I have this set up from SOTABeams in the UK. Fantastic bit of kit. Works well with the Wonderwand Widebander tuner, which gives you a great set up taking up a tiny amount of space and weight!
“So I’m just gonna put it in this tree…” 😂. Did not see that coming. Classic K8MRD. Awesome. I just bought a 29’ carbon mast from PackTenna, so maybe I’ll try the tree trick.
Just a little update you might be interested in. Like you, I wished they made a 10M version of the Carbon-6, and on another channel they said that they did in the UK, so I contacted Martin at SOTABeam and he said "We have no immediate plans for a 10m version, sorry!". MAYBE if enough people email them asking they might reconsider, who knows.
Mike just came across this video. Well done ! I'm a huge fan of EFHW antennas that this seems perfect for it. As soon as they are back in stock I'm going to get one.
I use a small diameter piece of para cord between mast and the end fed antenna wire, and the wire I use is 24 GA flexweave, very light and strong while being very flexable. I might mention I run QRP/CW so I do not need a heaver wire, so take that into account. You may ask why the short piece of para cord? I use it as an insulator to give space between the carbon mast and antenna to avoid interference from the carbon mast. I may be going over kill but it does effect the SWR when the antenna is to close the the carbon fiber mast. As always Mike you produce an informative well done video. Thank you.
Ordered! It’ll take a bit to ship, but just what I need! Been looking at it for a while now, but your video depleted my bank account a little further, lol…
Mike thank you for this video. I have been very interested into a good pole at a good price to get my EFHW wire into the air and this is the kind of thing I been looking for. Appreciate it!
I have the carbon 6 and sotabeams wire. Absolutely love them, I use the sotabeams ground spike and top insulators. If you want something thicker for a dipole they have the tactical mini. Also they do have a carbon 10 (at least on the UK website) but it a little longer at 67cm. 73
Man I would love if there were a 10 meter version available here, but not longer when collapsed. I’ve got a couple 10 meter masts from DX Commander that are similar to the tactical mini I believe. About 60cm tall collapsed. Still a little too big to bring in my Icom bag portable on long hikes but I’m about to try it out anyway. I love those masts. Plus, height is might!
I ordered my Carbon mast ( SotaBeams tac-7000hds) from Dxengineering back in early June. It's back ordered November 1. You are very lucky you have a carbon mast.
@@AngelVillaG Very happy with my 7000HDS, quite stiff also in the top section. Fits nicely in a normal size suitcase. I looked at the 10m Spiderbeam but too long too fit in a normal size suitcase when going on vacation. 73, gust ON6KE
Awesome, thank you. I am looking for a portable antenna setup for when we travel by plane. I am studying for my license and am planning on taking the teat in February. I have a total newby question..what "feed point" are you using with this antenna and what bands does it cover?
An EFHW with a mast like this should do you fine. Just to clarify, the feed point is where the coax connects to the antenna. The feed line, or coax in this case, I’m using is RG-316. Depending on how long a wire you put on an EFHW will determine the bands you get, but to keep it short, I have about ~65.5’ to make it resonant on 40 meters. Doing so gives me 20, 15, and 10 as well. Good luck on your test and feel free to ask away with questions if you have them. Another fantastic place is the Ham Radio Crash Course Discord. All kinds of great people in there and they are all smarter than me.
Check the price purchasing direct. DXE sometimes marks up their stuff way too much. I was never able to get it to work with an EFHW. It would keep flexing with tension and the antenna would pull off. SB said they recommend putting an EFHW into an inverted-V configuration.
Despite not sending extra elements from the start, SOTAbeams stands behind their stuff. I broke the top 2 elements on my Carbon 6 and they sent replacements for the price of shipping. I even asked for an extra so I didn’t have to wait if I broke it again and they did.
Thanks Mike, I enjoyed the video. I disagree with the comment about the cheap Chinese mast, I need to get over myself and make a video on it's place. Anyway, great job and I will be buying one of these because I do like the form factor, definitely more packable than the Gotur mast.
