Second floor apartment needing help with antenna!

[Mountaineer304]

I don't think you need a ground plane kit on an A99, technically it makes it better but you may not notice any difference. What is your deck railing made of? You should be able to make something that clamps to it without damaging anything. If its wood you could mount a short mast to a 2X4 and C clamp that to the rail. If its metal you can set a short mast against a vertical member and use hose clamps. Or move your still to the deck and mount the antenna to that. Just use your imagination.

It's wooden, so get a short piece of pipe and mount the antenna to it? I haven't put up a base antenna in 30 years I hope this elevation helps some too

 

[prcguy]

It's wooden, so get a short piece of pipe and mount the antenna to it? I haven't put up a base antenna in 30 years I hope this elevation helps some too

It would be great if you could screw some conduit clamps like these to the railing to hold a mast if the landlord will allow it or lay a mast against a vertical hand rail and get hose clamps that will go around the railing and mast. Or use conduit clamps to mount a mast to a 2X4 that is as long as a vertical rail and C clamp that to a vertical rail. I've even used huge Ty-Raps to hold a mast to hand railing for temporary use.



I can't believe you're not on the air yet. Don't make me drive out there and do this.

 

[Mountaineer304]

It would be great if you could screw some conduit clamps like these to the railing to hold a mast if the landlord will allow it or lay a mast against a vertical hand rail and get hose clamps that will go around the railing and mast. Or use conduit clamps to mount a mast to a 2X4 that is as long as a vertical rail and C clamp that to a vertical rail. I've even used huge Ty-Raps to hold a mast to hand railing for temporary use.

View attachment 158466

I can't believe you're not on the air yet. Don't make me drive out there and do this.

I've not been on air 5 years have no help partly disabled.. So get a pipe ten foot tall or conduit? Idk how large diameter.. Mount to wood then antenna to that? Drive on out I'd love the help

 

[Mountaineer304]

It would be great if you could screw some conduit clamps like these to the railing to hold a mast if the landlord will allow it or lay a mast against a vertical hand rail and get hose clamps that will go around the railing and mast. Or use conduit clamps to mount a mast to a 2X4 that is as long as a vertical rail and C clamp that to a vertical rail. I've even used huge Ty-Raps to hold a mast to hand railing for temporary use.

View attachment 158466

I can't believe you're not on the air yet. Don't make me drive out there and do this.

Landlord doesn't care just no tower or large pipe from ground up

 

[prcguy]

Landlord doesn't care just no tower or large pipe from ground up

Well there ya go. If you have a Home Depot or Lowe's nearby get a 5ft or 10ft 1 1/4" metal conduit for a mast and the matching conduit clamps and mount that to a vertical wooden hand rail member. Two clamps spaced 2 to 3ft apart should be fine for a 5ft mast and I would use at least three for a 10ft.

 

[Mountaineer304]

What about his

 

[Mountaineer304]

Well there ya go. If you have a Home Depot or Lowe's nearby get a 5ft or 10ft 1 1/4" metal conduit for a mast and the matching conduit clamps and mount that to a vertical wooden hand rail member. Two clamps spaced 2 to 3ft apart should be fine for a 5ft mast and I would use at least three for a 10ft.

This seemed easier will it not be enough mast I've had so many nice radios never get on air because nonantennab

 

[Mountaineer304]

Any recommendations I’d like to have a decent one I could probably get away with some pvc pipe 6-10 feet to raise it max

Pvc will work

 

[prcguy]

This seemed easier will it not be enough mast I've had so many nice radios never get on air because nonantennab

I've used old DirecTV J masts for some small and medium sized verticals and I've had a lightweight 17ft VHF/UHF vertical on one for a couple of years now. I think a full size CB antenna would not be a good idea as you only have one small mounting foot to handle all the wind load. Maybe 5ft of 1 1/4 to 1/12 PVC will work as a mast but I don't recommend it plus the sun will make it brittle over time unless you paint it. EMT is cheap and strong.

 

[Mountaineer304]

This seemed easier will it not be enough mast I've had so many nice radios never get on air because nonantennab

Could I not clamp this antenna to this 36 inch mast ? My decks 18 feet high

 

[Mountaineer304]

I've used old DirecTV J masts for some small and medium sized verticals and I've had a lightweight 17ft VHF/UHF vertical on one for a couple of years now. I think a full size CB antenna would not be a good idea as you only have one small mounting foot to handle all the wind load. Maybe 5ft of 1 1/4 to 1/12 PVC will work as a mast but I don't recommend it plus the sun will make it brittle over time unless you paint it. EMT is cheap and strong.

No sure what emt is or where to even get it or I would I got 5000 in radios never on thr air

 

[Mountaineer304]

I've used old DirecTV J masts for some small and medium sized verticals and I've had a lightweight 17ft VHF/UHF vertical on one for a couple of years now. I think a full size CB antenna would not be a good idea as you only have one small mounting foot to handle all the wind load. Maybe 5ft of 1 1/4 to 1/12 PVC will work as a mast but I don't recommend it plus the sun will make it brittle over time unless you paint it. EMT is cheap and strong.

I shall continue to be a no talker I guess I wish dad hadn't made me love cbs in the 70's this sucks

 

[prcguy]

No sure what emt is or where to even get it or I would I got 5000 in radios never on thr air

EMT is electrical metallic conduit available everywhere. Or use an old chunk of plumbing pipe like 1" or many other things will work. Don't over think it, just do it.

 

[Mountaineer304]

No no I wanna do it right so get how many feet emt? And use those straps to bolt to my deck? Then attach antenna to emt...

 

[Mountaineer304]

Like this or more

 

[Mountaineer304]

EMT is electrical metallic conduit available everywhere. Or use an old chunk of plumbing pipe like 1" or many other things will work. Don't over think it, just do it.

One inch emt 10 foot long would thay work like I said I'm close to 3000 feet here.. I can't find metal clamps only pvc

EMT is electrical metallic conduit available everywhere. Or use an old chunk of plumbing pipe like 1" or many other things will work. Don't over think it, just do it.

also should I got sign one inch emt or thicker

 

[Mountaineer304]

EMT is electrical metallic conduit available everywhere. Or use an old chunk of plumbing pipe like 1" or many other things will work. Don't over think it, just do it.

How am I go na ground that

 

[prcguy]

How am I go na ground that

Do you get much lightning in your area? If you use a 10ft mast and an 18ft antenna (about 27ft total) how high would that stick up above the roof? The radio and antenna don't need any grounding to work and it won't work any better if its grounded but according to code it should be grounded. That is up to you.

 

[Mountaineer304]

Probably 10-15 feet above the roof then id say

 

[Mountaineer304]

Do you get much lightning in your area? If you use a 10ft mast and an 18ft antenna (about 27ft total) how high would that stick up above the roof? The radio and antenna don't need any grounding to work and it won't work any better if its grounded but according to code it should be grounded. That is up to you.

Aonive got ten foot conduit clamps screws 100foort rg8x.. Sitting at 2678 feet elevation it should put the ir 10-15 feet above the roof? Should I get thr antenna with the ground plane or is it worth it? To groud it couldn't I drill into thr conduit and run a copper wire to a grounding rod or do I even need too