PVC antenna mast Vs. steel

[k9rzz]

Sounds good to me, although you don't say what kind of 2 meter antenna is going up there. That could be anything from a 1/4 wave ground plane, stacked 11 element yagis, or a 32 ft long 'Boomer'.

As far as PVC masts go, you could do it, especially if you telescope one size inside the other. That certainly would add rigidity and ease of installation. Something for Field Day perhaps?

 

[WF3J]

It will be a Comet GP-1 antenna (it has not arrived yet), something simple. I am a true noobie having passed my technician ticket earlier this month. I am setting up a Yaesu FT1900 as a base and wanted something simple for an antenna setup. Once I gain some experience in this, I can progress to bigger and better things. For now, since I am only planning on one 4 foot mast attached to an 8 foot building, I figured the rigid conduit was a good way of starting out. If I decide later on that I want to go higher, I would want to put up something else to replace the plastic.

I must admit that I do not know much about "Field Day", but expect to learn more.

 

[n5ims]

"Field Day" is an Amateur Radio contest that is designed to help prepare for emergency operation. Hams set up their stations in remote areas (such as fields, parks, etc.) using temporary or portable antennas and battery or generator power to simulate what may be needed during an emergency (think Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans). They then try to work as many other hams as possible. Additional points are awarded for both being one of these "emergency operations" station and talking to one.

More info is here --> Field Day

 

[WF3J]

Thanks for the info. I will look into this. Besides the base that I am setting up now, I all ready have 2 meter and 70 cm portables to use for this type of event.

 

[k9rzz]

Awesome. Sounds like a winner and welcome aboard!

 

[Ref-Jazzy]

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[scan-o-matic13]

biggest thing to consider with an outdoor antenna and mast in my reading, and experience, is grounding...make sure your grounding both the antenna with an arrestor, as well as your mast, seperatly.

as for you idea Capt22, with a piece that short, you would think it should be fine..but bigger and stronger cant hurt in the long run, something from the ground up might be better too..and consider buying the Galvinized conduit if you go that route, should last a little longer.

 

[WF3J]

I have acquired a 6 foot piece of stainless 2 inch diameter pipe to use as a mast. I have to find some mounts that will handle two inch pipe. Plus, I have to ground the whole set up.

Once I get to a home improvement chain store, I expect I should be able to find the materials I need to do the job correctly.

 

[k9rzz]

When I was young and broke, I had 21 ft of 2 inch water pipe topped with a rotator and small tribander. I used to walk that beast up myself and bolt it to the garage. Oi !

 

[lmrtek]

The only time a metallic mast comes into play is when using a vertically polarized center mounted beam or a side mounted vertical.

Several companies make fiberglass mast sections that are perfect for these applications