Mounting pole materials question

[KF1X]

Hello Everyone,

New member and I’ve been away from amateur radio for awhile now. Was wondering if I could get some antenna mounting advice? We’re looking to setup a new Diamond X300A antenna at the house and curious if the following mounting method we’re considering would work?

On a single story house, I’d like to use a 10’ pc of 1.25” galvanized pipe as a base, starting at ground level, clamped with extension clamps to the side of the house in order to get by the eave. Then join that to another 10’ of 1.25” schedule 80 PVC, at the top of which the antenna would be clamped. Does this sound feasible and robust enough? What would be the proper ground method?

 

[merlin]

Functionally, it would work well with its own radials for the ground plane.
The only problem I see with this is there is no protection from lightning or static discharge.
If the pole is your only option, I would also run a 10 gage copper wire from the antenna clamp
down to a good earth ground and use a lightning arrester in line with the coax also to a good earth ground.
An option is using all metal pole up to the antenna and grounded at the base.
20 foot from ground level would no have the antenna very high, so I wouldn't expect greatest performance but for local work should be acceptable.
Cheers

 

[mmckenna]

PVC pipe is not going to hold up an antenna like that. It's going to flex.

Get the eaves mount brackets and use a 10 foot length of 1 1/2 or 1 1/4 galvanized pipe. Don't use PVC for supporting an antenna.

I'd run a #10 wire straight down the wall to a ground rod below the antenna (or as close as you can get to it). You then MUST, per national electric code, bond the new ground rod to the existing home ground rod. Run your coax down the mast to a point where it is going to enter the home. Install an "Antenna Discharge Device" (aka: Lightning protector) right where the coax enters the home. Connect that device to the ground rod. Run the coax from there to your radio.

If you need more than that 10 foot pipe from the eaves mount, then you need a different mounting method. Above that one length of 10 foot pipe, you'd want it guyed.

 

[prcguy]

Bad idea as mmckenna mentioned and there is no reason to use an insulated section of mast. You can buy galvanized fence top rail in 21ft lengths, I would recommend something around 1.5" OD and go from ground up in a single length as long as you attach it to the house leaving no more than 10ft unguyed. An X300A is about the largest antenna I would mount on a mast like this with 10ft sticking up unguyed but it should work fine.

 

[KF1X]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I'm going to avoid the PVC section and go with a full metal mast. Appreciate ya'all!