I’m lucky here in GA, so far, been able to throw line into tree for a EFHW or vertical dipole. 100’ 3/16 rope and a 8oz arborist throw bag, otherwise would consider a mast.
I received mine today and so far I like it but I under why they put the tiny little section on top if is not useable? unless you find a cable that weights nothing.
@@hamradiotube how do you stop it from sliding back up and off the mast? I’ve got a carabiner like yours and it just flies off the minute I apply some strain and stretch out the wire
Think this could handle an Ed Fong j-pole for 2M vhf which is only about 5ft plus 50 feet of coax coming down, aiming for a vertical orientation and trying to get the antenna as high as possible?
You'd want a bit more sturdy of a mast for that setup. This would just bend over if you put that much weight on it. This is a very thin, light weight mast designed for pretty much what I'm doing in the video, which is just holding up one end of a very thin wire.
Good stuff - I have that mast and love it…although sometimes I don’t fully lock out the top part and it falls back into the tube. Can’t beat the size and light weight. 73, KI4ASK
Gotta get those locked in. I can’t believe it took me this long to start taking it out. I’ve had it almost all year. I bought it soon after moving to Texas.
Carbon fiber eh? I know you use an insulator, because carbon fiber is conductive, have you noticed any issues with the antenna coupling because it's in close proximity to the antenna, that effects the signal? I so wanted the SOTABeams masts, but they were forever (and still) sold out everywhere, so I gave up and got a 10M mast instead.
That is a very common misconception that carbon fiber will affect your antenna. I assure you, it does not. As someone who does a LOT of portable activations, I would not use carbon fiber if it affected the antenna. This is not my first and not my last.
If to me comes the Point to use commercial fiberglass masts no matter which lenght I need / want then there's just one brand I rely on "Spiderbream" Otherwise if your major point is not to use "ultra light weight masts" I suggest everyone to home brew a portable mast with just good solid not too heavy pvc pipes. The Problem all of them commercial fiberglass masts have in common is they bending very fast so you can't put lots of weight or tension to them. Some of them Masts break way to soon. My 40ft. Spiderbeam HD 12m Fiberglass Mast today works 3 years along side with me out in the Fields. And except of signs of use (light scratches on he Outside) this Thing is built to last. You can replace any of the mast segments incase you break one of them or if they deform from hot and cold wx or getting funky after time. To those HAM's of you who go portable with a motorized vehicle you shall not worry about weight. I care about weight because I haul my portable equipment in a trailer on my muscle driven mountain bike (no e.-bicycle). A total weight of max. 90ibs is acceptable I suppose. Super coolio video, Mikey. Yo da man keep up good work & happy weekend. 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter
Spiderbeam makes fantastic masts, but they don't make one this compact. I love my DX Commander 10 meter masts too. They collapse to 60cm and are great for portable, but its too big to fit in my Icom bag when I'm hiking. This SotaBeams is fantastic. I use it almost every day. I have another carbon mast thats 10 meters but it collapses to like 90cm's so its a bit tall to hike with. PVC would be way too big and heavy for what I want. I don't think I would even use something like that if I was just setting up at a park bench. I've got a 43' MFJ mast that works great. Sure it bends if there's a lot of weight on it but thats ok. Thats what they are designed to do.
@@hamradiotube Yes of course, you are right about that Mikey, for hiking a 40ft. (12m HD) Spiderbeam Telescopic Poledoesn't make any sense nor the DX commander with 10m lenght. I am around with my mountainbike and the Trailer behind it. The Spiderbeam Mast collapses to 118cms which fits perfectly to my trailer. It has a little bit of over lenght of like 12cms (5 inches). No city patrol will give me a hard time if I get pulled over. 40cms (16 inches) maximum over lenght is allowed in my country. Dude, I did my 1st POTA activity on the Weekend and it worked out extremely well. I definitly want to do that again. Happy monday into TX. 73's
Thanks for the video Mike. I liked the close-up view of the Carbon-6 and your simple tree support.
