Chimney Mount

[Twister_2]

A week ago I got a Solorcon base cb/ham/business antenna. I have a cb. Right now it is hanging off of the deck. I'm looking to mount it on the chimney. However, there is a lip on the top of my chimney that hangs out about three inches. Could I see some pictures of masts, antenna, brackets, and chimneys of people who have a cb base antenna on their chimney...also how should I bring the coax into the house...there is a window next the desk on which my cb is located.


Thanks,
Mike

 

[Twister_2]

anybody???

 

[tonsoffun]

Hi Mike
Here is a few options:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062035&cp=&sr=1&origkw=antenna+mounts&kw=antenna+mounts&parentPage=search

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062036&cp=&pg=2&sr=1&origkw=antenna+mounts&kw=antenna+mounts&parentPage=search

Hope those will help you
Take care
Ron

 

[KR4BD]

Don't have pictures to offer....

But.... I would advise NOT mounting anything on your chimney. Wind will blow the antenna back and forth and eventually, the mortar and bricks will loosen. I have replaced two chimneys (not cheap!) in 20 years because I did not follow this advice. There are mounting and strapping kits available for mast mounting, but like I said, if you go this route, wind will eventually take its toll on the integrity of the chimney structure. Radio Shack used to sell such chimney mounting kits, but I imagine they are a "special order" item these days.

Best thing to do is get two or three 10 ft masts put together and mount them on the side of your house, using guy wires, if necessary.

As for routing coax into your house....Three methods I have used that are fairly simple are:

1 - Drill a hole on side of house, leaving a drip loop on the outside, and seal with putty (or coax sealer).

2 - Use a window for access by replacing the window glass with plexiglass . Drill a hole in the plexiglass for the cable to get inside.

3 - If you have a sliding window (horizonal or vertical), open the window to about 4 inches and fit a piece of 1 X 4 into the opening. Drill hole(s) into this piece of wood for coax to enter. Once fitted in the opening, close the window snugly against the 1 X 4. Use sealer or caulk as necessary.

Good Luck.

 

[Twister_2]

Thanks very much...I will not mount it on my chimney.

 

[tonsoffun]

In my older house, I had a chimney mount for 15 years and was properly installed (with epoxy mixed mortor and lag bolts) and nothing was wrong with the bricks and mortor. If your chimney was falling apart like that it was not done properly.
My Dad was a brick layer for 40 years and has often seen bad jobs done on chimneys.....
There is lots of other options though if you are concerned about yours.
Take care

 

[n8emr]

also the concept of chimney vary. If your home is old then its a brick and mortor structure, if its new chimeny its just a 2x4 frame around a meta exhaust tube. The length of the chimney also mater.


Since the solarcon antenna is near 24ft, your going to get lots of movement on the antenna and that need to be taken into account on your mount. A very short brick chimney would be a problem with the longer solorcon, however if your chimney is 10-20ft tall and you brack at the top and bottom then you shouldhave much issue, nor should you have issue with a shorter scanner antenna.

Your best bet is to use a roof tripod or better yet run a mast to the ground.

 

[Twister_2]

ok...thanks...I will look around on the internet

 

[Twister_2]

Does anybody have any pictures of their set-up?

 

[N1BHH]

Chimney mounting is a good thing. When putting masts together, stacking them up, even with guy wire, there is more wind convection being put on the antenna, because an antenna mounted close to the roof line gets better protection from the body of the house. All antennas move around, but one that's attached to a sturdy object fair better in the long run.

I grew up in an old house which had so many mounting possibilities, two chimneys and two vent pipes, which were cast iron. Needless to say I had antennas mounted on all four and they lasted through severe weather whereas my 40 foot mast mounted antenna didn't fair too well. Even though it was mounted with 2-by-4 backing interior to the house on steel brackets, it came down in two storms, and needless to say, I shortened it to just a 5 foot mast and it worked out nicely.

Always check the integrity of your chimney before mounting anything. If you know a mason, have him check it out, and maybe he can help out in the install process. Maybe a six pack to defray costs, chuckle, chuckle. Always have some extra help, and don't do it by yourself, you can get seriously hurt. And at all cost, avoid the power line drop to your house, a falling mast can kill you and anyone touching it. A short mast will do fine.

 

[hoser147]

Chimney Mounts have been used a long time. My cousin is a mason and I had him take a look at mine before I put it up, for a couple of small antenna's It's really not an issue if everything is good and solid. one suggestion that I would make is to mount it so it is not on the side of prevailing winds will help. I wouldnt advise it on a Old house unless the chimney is newer, My father used one on his house built new in the 70s the same time we put the mount up and its still there today different antenna's thou. If your not keen on doing it that way there are other routes that will work also, good Luck hope this helps........Hoser

 

[Twister_2]

ok...thanks...I will now put it on the chimney.

 

[Twister_2]

Chimney Mounts have been used a long time. My cousin is a mason and I had him take a look at mine before I put it up, for a couple of small antenna's It's really not an issue if everything is good and solid. one suggestion that I would make is to mount it so it is not on the side of prevailing winds will help. I wouldnt advise it on a Old house unless the chimney is newer, My father used one on his house built new in the 70s the same time we put the mount up and its still there today different antenna's thou. If your not keen on doing it that way there are other routes that will work also, good Luck hope this helps........Hoser

You don't happen to have pics? Do you?

 

[tonsoffun]

Take a look at Dave's set-up here:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27159&highlight=Audiodave1
Take care

 

[hoser147]

Sorry I dont have any pics, from the rear of the house that would show the mount, just the front which would show, 2 discones and a 800 Yagi, My son is in the process of putting a Scantenna up in place of one of the discones as I type this. Mine is very similar to Daves shown in Ron's Post. Hoser

 

[Twister_2]

ok...thanks anyway