Baofeng Got a BTech UV-50X2 for Christmas

[mmckenna]

Fence top rail is something like 20 feet and would be something you could tilt up and clamp in place. Getting that 20 foot length of pipe home is probably the bigger challenge for most.

There are ham radio oriented companies that make fiberglass push up poles that could be used also. Gets a bit expensive, but easy up/down...

 

[AK9R]

Cable Experts sells Andrew Cinta, which is a good brand, and their house brand. I'd ask them where their house brand coax is made.

I don't think ABR actually makes their own coax though they may buy from someone reputable.

DX Engineering buys from someone that they claim is in the US.

Don't automatically dismiss Mexican coax. Belden has moved some coax production from Richmond, Indiana, to Mexico.

 

[lbpd16]

Fence top rail is something like 20 feet and would be something you could tilt up and clamp in place. Getting that 20 foot length of pipe home is probably the bigger challenge for most.

There are ham radio oriented companies that make fiberglass push up poles that could be used also. Gets a bit expensive, but easy up/down...

I assume the attic is a no go with the ac unit and house wiring running everywhere

If I can’t find a mount that works for fascia mount could I just get a tripod and set it on the ground? Of course that would be next to a large metal minivan.

 

[dkcorlfla]

Fence top rail is something like 20 feet and would be something you could tilt up and clamp in place. Getting that 20 foot length of pipe home is probably the bigger challenge for most.

There are ham radio oriented companies that make fiberglass push up poles that could be used also. Gets a bit expensive, but easy up/down...

To expand on this a bit here is a picture of a large fence hinge I installed many years ago. A clever person could come up with a clamp at the top with a rope pull so the antenna could be raised or lowered without getting on a ladder. The easier you make it the more likely you will be to use the transceiver.

 

[dkcorlfla]

I assume the attic is a no go with the ac unit and house wiring running everywhere

If I can’t find a mount that works for fascia mount could I just get a tripod and set it on the ground? Of course that would be next to a large metal minivan.

Perhaps if you have a van with a metal roof that is not used all the time you could simple stick a mag mount mobile on the roof and get on the air. This simple setup would also let you start scanning and see what interest you in your area. You could then DIY a low profile antenna for the area of interest. For example a UHF J-poll made from 1/8 brass welding rod is small and very hard to see. If DirecTV is allowed by your HOA then maybe find one at the curb, install it and hide the low profile antenna behind the small dish.

 

[lbpd16]

Well since the x50a is on its way I’m gonna give it a go. I really want to put some kind of mount on the house and just stick the antenna in it when I’m using it. But I am intrigued with the hinge idea. It’s too bad about my attic. That would have been the best solution. But I’m sure being outside it will work much better

 

[mmckenna]

I assume the attic is a no go with the ac unit and house wiring running everywhere

If I can’t find a mount that works for fascia mount could I just get a tripod and set it on the ground? Of course that would be next to a large metal minivan.

You wouldn't want to put an antenna up close to the HVAC system/ducting. That's going to give you issues. Attic mounts can be a challenge with ducting, wiring, etc. You'll have to choose what works best for you. Outside will always be better.

 

[dkcorlfla]

Well since the x50a is on its way I’m gonna give it a go. I really want to put some kind of mount on the house and just stick the antenna in it when I’m using it. But I am intrigued with the hinge idea. It’s too bad about my attic. That would have been the best solution. But I’m sure being outside it will work much better

If you don't use the hinge idea on the VHF/UHF antenna it might be worth a re-visit when you get a HF rig. I used to use the hinge in the picture to work on a large multi band vertical at ground level and then push it up with my arms to the vertical position.

 

[ladn]

Is there a particular brand name / good quality programming cable I should get?

I've found the BTECH to be of good quality.

 

[lbpd16]

Are there any particular house, fascia, eve mounts that I should consider that have worked for yall?

 

[alcahuete]

Are there any particular house, fascia, eve mounts that I should consider that have worked for yall?

I use a satellite TV mount screwed into the eaves for one of my verticals. Probably not going to do you a lot of good though in the HOA.

