I think ill be doing Inverted L's for set-up, because none of the mast's I've seen inspire confidence, especially in high winds. Thank you for the demonstrations.
I’m glad it helped! I’ve used inverted Ls many times. You might want to avoid carbon fiber though, since it can interact and affect the antenna if it’s to close. The carbon fiber masts I have work fine for EFHFs as a sloper or dipoles and OCFDs. But when I’ve tried roll-up J-poles or wire vertices, the carbon fiber does affect the SWR and performance some.
I’d be curious how much more they can handle if you wrap a little bit of Velcro around every few feet to hold the coax next to the mast instead of hanging further and further away as the mast bends.
Excellent video Mike! I use the Tactical Mini at the QTH to hold up my 10m speaker wire dipole. And I have the Carbon 6 that I've used in the field, and really like it as well. 73 de KJ7LLX
Thanks! The SOTABEAMS mast are excellent. I wish they’d make an 8 meter one that would be somewhat lightweight but also perfect for a 25’ Rybakov vertical.
@MikeN2MAK If I could make one request... If you still have access, could you list the weights of each of the masts, without their protective coverings? 😁 I'm thinking of SOTA
I've used the Goture a couple of times with the N9SAB OCFD and RG316 when I got it. It's not my favorite, but I picked it up during one of the Amazon sales a year ago. For the price, I figured it couldn't hurt. What I really dislike about it is the length when collapsed. It's not very travel friendly like the Carbon 6, POTA20, or Tactical Mini.
Check out the DX Engineering Premier Telescoping Carbon Fiber Masts. I have the 33 foot one: DXE-TCFP-33. It has adjustable quick release locks so I can put it up in about 2 minutes and taken down in less time. Very sturdy, lightweight, and portable.
Good test. Only variable missing is taping the coax to the mast at the top. When I put up the spiderbeam 12m mast with a linked dipole I'll tape the RG8X about 2ft below the tip and then kind of wrap it around the mast a couple times on the way up so that it doesn't put any lateral forces on the smaller top section. Works pretty well. I have the goture rod, I took the top section out because it was useless and I never do dipoles with it, I just use it for supporting the far end of endfeds. Been looking at the POTA 20's though lately. 73. K3KLB
Thanks, Kody! The POTA20 is nice. I sometimes use velcro ties to keep the coax close to the mast. I didn't think about that until I got started, since I was curious to see what the flex was like. I've used the Goture a few times with the N9SAB OCFD, so I knew it'd work, but that was with RG316 or RG174. It's always good to have options thought. If I'm doing a hike-in POTA or SOTA, I'll go with a lighter coax and mast. But when I'm operating from my car most of the time in the winter, it's nice to be able to use better coax.
I've done the same thing except with zip ties. I'll put one two sections down from the top and then another two sections down so that the entire weight of the coax isn't pulling on the feedpoint part of the mast. I have the Spiderbeam 12m as well and its a really great mast. I also have the Tactical 7000 HDS and it works almost as good as the Spiderbeam. With the 7000 sometimes I will use RG-174 coax which weighs almost nothing. I also have a Max Gains 28.5' mast which I could almost climb up because it is so solid. 73 KD5YOU
@kd5you1 curious which MGS Mast you have? What model and what have you done with it? I've been looking at them, particularly to put a home brew 10m moxon on top of. Along with the possibility of supporting wire antennas and maybe a couple 17' whips as a dipole. I've wondered how stout they are and if they really need guy lines or not.
@@Kody10538 I have the 28.5 foot mast. I don't have it installed permanently, but I do set it up in the back yard and when I set up in the field. In calm weather they don't really need guys, but I would use them for a permanent installation. I use mine with a 40/30/20 meter linked inverted V and a Larsen 2/70 mobile antenna at the same time. It doesn't seem to have any issues with two lengths of RG8X coax even without zip ties.
Get rid of the RG-58. it is lossy and isn't that light weight. 316 is even more lossy but it is light weight. Look at the loss tables. RG-8x or LMr240 is what you want as it has quite low loss. You can tape the coax to the mast so that not all the weight is applied at the top . Coiling the coax around the mast also helps.
I don’t use the RG58 much at all. It was just a cheap purchase from Amazon since it had BNC and I struggled at first doing my own RG316 cable assemblies. What I really want to try is the M&P Airborne 5. Good points and tips on taping or wrapping the coax, which is something I’ve done on occasion.
Where's the Spiderbeam ? They're fibreglass and built like a tank. Cancel Comment Pinned by Mike N2MAK @NovemberOneOscarGrouch 2 hours ago Oh, and if you don't get a comment from the owner of that SOTA beam then you can always send it my way ;-) Reply Mike N2MAK · 1 reply
Oh, and if you don't get a comment from the owner of that SOTA beam then you can always send it my way ;-)
I'm pinning this comment, LOL.
I think ill be doing Inverted L's for set-up, because none of the mast's I've seen inspire confidence, especially in high winds. Thank you for the demonstrations.
I’m glad it helped! I’ve used inverted Ls many times. You might want to avoid carbon fiber though, since it can interact and affect the antenna if it’s to close. The carbon fiber masts I have work fine for EFHFs as a sloper or dipoles and OCFDs. But when I’ve tried roll-up J-poles or wire vertices, the carbon fiber does affect the SWR and performance some.
This was awesome, nice work 👍
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it!
I’d be curious how much more they can handle if you wrap a little bit of Velcro around every few feet to hold the coax next to the mast instead of hanging further and further away as the mast bends.
