#373
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- This short video shows my new Spiderbeam 12 meter (40 foot) telescoping mast, and the trailer-hitch mounted support that I plan to use to support wire antennas for portable / POTA operations. I modified the "flagpole" mount to better accommodate the 40' tall mast. The specific products I used in this video are:
Spiderbeam mast:
www.vibroplex.c...
Flagpole mount for 2" receiver:
www.amazon.com...
PS: Found the following 3D printed collar that was designed specifically for the 40' Spiderbeam and this particular mount:
www.thingivers...
I found that cutting a bit of towel or other fabric and placing that inside the bottom rubber cap will keep sand and grime out of the antenna. There is a slight negative pressure formed when extending the sections and, at least for me, that meant that I got sand in thru the small hole in the cap and ended up in between the sections. Had to disassemble the whole thing and clean it with a rag. Never had that problem since I put a piece of towel in the end cap.
Great tip - thank you! I'll do that!
My best Buy ever. I already own 3 of these beautiful 12m HD Fiberglass Masts with the matching Spreader Kit for Quad Loop Setup. 73 de Uncle Günter 💯🙋♂
Thanks for this, it is very helpful.
I had been using a 31" Jackite Pole but it was very flimsy and broke.
This mast looks so much better.
Very interesting mast and mounting solution!
P.S.: Really love your licence plate :-)
Wow ... that thing just disappears up into the sky!
😀
I used #11 rubber stopper for my base and did not remove the bottom of the hitch mount. I did however wrap ductvtape around the exterior of the mast where the lip of the hitch mountbwould contact the mast, not the prettiest, but its functional. de k8mh
This is a BRILLIANT Idea! You've made my day! - Just ordered one from Amazon and it will be interesting to see if it does what I hope it will :) Thanks for your comment!
I cut the bottom off on mine 1-2 years ago and deburred the edge, I also bought the extension so I could drop my tailgate with the mast in use.
Ah - I"ll have to look for that extension....
I have this same Spiderbeam mast. It is supporting an 80 meter doublet fed with ladderline giving me multi-bands. It is snugged against a wood fence pole and held in place with heavy duty rubber straps. Been up 3+ years and withstood near Cat 1 hurricane force winds (approx 65 mph). I highly recommend this mast. Will buy another one soon.
The spiderbeams are great. I use the 10m version. Only thing is that I use it bicycle mobile. No nice truck such as yours
great job Sr terrific thanks for sharing this video 73 from kb2uew
I've been thinking about getting one of those masts myself - thanks for showing yours off so I could see what it looks like!
👀🙋♂
If you do use the thumb-screws to keep the antenna mast from turning, I'd suggest you tape pieces of aluminum flashing around the mast at the point where the screws will hit the mast, in order to protect the mast from being chewed up by the screws on a breezy day, which is, of course the sort of day you would most likely want to use the screws. Metal screws against plastics are always a point of concern.
Good idea. I’ll likely use some rubber or foam wedged in the top instead of the thumbscrew anyway.
If it is convenient I would slide a machined pipe spacer from the top to fill the gap. The screw is frustrating.
@@Masirah1 yeah, I’ll come up with something more elegant like that.
@@w2aew I am thinking of cutting up a bicycle inner tube to use a spacer there.
@@kapapatence6423 Good idea. For mine, I had a friend "print" a collar/sleeve on his 3D printer that takes up the gap.
Very nice. I have used two of these 40 ft Spiderbeam poles for wire antenna experiments for the past couple of years. They are quite fantastic. I did have a mishap where a big wind blew one over and destroyed the top two sections. A quick call and replacements were here in a jiffy. Now I am using their clamps and more kevlar guys! Great product and very well made.
If you add a hitch extension they you could use your tailgate as a table.
I have two of these - one I use with an 11m wire and an SGC base mounted tuner at home mainly for the higher bands (although will tune 160m to 10m - not so good on 12m) and another which I use /P with a MAT-40 ATU with 4x 10m wire radials. Similar mounting method but a drive-on plate. I have to take the end bung off but thinking of having a special fabricated so that it will take the mount for the tuner too. I've used it for 20m end feds as well as inverted Vee on 40m with good results.
Very well constructed poles and not horrendously expensive. I do want one of the longer poles but the collapsed length alone makes it challenging to get in even a 5-series saloon (sedan).
I 3D printed a collar for my 10M pole to take up the slack in the top of the hitch support tube. You don't have a much slack, so a couple wraps of tape on the pole would do it. Either way you need something to spread out the force from that thumb screw (or eliminate the need for it all together). It will mark up the pole at best, and more likely start cracking it as the pole encounters some breezes with a wire on it.
I have a friend with the Spiderbeam and he solved the diameter problem by lashing the pole to the outside of the receiver tube with two very large Velcro straps. This also eliminates the pressure point from the thumb screw, and so far has proven plenty sturdy.