I have this set up from SOTABeams in the UK. Fantastic bit of kit. Works well with the Wonderwand Widebander tuner, which gives you a great set up taking up a tiny amount of space and weight!
Great review. Thanks for making high quality and entertaining videos!
“So I’m just gonna put it in this tree…” 😂. Did not see that coming. Classic K8MRD. Awesome. I just bought a 29’ carbon mast from PackTenna, so maybe I’ll try the tree trick.
Dude, trees are where it’s at. I haven’t guyed a mast in I don’t know how long.
great coincidence. I was literally just about to buy this mast. thanks a lot for the review! I feel good about buying this
Hey thanks for watching. I really like this mast.
Thanks for your video, I learned a lot for my future POTA activation.
Glad it was helpful!
Just a little update you might be interested in. Like you, I wished they made a 10M version of the Carbon-6, and on another channel they said that they did in the UK, so I contacted Martin at SOTABeam and he said "We have no immediate plans for a 10m version, sorry!". MAYBE if enough people email them asking they might reconsider, who knows.
Mike just came across this video. Well done ! I'm a huge fan of EFHW antennas that this seems perfect for it. As soon as they are back in stock I'm going to get one.
I use a small diameter piece of para cord between mast and the end fed antenna wire, and the wire I use is 24 GA flexweave, very light and strong while being very flexable. I might mention I run QRP/CW so I do not need a heaver wire, so take that into account.
You may ask why the short piece of para cord? I use it as an insulator to give space between the carbon mast and antenna to avoid interference from the carbon mast. I may be going over kill but it does effect the SWR when the antenna is to close the the carbon fiber mast.
As always Mike you produce an informative well done video. Thank you.
Really great info on a lightweight mast! Would be wonderful when RVing. Thanks NM5SP Alan
For sure. 73
Ordered! It’ll take a bit to ship, but just what I need! Been looking at it for a while now, but your video depleted my bank account a little further, lol…
Nice. Always glad to help.
Ey, Mike 😃 - great review.
Mike thank you for this video. I have been very interested into a good pole at a good price to get my EFHW wire into the air and this is the kind of thing I been looking for. Appreciate it!
My pleasure. Glad to help.
Added to my DXE wishlist. I think this would be great for travel too, especially when flying.
Definitely!
I just received my 10 m sotaBeams mast and cant wait to try it out. The first top section looks very flimsy so I will be careful when erecting same.
I have the carbon 6 and sotabeams wire. Absolutely love them, I use the sotabeams ground spike and top insulators. If you want something thicker for a dipole they have the tactical mini. Also they do have a carbon 10 (at least on the UK website) but it a little longer at 67cm. 73
Man I would love if there were a 10 meter version available here, but not longer when collapsed. I’ve got a couple 10 meter masts from DX Commander that are similar to the tactical mini I believe. About 60cm tall collapsed. Still a little too big to bring in my Icom bag portable on long hikes but I’m about to try it out anyway. I love those masts. Plus, height is might!
Well done, Madd Mike! Do more. Keep chaperoning Jason (HR 2.0) and Frank. A big job, but necessary! Grin.
I’m trying. That’s a lot of responsibility though.
I ordered my Carbon mast ( SotaBeams tac-7000hds)
from Dxengineering back in early June. It's back ordered November 1. You are very lucky you have a carbon mast.
The 7000HDS is NOT a carbon mast.
Gust is right, I have the 7000hds and is fiberglass.
73 HJ4AVG
@@AngelVillaG Very happy with my 7000HDS, quite stiff also in the top section. Fits nicely in a normal size suitcase. I looked at the 10m Spiderbeam but too long too fit in a normal size suitcase when going on vacation.
73, gust ON6KE
The whole world is backordered right now. That doesn't surprise me. I bought mine back in Jan of Feb before the whole supply chain got all messed up.
Now that’s a nice mast!