The POTA20 is pretty solid for its size and weight. I think it might be just fine with the coax wrapped or tied.
The angle of the dangle is inversely proportional to the diameter and overall length of your coax run. - Beavis
Nailed it! LOL
The thinner more flexible masts are best using them just for a vertical antenna
Yeah. I just wish there were more smaller fiber glass options.
I missed the premier, but this was a great video. Thanks Mike
Thanks!
Excellent video Mike! I use the Tactical Mini at the QTH to hold up my 10m speaker wire dipole. And I have the Carbon 6 that I've used in the field, and really like it as well.
73 de KJ7LLX
Thanks! The SOTABEAMS mast are excellent. I wish they’d make an 8 meter one that would be somewhat lightweight but also perfect for a 25’ Rybakov vertical.
@MikeN2MAK If I could make one request... If you still have access, could you list the weights of each of the masts, without their protective coverings? 😁 I'm thinking of SOTA
@@rodgermckeon Will do! I still have 'em. I'll make a not to weigh them and follow up with you.
Fun video. I would only use the Goture with an endfed. It isn’t strong enough to hold the coax. But the cost is also much less. DE AD0L
I've used the Goture a couple of times with the N9SAB OCFD and RG316 when I got it. It's not my favorite, but I picked it up during one of the Amazon sales a year ago. For the price, I figured it couldn't hurt. What I really dislike about it is the length when collapsed. It's not very travel friendly like the Carbon 6, POTA20, or Tactical Mini.
Check out the DX Engineering Premier Telescoping Carbon Fiber Masts. I have the 33 foot one: DXE-TCFP-33.
It has adjustable quick release locks so I can put it up in about 2 minutes and taken down in less time.
Very sturdy, lightweight, and portable.
Thanks, I'll look into that! I've had the Spider Beams 12m mast on my mind recently too.
Can you choose not to extend the top-most sections so it's stronger, yet shorter?
Yes, you can always remove or not use the tops sections. I typically skip the top 1-2 sections of the mast to be safe if I'm using a dipole or OCFD.
Good test. Only variable missing is taping the coax to the mast at the top. When I put up the spiderbeam 12m mast with a linked dipole I'll tape the RG8X about 2ft below the tip and then kind of wrap it around the mast a couple times on the way up so that it doesn't put any lateral forces on the smaller top section. Works pretty well. I have the goture rod, I took the top section out because it was useless and I never do dipoles with it, I just use it for supporting the far end of endfeds. Been looking at the POTA 20's though lately. 73. K3KLB
Thanks, Kody! The POTA20 is nice. I sometimes use velcro ties to keep the coax close to the mast. I didn't think about that until I got started, since I was curious to see what the flex was like. I've used the Goture a few times with the N9SAB OCFD, so I knew it'd work, but that was with RG316 or RG174. It's always good to have options thought. If I'm doing a hike-in POTA or SOTA, I'll go with a lighter coax and mast. But when I'm operating from my car most of the time in the winter, it's nice to be able to use better coax.
I've done the same thing except with zip ties. I'll put one two sections down from the top and then another two sections down so that the entire weight of the coax isn't pulling on the feedpoint part of the mast. I have the Spiderbeam 12m as well and its a really great mast. I also have the Tactical 7000 HDS and it works almost as good as the Spiderbeam. With the 7000 sometimes I will use RG-174 coax which weighs almost nothing. I also have a Max Gains 28.5' mast which I could almost climb up because it is so solid. 73 KD5YOU
@kd5you1 curious which MGS Mast you have? What model and what have you done with it? I've been looking at them, particularly to put a home brew 10m moxon on top of. Along with the possibility of supporting wire antennas and maybe a couple 17' whips as a dipole. I've wondered how stout they are and if they really need guy lines or not.
@@Kody10538 I have the 28.5 foot mast. I don't have it installed permanently, but I do set it up in the back yard and when I set up in the field. In calm weather they don't really need guys, but I would use them for a permanent installation. I use mine with a 40/30/20 meter linked inverted V and a Larsen 2/70 mobile antenna at the same time. It doesn't seem to have any issues with two lengths of RG8X coax even without zip ties.
I have the mfj and the 7000hds . never had an issue
I’ve had good experience with both. The 7000hds would be perfect if its butt wasn’t so big-it won’t fit in my drive-over mount, LOL
@@MikeN2MAK YES!!! I have yet to find one that fits. So bungee cording to my tailgate is usually what I do
@@GAParksandPropagation Awesome! I still need to come up with a convenient solution to use that mast with my car.
Get rid of the RG-58. it is lossy and isn't that light weight. 316 is even more lossy but it is light weight. Look at the loss tables. RG-8x or LMr240 is what you want as it has quite low loss. You can tape the coax to the mast so that not all the weight is applied at the top . Coiling the coax around the mast also helps.
I don’t use the RG58 much at all. It was just a cheap purchase from Amazon since it had BNC and I struggled at first doing my own RG316 cable assemblies. What I really want to try is the M&P Airborne 5. Good points and tips on taping or wrapping the coax, which is something I’ve done on occasion.
Hilarious innuendo.
My mind went to junior high.
Thanks, I tried to have fun. But I also hope others might find it helpful.
LOL. Thanks for watching!
Where's the Spiderbeam ? They're fibreglass and built like a tank.
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@NovemberOneOscarGrouch
2 hours ago
Oh, and if you don't get a comment from the owner of that SOTA beam then you can always send it my way ;-)
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Mike N2MAK
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I don’t have one…yet. The 12m Spiderbeam is definitely on my list.