tripod
which would allow me to hold the mast.  A couple of guy ropes to stakes would
help hold things steady, but a tripod base through which I could slip bottom
section of mast would be just the ticket for quick deployment.

 THought I saw just what I was looking for same place
yesterday, nice little metal tripod, mast fit through it.  HOwever tripod is
part of a kit built gazebo and not sold separately.

Any ideas out there anyone?

73 de nf5b


Regards,
           Richard
... Amazing how much tape is on a 10" reel when it's not.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Radio REscue net operations BBS       (1:116/901)