It’s awesome.
Always good content
Thanks
Great video. Where did you get the S Beaner clip? 73 - David, AG4F
amzn.to/3rKfLyV
Awesome masts!!! I’ve been looking around for one.
well there you go.
Awesome, thank you. I am looking for a portable antenna setup for when we travel by plane.
I am studying for my license and am planning on taking the teat in February.
I have a total newby question..what "feed point" are you using with this antenna and what bands does it cover?
An EFHW with a mast like this should do you fine. Just to clarify, the feed point is where the coax connects to the antenna. The feed line, or coax in this case, I’m using is RG-316. Depending on how long a wire you put on an EFHW will determine the bands you get, but to keep it short, I have about ~65.5’ to make it resonant on 40 meters. Doing so gives me 20, 15, and 10 as well. Good luck on your test and feel free to ask away with questions if you have them. Another fantastic place is the Ham Radio Crash Course Discord. All kinds of great people in there and they are all smarter than me.
Check the price purchasing direct. DXE sometimes marks up their stuff way too much.
I was never able to get it to work with an EFHW. It would keep flexing with tension and the antenna would pull off. SB said they recommend putting an EFHW into an inverted-V configuration.
You should try the way I show. I would not use it in an inverted V. Way too much weight on it that way.
Yeah I have the same problem
Despite not sending extra elements from the start, SOTAbeams stands behind their stuff. I broke the top 2 elements on my Carbon 6 and they sent replacements for the price of shipping. I even asked for an extra so I didn’t have to wait if I broke it again and they did.
Sweet, thats good to know!
Thanks Mike, I enjoyed the video. I disagree with the comment about the cheap Chinese mast, I need to get over myself and make a video on it's place. Anyway, great job and I will be buying one of these because I do like the form factor, definitely more packable than the Gotur mast.
Do it!! I like the Goture sparkol 10 meter but the other one I have isn’t very good.
I’m lucky here in GA, so far, been able to throw line into tree for a EFHW or vertical dipole. 100’ 3/16 rope and a 8oz arborist throw bag, otherwise would consider a mast.
I received mine today and so far I like it but I under why they put the tiny little section on top if is not useable? unless you find a cable that weights nothing.
Yes but what logging software do you use with that mast?
Just an old quiver and some India ink.
Nice video. How did you keep the S caribiner from sliding down the mast when raising it? Thanks.
The mast is tapered so it just stops at the thickness of the hole.
@@hamradiotube Got it!
@@hamradiotube how do you stop it from sliding back up and off the mast? I’ve got a carabiner like yours and it just flies off the minute I apply some strain and stretch out the wire
@@RadioAntics I put the mast in the second biggest hole, push it down, make sure it’s snug, and that’s it.
Great video. Thanks for posting. What coax are you running to your 705? 73 W4SIJ Scott
Thanks for watching. It’s RG-316. I get it from PackTenna.
You don't use the MFJ mast pole anymore? Just wondering ! 73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF SOUTH EAST GEORGIA 🤓
I still use it but my other masts collapse down shorter and are more portable.
Great info. Thanks
Thanks for watching.
Think this could handle an Ed Fong j-pole for 2M vhf which is only about 5ft plus 50 feet of coax coming down, aiming for a vertical orientation and trying to get the antenna as high as possible?
You'd want a bit more sturdy of a mast for that setup. This would just bend over if you put that much weight on it. This is a very thin, light weight mast designed for pretty much what I'm doing in the video, which is just holding up one end of a very thin wire.
Another Great video jaison your fantastic 73 from kb2uew
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Ordered!
You have chosen wisely. Nice right up in QST too btw!
Good stuff - I have that mast and love it…although sometimes I don’t fully lock out the top part and it falls back into the tube. Can’t beat the size and light weight. 73, KI4ASK
Gotta get those locked in. I can’t believe it took me this long to start taking it out. I’ve had it almost all year. I bought it soon after moving to Texas.
