[amsat-bb] Fiberglass Cross-boom Alternative?

[kb2mjeff at att.net]

I second what  Joe is saying. Years ago I had also put up a Fiberglas cross boom, this was before I read Kent's report 😊. If you do put up a Fiberglas boom be prepared  every 5 years or so to remove the antennas and recoat the boom with fresh gelcoat. Over time, and I guess depending on their size , the antennas  will move around on the boom chewing it up.

 

Now I have rotor controlled sat stations at two different locations. These are downsized from what I used to have. Both stations have aluminum cross booms that the manufacturer supplied with the sat antenna systems made by Cushcraft, and M2. Only thing I think is necessary is when you mount the antennas don't line up the elements with the cross boom, position them  45 degrees off, and as far apart as possible to limit crosstalk...

 

73 Jeff kb2m

 

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Gary via AMSAT-BB
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 10:04 PM
To: Tony <73guddx at gmail.com>; AMSAT-BB at amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Cross-boom Alternative?

 

Don't dismiss using a metal cross-boom. People say it won't work without actually examining the problem. When antenna guru Kent Britain, WA5VJB looked at the problem he found a metal boom to work quite well. He then tested it on the antenna range and verified it worked.  You can see the paper he presented at an AMSAT symposium here:

 <http://www.kk0sd.net/metalboom/metalboom.htm> http://www.kk0sd.net/metalboom/metalboom.htm

 

When I had a permanent satellite station I used a metal cross-boom, and there were several others in the OSCAR-13 and AO-40 era that did. 

 

73,

Gary "Joe", kk0sd

 

-----Original Message-----

From: AMSAT-BB < <mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Tony via AMSAT-BB

Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 6:00 PM

To: AMSAT-BB < <mailto:amsat-bb at amsat.org> amsat-bb at amsat.org>

Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Cross-boom Alternative?

 

All:

 

Is there a cheaper non-metallic alternative to fiberglass cross booms? 

Or maybe a wholesale fiberglass rod distributor that has such a beast at a reasonable price?

 

Tony -K2MO

 

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