Antenna Mast???

[fosters]

I'm looking for a good idea for a mast for my outdoor antenna. I would like to be as stealthy as possible because it has to go in my back yard, and my better half would not like to have to look at a huge contraption. I would also like the ability to either lay it down or colapse it when bad weather hits. I read on here awhile ago about one another listener made out of the top rails of a metal fence or something, but can't find the post now. I have a Niljon Super-M antenna which hardly has any weight to it so the mast can be fairly lightweight I think. Just as a side note, love that antenna, it is hilly here and it has great reception.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mfuller1950]

I have such a mast up on my roof, went to the local home depot and bought a 10 ft piece of fence top, I believe that they can be stacked. Another thing to make your wife happy is to paint the mast a light grey or some color that would blend your mast into your surrounding back yard or such.

 

[k9rzz]

Tossing out some ideas:

Assuming you want to buy ready made:

Here's some telescoping masts:

http://www.willburt.com/comHurryUpMast.asp
http://www.k1cra.com/catalog/product.aspx?productID=683

Or there's no reason why you couldn't make one yourself out of aluminum tubing or even heavier PVC pipe.

You could also make yourself a fold over mast, kinda like this:

http://www.glenmartin.com/industrial/pg33.htm

Built out of some 2x2's it would be light and cheap. You could paint it and make it blend right in.

 

[fosters]

You all are great! Appreciate the fast replies, I'm under a time constraint, the other half is on vacation and hope to get it installed and up before she returns. It will probably take here awhile to notice something different and by that time she won't care. Like the telescopic one, but wished it was taller. Need to clear the roof line of the house and I'm surrounded by trees. Does anyone make something that extends higher??

 

[k9rzz]

That Hurryup mast is 25 ft. They make 'em up to 134ft. Height is just a matter of money ... how high do you want to go?

http://www.willburt.com/comMain.asp

Other companies make 'em too.

 

[k9rzz]

To follow up, I was having a hard time finding prices for the above masts. I suspect that unless you have bottomless pockets, they are too expensive.

For us mere mortals:

Hygain makes one that extends from 6 to 65 ft - $199

http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?prodid=ATM-65

Rohn used to make steel telescoping masts:

40 ft for $70. Other heights available.

http://www.randl.com/cgi-local/cart/cart.cgi?cart=Search&Category=ROHN&sb=1&nh=10

But Rohn is out of business, so email them to make sure they still carry them.

Will keep poking around. I'd like to know what's out there myself.

 

[fosters]

You all are great! Much appreciated! Unfortunately not bottomless pocket, but only really want to re-rig this once. New system will be the tower and LMR400 cable. The old RG8 has been out there for 4-5 years, suspect it is tired. The start of this is that I'm looking for a new scanner to hook up to it. My old 796d works fine, so need probably isn't it, just want. Quick off topic post, sorry, but did Uniden ever fix the volume level between analog and P25?? Might be able to talk my other half into the new scanner as well if I mentioned the P25 volume vs analog would no longer blast her ears out.


Thanks again, hopefully I can contibute sometime.
Fosters