Hey Mike this 6y5ho where can i get a hold of one planning on doing some portble out doors soon
I’m good on QRZ
Carbon fiber eh? I know you use an insulator, because carbon fiber is conductive, have you noticed any issues with the antenna coupling because it's in close proximity to the antenna, that effects the signal?
I so wanted the SOTABeams masts, but they were forever (and still) sold out everywhere, so I gave up and got a 10M mast instead.
That is a very common misconception that carbon fiber will affect your antenna. I assure you, it does not. As someone who does a LOT of portable activations, I would not use carbon fiber if it affected the antenna. This is not my first and not my last.
Which end fed antenna are you using in that video? Will it do 100 watts on FT8?
TennTennas QRP EFHW. No its qrp.
its litterally a herabuna fishing pole. you know they are worth about 20$ right?
I would rather have made it to tighten clockwise rather than counterclockwise.
Suppose a Tripod of Some description would do if no Natural Support and mess about with Guy Cord
I'd just guy it with paracord but anything to support it will work.
Could you compare/contrast the SOTAbeams Tac mini with this?
I have both, Tac mini is a bit longer but significantly heavier.
I don't have a tac mini.
@@hamradiotube but you have everything!.....🤣🤣
@@hamradiotube but you have everything!.....🤣🤣
I don’t. That’s the problem lol!!
nice
Thanks for watching.
Nice.............................
Thank you.
Nice review. Thanks Mike. 73 KM4SON
Thanks for watching!
I still don't understand.
I don't understand what you are not understanding.
@@hamradiotube I'm glad you understand my issue.
Herscher WA0WKH
If to me comes the Point to use commercial fiberglass masts no matter which lenght I need / want then there's just one brand I rely on "Spiderbream" Otherwise if your major point is not to use "ultra light weight masts" I suggest everyone to home brew a portable mast with just good solid not too heavy pvc pipes. The Problem all of them commercial fiberglass masts have in common is they bending very fast so you can't put lots of weight or tension to them. Some of them Masts break way to soon. My 40ft. Spiderbeam HD 12m Fiberglass Mast today works 3 years along side with me out in the Fields. And except of signs of use (light scratches on he Outside) this Thing is built to last. You can replace any of the mast segments incase you break one of them or if they deform from hot and cold wx or getting funky after time. To those HAM's of you who go portable with a motorized vehicle you shall not worry about weight. I care about weight because I haul my portable equipment in a trailer on my muscle driven mountain bike (no e.-bicycle). A total weight of max. 90ibs is acceptable I suppose. Super coolio video, Mikey. Yo da man keep up good work & happy weekend. 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter
Spiderbeam makes fantastic masts, but they don't make one this compact. I love my DX Commander 10 meter masts too. They collapse to 60cm and are great for portable, but its too big to fit in my Icom bag when I'm hiking. This SotaBeams is fantastic. I use it almost every day. I have another carbon mast thats 10 meters but it collapses to like 90cm's so its a bit tall to hike with. PVC would be way too big and heavy for what I want. I don't think I would even use something like that if I was just setting up at a park bench. I've got a 43' MFJ mast that works great. Sure it bends if there's a lot of weight on it but thats ok. Thats what they are designed to do.
@@hamradiotube Yes of course, you are right about that Mikey, for hiking a 40ft. (12m HD) Spiderbeam Telescopic Poledoesn't make any sense nor the DX commander with 10m lenght. I am around with my mountainbike and the Trailer behind it. The Spiderbeam Mast collapses to 118cms which fits perfectly to my trailer. It has a little bit of over lenght of like 12cms (5 inches). No city patrol will give me a hard time if I get pulled over. 40cms (16 inches) maximum over lenght is allowed in my country. Dude, I did my 1st POTA activity on the Weekend and it worked out extremely well. I definitly want to do that again. Happy monday into TX. 73's
Looks like you’re just using it as an arbor throw. Not stand alone.
20ft crappy fishing pole carbon fiber!