[amsat-bb] Antenea Masts

[tosca005 University of Minnesota]

Max-Gain Systems has a number of extensible/collapsable fiberglass masts,
some of which might meet your needs, although MGS does not actually
recommend mounting a rotatable antenna on one of their push-up systems.

https://mgs4u.com/product/mk-4-series-25ft-masts/  can extend up to 25
feet, but the top section is only one inch in diameter, so it might not
support a 6M5X yagi.

https://mgs4u.com/product/mk-8/ can extend up to 50 feet when guyed and
attached to a strong base, but to get up to 20 feet you only need to use 2
or 3 of the biggest nested sections so it might be more suitable for
holding the 6M5X at 20 feet up.

MGS also sells fiberglass tubing and rods, so you could put a solid rod
inside the third section to strengthen it. You could also "double up"
sections, i.e. glue a 2.25"OD tube inside of a 2.50"OD tube to make the
lowest section at double the wall strength, then a 1.75"OD tube inside of a
2.00"OD tube as the second section that would slide into the first section,
and then get a 1.50"OD solid rod as the third section. In fact, instead of
gluing together a 1.75"ID and a 2.00"ID tube, you could just buy a 2.00"OD
tube in 1/4" wall thickness. (Most of their fiberglass tubes only come in
1/8" wall thickness.) Since they sell the tubes and rods in 4 foot and 8
foot lengths, a 3-section mast extended to 20 feet would allow for 2 feet
of overlap per section which would be plenty.

For more details on their fiberglass offerings, go to
https://mgs4u.com/telescoping-fiberglass-tube-and-rod-price-list-2/

Good luck.
John, W0JT/5, EL09vu20

On Thu, Jul 26, 2018 at 7:24 AM, Paul Overn via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org
> wrote:

> I know this isn't exactly satellite related, but I've asked for help in
> other places, and the feedback has been sparse. You guys have always been
> very helpful.
> I'm looking for a portable antenna mast that I can use between passes
> while satellite roving. I would like it to be able to go to at least 20',
> hold a 5 element M2 6 Meter yagi, be able to fit in a small truck and be
> portable.
> I have looked at numerous military surplus masts, like at Go-vertical-usa,
> but they will not return any of my correspondence. I have looked into many
> "home brew" solutions, but I'm just not that handy.
>
> Anyone have any good sites I can go to for something that fits my needs?
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
>
> Paul Overn
> KE0PBR
> Twitter: @KE0PBR
> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>
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