Up here ten foot of gray electrical 1-1/2-inch PVC runs about $9.95 and ten foot of 1-1/4 ID schedule-40 aluminum about $15. When I am going to mount several hundreds of dollars of antennas on a mast am I going to risk losing them by saving $5?
My nearly $3K 2m eme array (four antennas+H-frame+144-foot of coax+ elevation bracket) are supported by 3-1/2 feet of 2-inch sched-80 steel pipe! The 16 sq-foot wind area array has withstood >65mph winds sustained over a 30-hour period that stripped the ring gear on the Ham-III rotator (azimuth drive). I now use Ham-IV with steel ring gears. That array and mast have been up 11-years. You would not do that with PVC. The H-frame has combined aluminum and fiberglass on the vertical masts which support the 21-foot long 2m x-yagis. PVC would not be suitable even with wood. The fiberglass has wooden dowels inserted in the ends to prevent crushing the fiberglass with antenna clamps. I added short split lengthwise aluminum tubing to sheath the fiberglass at the clamp locations. You probably are not looking at a project this big but steel and aluminum are not that expensive. So is there another reason to want PVC? Ed At 11:32 AM 2/24/2011, Matt Patterson wrote: >Hmmm... how about not being cheap and buy a steel or aluminum mast? >That's my solution.... > > >Matt >W5LL > > > >On 2/24/2011 1:31 PM, Dave Webb KB1PVH wrote: > > It would be great if all the Negative Nancys would offer a > positive solution > > instead of just shooting it down that way we can all benefit. > > > > Dave - KB1PVH > > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X > > On Feb 24, 2011 2:22 PM, "Matt Patterson"<mattp...@1starnet.com> wrote: > > > >> I can't even believe that some people recommend doing this! > >> > >> > >> Matt > >> W5LL > >> > >> > >> On 2/24/2011 11:21 AM, Ng, Peter wrote: > >> > >>> I'm looking to put up a mast and am curious, why PVC? Is it better than > >>> > > steel? > > > >>> 73's Peter VE7NGP > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On > >>> > > Behalf Of Bruce Semple > > > >>> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:41 AM > >>> To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org > >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: PVC > >>> > >>> > >>> And I forgot to mention -- > >>> I spray paint it all a flat black --- to help it blend in a little > >>> > > better! > > > >>> At 09:34 AM 2/24/2011, Bruce Semple wrote: > >>> > >>> > >>>> Hello Mike - > >>>> I use schedule 40 PVC with an OAK closet pole down the center for > >>>> added stiffness > >>>> for a horizontal boom. > >>>> For vertical mast I use two PVC schedule 40 - one inside the other - > >>>> along with a wood pole. > >>>> I use PVC end caps on the ends to keep water/ moisture out. > >>>> > >>>> 73, > >>>> Bruce > >>>> WA3SWJ > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> At 07:59 AM 2/24/2011, Mike1234 wrote: > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> Has anyone ever experimented with PVC pipe to use for a mast in place > >>>>> > > of > > > >>>>> steel ? I have used it for vertical antennas and stands up excellent to > >>>>> > > the > > > >>>>> winds and weather here in Toledo, Ohio . > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Mike N8GBU > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > >>>>> > > author. > > > >>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > >>>>> > > program! > > > >>>>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ > >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > >>>> > > program! > > > >>>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >>>> > >>>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > >>> > > program! > > > >>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > >>> > > program! > > > >>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >>> > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw*, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
