Cheap mast for inverted V/sloper dipoles.

[KC2TAU]

So I was waltzing through my local Wally World with my friend who was looking for spray paint and I spotted these 12 foot collapsible fishing poles and then thought to myself. Why not take two of these and connect them by laying them so that about 6"-1' of the bottom of the top pole is lying side by side with 6"-1' of the top of the bottom pole,secure that with a large hose clamp and all of a sudden you have roughly a 22-23' mast for dipoles! If you want to get REALLY hectic then buy 3 and make a crazy nuts 33' or so mast! The best part? These poles are $6.96 and are available at any Wally World!

Whatcha guys think?

[n8yx]

So I was waltzing through my local Wally World with my friend who was looking for spray paint and I spotted these 12 foot collapsible fishing poles and then thought to myself. Why not take two of these and connect them by laying them so that about 6"-1' of the bottom of the top pole is lying side by side with 6"-1' of the top of the bottom pole,secure that with a large hose clamp and all of a sudden you have roughly a 22-23' mast for dipoles! If you want to get REALLY hectic then buy 3 and make a crazy nuts 33' or so mast! The best part? These poles are $6.96 and are available at any Wally World!

Whatcha guys think?

I think they would be too flimsy to support much weight.

Have a look instead at the sectional military masts...get 'em in either fiberglass or metal. I use several "sets" of these for Field Day antenna support duties. The sections are 4' in length and an entire "mast" fits easily in the trunk of your car.

http://www.tmastco.com/main/page_products_mast_sections.html

[KC2TAU]

I think they would be too flimsy to support much weight.

Have a look instead at the sectional military masts...get 'em in either fiberglass or metal. I use several "sets" of these for Field Day antenna support duties. The sections are 4' in length and an entire "mast" fits easily in the trunk of your car.

Yeah,I understand where you're coming from but what about for the QRP operator who is operating in the field with a light dipole such as a PAR End Fed 10/20/40. I have one and it weighs next to nothing. I agree one would have to be careful with it but for the money you can't go wrong.

[vk6zgo]

So I was waltzing through my local Wally World with my friend who was looking for spray paint and I spotted these 12 foot collapsible fishing poles and then thought to myself. Why not take two of these and connect them by laying them so that about 6"-1' of the bottom of the top pole is lying side by side with 6"-1' of the top of the bottom pole,secure that with a large hose clamp and all of a sudden you have roughly a 22-23' mast for dipoles! If you want to get REALLY hectic then buy 3 and make a crazy nuts 33' or so mast! The best part? These poles are $6.96 and are available at any Wally World!

Whatcha guys think?

You are on the right track,but search further in the fishing department.

A number of VK's are using what is called "A giant squid pole" in the Eastern States of Australia. I asked for one by that name in West Oz,& the guys eyes rolled back ..it doesn't seem to have a name in WA.

I assumed that it was called that name because it was used to catch squid,but another idea suggested by VK4TWI in the November issue of "Amateur Radio " magazine is that it looks like a giant tentacle.
The longest version of these things is about 9 metres (approx 29' 6" ) long.

Apparently they are called "Crappie Poles" in the USA( I really don't want to know what your fishermen catch with them!!).

I have found a website :-

:http://www.amqrp.org/projects/crappie/crappie.htm

This gives a lot of info about using one,although the one he used is only 20ft long.

Hope this will help. 73, VK6ZGO

[G8ADD]

I bought a 10 metre fibreglass "Roach Pole" and found that I could slide the hanger loop of a dipole T insulator over the end. This made a good temporary support for an antenna.

Unfortunately I left it up too long (funny how "temporary" can stretch out!) and we had a gale. The top section snapped off and the bottom broke at the bracket! However, these roach poles are widely used over here for SOTA (Summits On The Air) activations, which often meet strong winds but shouldn't take place in gales! They are easily available at up to 20 metre lengths.

73

Brian G8ADD

[KB9BVN]

Gander Mountain has some 20 footer Crappie Pole for about $12 each....I bought a couple, and they work fine for holding up wire.....very very thin lightweight wire.

[wa9cwx]

A little easier to transport, and heavier duty, are the extenders for window washing. They are probably easily about 12 - 15' and collapse down to a few feet. They are aluminum, and VERY sturdy and light.

Frank

[W4HAY]

For VK6ZGO: (http://www.crappie.com/johna/johna.htm)
A true Southern delicacy! Along with a big plate of hushpuppies and cole slaw, a large glass of super-sweet iced tea, and finished off with a slab of apple pie topped with ice cream, it's piscatorial heaven!

[k4avl]

As far as masts go (and I haven't ordered one yet), from the research I've done, this looks to be the best deal and has a high satisfaction rating in eham:

http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-push-up-mast.htm

The 43' version is $139

I'm thinking of getting one of these for putting up a 266' inverted V (and guy it at least once) and using it as the center support. Possibly building a support structure attached to my shed for the first 20' or so and then have the base of this set higher up, to get the top to about 50-60'.
I've never gotten on 160 yet, and this may do the trick, even though it's still quite low for that band, my main band is 20, and it will definitely be plenty high to work some better DX with it than I have (it will be ladder line fed). The extra length (2 legs of 133') shouldn't detriment 20 or 15 for that matter, should it? If so, I will just make it 2 legs of 66'.
I've been planning this a long time, my main target now is DX, and I just stumbled on this Max-Gain site today, and sure seems the way to go to get some wire way up there.
Go luck on your project as well, masts are very interesting as alternatives to towers & trees, and are a way to save money as well. :)

[W6GQ]

this is a good design

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320243244373

or the manufacturer website

http://www.jackite.com/index.php?cPath=41_44

[ka0sog]

Apparently they are called "Crappie Poles" in the USA( I really don't want to know what your fishermen catch with them!!).

VK6ZGO

www.kdwp.state.ks.us/fishing/fish_id_gallery/black_crappie