Antenna Masts For Radio Modem

R

Robert Patton

New Member
I am considering buying a lightweight antenna mast for my 1 watt radio. I will mount the UHF Antenna 450-470 mH, 5/8, 5dB gain with a UHF Antenna Ground Plane Disk on this mast.

What type would you recommend that would be lightweight and would extend in sections? Also some brackets for staking to ground would be useful. If you have something similar please post some pictures.
 
J

Joe Paulin

Well-Known Member
Hi Robert,

Seco's 6 foot snaplock radio antenna pole works great on top of a tripod to get the antenna up 10' or so.

http://surveying.com/Products/GPS-a...GPS-Tripods-and-Radio-Accessories/5139-02-FLY

You could also use range poles or 4' extentions, but those don't retract like the snaplock does.

If you need to go higher, they offer a 10 meter radio pole, but I don't have any experience with it.

http://surveying.com/Products/GPS-a...ories/GPS-Tripods-and-Radio-Accessories/90036

Hope this helps!
 
Kelly Bellis

Kelly Bellis

ME PLS 2099
5PLS
Robert Patton said:
I am considering buying a lightweight antenna mast for my 1 watt radio. I will mount the UHF Antenna 450-470 mH, 5/8, 5dB gain with a UHF Antenna Ground Plane Disk on this mast.

What type would you recommend that would be lightweight and would extend in sections? Also some brackets for staking to ground would be useful. If you have something similar please post some pictures.
Click to expand...


Hi Robert,

Is this the antenna that you purchased ?
A1845-30_b.jpg

If I'm correctly reading the datasheet, this antenna isn't intended for use with the HPT401BT radio. How did you decide upon that antenna? I'm afraid I don't know enough to give you further guidance and have asked my friend Vladimir Zhukov for more insights into this area:
General Guidelines for Choosing Antennas for UHF Radios​

When using the 450-470 MHz 5 dB gain [30-587305-01] you'll also need some type of mount, and assume for now it would be the pole mount; [14-578117-06 REV.1] which also allows for an assembly with the ground plane disk [10-578400-01], but again, as far as I understand, 1 watt radios don't require this.

As for your mast needs, whether you recycle some surveying equipment you already have on hand or make a new purchase, knowing how much surface area/ weight you'll have at the top of that upper most section should be considered when you think about guying requirements and wind. Personally, and in most situations, 2 to 3 meters is my height range while using repurposed fixed-height GPS rods in 1-meter sections. I like to stab the mast foot solidly into the ground and use the GPS tripod to roughly plumb up the mast and when necessary because of wind, weight down the tripod feet. Anything higher really ought to be guyed. SECO is an awesome manufacturer and studying their products and can give you a bunch of ideas to think about. Of course, you can't buy from them directly, but at least you can get the correct part number when ordering from whomever; e.g., Allen Precision, etc.

In my guy kit, there's (3) screw-in-the-ground tie-downs, a recycled tripod head assembly [SECO 5218-057], (3) carabiners with 3/16" braided nylon x 33'.
guy kit x 1000.jpg
 
David Neeley

David Neeley

New Member
my antenna mast is a frost pit with two welded on brackets, one as a step to push it in with my boot in soft ground and one "l" shaped to slip EMT tubing on. I carry 3-5 ft sections, to splice together I use tread-all with nuts screwed on that fit inside the EMT one has a piece of mild steel in the middle and a slot to hold my 435 BT it's held up just fine in 60mph winds even with the flat plane on it-no guys needed.
 
Donald E Robinson

Donald E Robinson

Active Member
I have to reply to this!

I'm cheap, so I put this together and It works great:

Mast:
Mr. Long Arm® with 3 aluminum section extensions and twist locks (a 25' Painter's pole). I made 2' marks from the bottom of the two top sections of the pole to keep each section at least 2' inside the other sections for added rigidity. Now I have a 21' mast.

Down Guys:
I bought a flat ±6" diameter round plastic disc (door knob guard that is used to keep doorknobs from poking holes in walls when opened). Using a hole saw I cut a hole big enough to allow the top section of pole to pass through it, but small enough to stop and rest on the poles top section twist lock. Next, I marked points the outer edge of the disc into 1/3rds at 120° and drilled 3 holes. I bought 3 plastic clip-hooks with tie-down grips, heavy duty tent cord, three plastic tent stakes, three 1"x2" plastic sun catchers (about the size of dominos) and a 1" hose clamp (screw type).

Set Up:
First, and most important, I attach the antenna to the radio. Then I attach the radio to the mast, at a 20' mark, using the hose clamp and the radios' mounting bracket. I mark the proposed location of the mast with a pin flag. From the pin flag, I pace 7.5 feet (three steps from me) and set a tent stake. I repeat this at ±120° from the previous stake until I have the 3 stakes set. Having previously measure and cut the cords to the proper length and adding 4' for slack, I attach the cord to the disc using the clip-hooks. I lay the mast on the ground, placing the bottom at the pin flag and the mast halfway between two tent stakes. I place the looped end of two cords around the two stakes. While holding the third cord, I stand the mast upright and place the loop of the third cord around the remaining stake. What about the plastic sun chasers? Well, I drilled two holes in each one big enough for the tent cord to "loop" through it, tying a knot at the end creating the loops that hook onto the stakes. These plastic doohickeys are used for adjusting the tension of the down guys (cords). While holding tension on the cord above these pieces you can slide to tightened, they grip the cord and hold it in place. Some adjustment (plumbing) of the mast may be necessary by moving the bottom under the top, but it can be set up by one person.

I don't use this set-up near power lines or during thunderstorms, because it is aluminum(and I don't work in the rain), but, the hole thing cost less than $60. Did I say I was cheap.;)
 
C

Charles Craft

Member
I have a 435 BT radio and an antenna like the one in Kelly Belis' 14 Apr 15 post. My ground plane has a 1/4" hole in it. How do I mount
the ground plane on the antenna? I am tempted to unscrew the whip from the base, but my 37 years as an aircraft mechanic tells me not to unscrew any thing that I don't understand. I am trying to get my Triumph LS system up and running.

Charles Craft
601 927 7772 charlescraft@bellsouth.net
 
C

Charles Craft

Member
I got the user manual in one hand and the antenna in the other hand. I found the place to install the ground plane.

Thanks.

Charles
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top