Yeah, I'm likely not going to use the thumbscrew. I don't have a 3D printer, so I may ask a friend to make something similar for me.
Nice video Alan. I bought the same hitch flag pole holder and a Jackite mast a couple of years ago. Seeing that you have the same setup makes me feel a bit smarter! 😂. Although, I have to admit I didn’t cut the bottom out of the hitch flag pole holder but I will now! Again thanks for your videos. They do make a difference.
A very similar device called a Bream Pole (modern replacement for the older long bamboo poles) can be found at some fishing supply stores. Not quite so tall (maybe 3 or 4 meters) and much whippier. Don't be tempted to deploy by swinging it. The last sections will be moving so fast that they push through the tapered joints, splitting them beyond repair. Same principle as cracking a whip: all the energy keeps getting transferred to lighter and lighter sections (which means they move faster and faster.)..
Excellent idea W2AEW. I have a spider beam pole and it is excellent to use, great pole to deploy and antenna. Thank you for sharing.
I'm going to add the Spiderbeam mast to my list of ideas for portable operation. The QRM and RFI at home is so bad that I long for the quiet of some out-of-doors and out-of-the-city operating.
Great hack Alan, thanks for sharing! 73 - Dino KLØS
Nice! Beats the heck out of my Crappie pole stuck into a truck bed post hole!
Nice .. thank you
De ac0v
I want one of those, and I don't even have a radio!
It's a great mast, but you wouldn't want to carry it far from the truck!
For sure - it is only going to be used at or near the truck - no hiking with this baby!
Great idea! I have 3 of those and use them for my 3 home QTH wire antennas, as they are cost effective and easy to bring down in case of weather. I also used to use one as a POTA mast with a drive-over wooden plate and PVC "socket." And, when a section breaks (don't ask me how I know this😂) you can purchase replacements. Thanks.
This is excellent, thank you for making this
Like the content.. really learned a lot. don't like math. Don't sound right. Equations. As t=tau•RC=1/f
And heres a nasty bridge for memory
I R . U U I . P
As a dropout electricien without a father or grandpa to help out with this. I had lost interest due to lack of understanding. Not knowing what was missing. Or how or who to ask... you and a few popular and less popular are a gift to dumbasses like me.
Crap, now I need a new spider beam mast. Thanks...lol
Oh wow, I have been ruminating about getting the 65ft model for the longest time. Definitely appreciate the thoughts and review!
The only problem is that they are 6ft collapsed and need guying, so a little difficult for one man to deploy. But exactly the same thought has been going through my mind too :)
Super ! 73/F4jmu/Serge
It is nice that the top section of the Spiderbeam mast is rigid enough to support a wire. With many masts I have seen the top section is often unusable due to flex.
Same with my sotabeams mast, it doesn’t fit the support
There are a few with larger diameters.
Is the spiderpole worth the money. I am thinking of the 12m also
It was for me. Very handy for both portable operations as well as being used as a temporary support when building and testing wire antennas at home.
@@w2aew ty for your reply. Will buy one next week
Good idea. These masts are incredible.
Great video. I've been looking for a pota solution for operating out west or other places where there aren't as many trees. Do you suppose this will support an LDG 9:1 and coax when the mast is fully extended? 73!
As long as you are using lightweight coax (RG-174 or -316), then it probably would. There would definitely be some flex. You might consider using the mast to elevate the end or middle of the wire, and keep the balun/feedpoint closer to the ground.
Yeah 12M won't fit in my apartment.
Love from India❤
I took delivery of a 10m SpiderBeam today and mine feeds out through the rubber tipped end and the plastic threaded end is on the bottom. Was this sent to me assembled backwards? I thought it seemed like it should be like you demonstrated…rubber piece on bottom.
I have basically the same rubber cap on both ends of mine. Neither end is threaded. Maybe the 10m version is different from my 12m version?
You didn't mention it, so I'm not sure, it looks like you put a cotter pin in the top of the small extension. Is it? If it is, did you secure it with epoxy, glue or force it in ?Thanks Eddie kj4fgi
Yes, it's a cotter pin epoxied in the top. When you purchase through Vibroplex, they have an option to purchase it that way.
Great thanks, I purchased the same one 8 years ago, I have cotter pins I'll install one. I never thought of that.@@w2aew
Now you can talk to the Moon. ;)
Also should I buy the spiderbeam bag to carry it
Totally up to you - I found I didn't need it.
Will a hack saw cut that bottom off the pole holder?
Yes, but with a lot more effort.
Which manufacturer's flag pole hitch mount did you use?
I used this one: www.amazon.com/dp/B004IVGA0G?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
@w2aew Great thanks
👍 73` 88`
Do you think it would support a triband VHF vertical?
W8BT
Maybe not at the very top section
@@w2aew Kinda what I figured but 10m extra should make a big difference. Thanks Alan! Look forward to seeing it in use.
Nice
👍