 

[lbpd16]

I got the x50a today. It’s surprisingly light. Still trying to come up with a mounting solution. I know the fascia is a weak part of the roof but as light as the antenna is I think it may work there. Maybe something like a large auto hose clamp I can tighten when I put the antenna up. 🤔

 

[lbpd16]

Maybe this would work on my fascia. I found these rubber clamps for cheap on Harbor Freight’s website. Rubber so the antenna won’t slip and easy to clamp off and on

 

[dkcorlfla]

I got the x50a today. It’s surprisingly light. Still trying to come up with a mounting solution. I know the fascia is a weak part of the roof but as light as the antenna is I think it may work there. Maybe something like a large auto hose clamp I can tighten when I put the antenna up. 🤔

So there is no way it will fit in the attic? Seems to me that would be the best option because of the HOA.

The rubber clamps you found should work; however, they would require a ladder each time. Maybe consider a simple TV mast mount bracket, Cut a 10 foot section of fence top rail that has the swage end (Lowes has them) about 10 inches long or so and install with the swage pointing up. Then cut another section about 2 feet or so and mount the antenna to it.

When you want to put the antenna up you could use the remainder of the top tube to hoist it in place and let it slide down on the swage.

A simple hook made out of something like a steel L-bracket with another 90 degree bend added, then attached to the mast section should allow easy removable of the lifting section.

 

[mmckenna]

Maybe this would work on my fascia. I found these rubber clamps for cheap on Harbor Freight’s website. Rubber so the antenna won’t slip and easy to clamp off and on

I've used the name brand version of those (Quickfist) to hold shovel/axe on a UTV. That's a few pounds getting slammed around off road. They work pretty well and they've stood up to UV exposure just fine. Never had one fail.
A trick to make them work well is to put a washer to keep the bolt/screw from pulling through. I fabricated a 90º bracket with some holes to go through the two side holes as well as under the mount to give them some more holding power.

Not 100% sure I'd rely on them to hold an antenna up in windy conditions.

Interesting approach, I like your thinking.

 

[ENGINEERCARL1]

I forgot to mention I live in a HOA. The only thing allowed is a Directv dish so an antenna on my roof is not possible.

Until you make the DirecTV dish into an antenna...

https://w6nbc.com/articles/20xx-dishslot.pdf

EC

 

[dkcorlfla]

Until you make the DirecTV dish into an antenna...

https://w6nbc.com/articles/20xx-dishslot.pdf

EC

Thanks for posting that. I had it in the back of my mind that I ran across this a while back but I could not remember the details. Seems like it could be a good solution for the OP.

One thing to be aware of is a DirecTV dish needs to be pointed up and to the South West to be legit but few people are going to know that so the OP could aim it at the repeater of interest and if anybody notices just say a wind storm blew it out of alignment ;-)

 

[dkcorlfla]

So there is no way it will fit in the attic? Seems to me that would be the best option because of the HOA.

The rubber clamps you found should work; however, they would require a ladder each time. Maybe consider a simple TV mast mount bracket, Cut a 10 foot section of fence top rail that has the swage end (Lowes has them) about 10 inches long or so and install with the swage pointing up. Then cut another section about 2 feet or so and mount the antenna to it.

When you want to put the antenna up you could use the remainder of the top tube to hoist it in place and let it slide down on the swage.

A simple hook made out of something like a steel L-bracket with another 90 degree bend added, then attached to the mast section should allow easy removable of the lifting section.

The thought cam to mind that instead of mounting the swage section pointing up it could be the section attached to the antenna instead and pointing down. Then a very short section of the top rail could be installed in the rubber clamps or steel TV mounts permanently. The difference is the visual foot print would be smaller when the antenna was down. It would just be the two clamps and a short 5 inch or so section of top rail. Heck a clever person could come up with a small flag poll to drop in place when the antenna was down.

The advantage of using this instead of just the clamps would be the short section of the antenna mast would simply drop in place. No messing with the clamps while up on the ladder.

 

[lbpd16]

I was also thinking of these 2 options as well:

Gripper clips


And these snap in clips

 

[dkcorlfla]

Tons of stuff pulls up under "flag pole mounting bracket".

Looks like some can adjust from vertical to 45 degrees or so.

They look nice and clean and I doubt your HOA would complain.

Use it to hold a flag when not holding the antenna to keep the peace.