Aluminum camouflage poles as a vertical ?

[KK4BBG]

yea fiberglass + acidic soil + sunlight = your poles on the ground in 6 months.

[W3WN]

I'd recommend you reconsider this approach. These fiberglass camo net mast supports are not very strong. They fracture under stress and vibration and will deteriorate with sunlight and weather.

Perhaps a better alternative would be to use a pressure treated 4X4 or 6X6 piece of lumber as the base support. Maybe its already part of the deck that you are building.

yea fiberglass + acidic soil + sunlight = your poles on the ground in 6 months.

I didn't go into gross detail, just a quick overview. Thus your concern, while well intentioned, is unfounded.

The fiberglass piece will hold the FPV vertical and act as an insulator or insulating segment between the driven side & the radial/ground side. At least 2 feet of it will be in the ground (in concrete) as well. (Probably be at least partially hidden by shrubs and lattice as well)

However: The first segment of aluminum will be bolted to the deck & railing structure. The general design will be that the bottom most segment remains fixed, and the upper segments (exactly how many to be determined, but it will be over 20 feet net height... height above deck?) will be easily removable for maintenance. This way, the feed point can be permanently (more or less) attached and kept out of sight.

[KK4BBG]

ok so our statements werent unfounded. just because you will have some of the weight off the coupling via a better securing procces. the fiber glass will still degrade over time.

these poles arent made from the same fiberglass as a boat. it is cheaply made by a gsa contractor.they are in it to make money so why would they build a product designed to last forever? they loose money that way.

as stated above their intended purposes was for temporary support of camo netting, otherwise it spent its time in a bag, usualy stored in a conex. (out of sunlight)

now granted the pole will not just fall apart in a few months,but it will greatly deterioate in direct sunlight over time. (starts with the glue used to hold the "male" connector")

your better option would be to use the aluminum poles as intended and then use PVC or CPVC for a better "insulator" segment because it is DESIGNED to be exposed to elements for long periods of time.



good luck with your project. and 73

[W3WN]

Again, I thank you for your concern, but it is unfounded.

I am well aware of what can happen over time to fiberglass in direct sunlight. Which is why it won't be in direct sunlight, and I will be taking other precautioins for structural and aesthetic reasons... after all, this has to pass muster with my wife!

Not to worry. I'm just not telling you everything!

73

[KC8VWM]

One of my favorite antennas while living in an HOA concentration camp was a simple aluminum ladder propped up against the chimney with a bucket of paint sitting on the ground beside it.

Never did get that paint job completed... lol

[KK4BBG]

Again, I thank you for your concern, but it is unfounded.

I am well aware of what can happen over time to fiberglass in direct sunlight. Which is why it won't be in direct sunlight, and I will be taking other precautioins for structural and aesthetic reasons... after all, this has to pass muster with my wife!

Not to worry. I'm just not telling you everything!

73

aww yes the xyl syndrome. lol

uninformed people cant help make good decisons in secrecy so thats why we try to "educate"

Alright, good deal souds like you have it all well though out and hope she approves!!!

FYI if she says anythign you can always make it into a "flagpole"

[WA8UEG]

One of my favorite antennas while living in an HOA concentration camp was a simple aluminum ladder propped up against the chimney with a bucket of paint sitting on the ground beside it.

Never did get that paint job completed... lol

Love it!!!!

[NH7RO]

+1. Brilliant, Charles!

[W3WN]

aww yes the xyl syndrome. lol

uninformed people cant help make good decisons in secrecy so thats why we try to "educate"

Alright, good deal souds like you have it all well though out and hope she approves!!!

FYI if she says anything you can always make it into a "flagpole"

It is (also) going to be a real flagpole. Have no doubts on that score.

I already have the two flags for it... the US flag on top, of course. And a Jolly Rodger flag underneath it (want to guess which baseball team my wife is a fanatic of? Not fan -- fanatic).

...

At the previous QTH, I had two Butternut antennas up. An HF6V in one side yard, and an HF2V on a small hill next to the driveway. The HF2 was very visible from the street. She finally talked me into tying a flag to the top of the '2', which I did mainly to keep the peace. For the next 2 weeks, every neighbor who passed the house mentioned that they were glad to see we finally put a flag on the flag pole! [You think I argued?]

[KK4BBG]

since i rent i dont want to spend money to install a flag pole at my residence.

I've thought of using some more of these aluminum poles i bought, using the guy plate to attach a pulley then flying a flag off of them. i would have to find a way to "cap" the top off to prevent water from getting in the poles and from the guy ring from working itself loose with windy thunderstorms we get. and the occasional straightline winds. i could probably do like i did with my antennae and put a 6 foot pole 2 feet in the ground for support then the aluminum poles.

flags of choice? american and POW. if not it TN or other

of course id have to ask landlord