I tried 3/4″galvanized steel conduit and it wasn’t going to hold up. Far too much wiggle in the mast and it was impossible to get stood up without bending. So, I left the 10′ section of 3/4″ conduit as a kind of a gin-pole and went to 1-1/4″ galvanized steel conduit. The smaller size was rated for about 95 pounds while the larger size was rated for about 275 pounds. A significant difference for sure. So, yesterday afternoon everything was ready for the mast to be walked up into place.
A couple of fellows in the neighborhood volunteered to come over to help. It took about 10 minutes to put the mast into position, cinch it down, and hoist up the messenger line with the coax. That was enough for Tuesday evening. The finishing touches would wait until today (Wednesday, April 25th).
The messenger line keeps the coax up in the air and above our heads. I did manage to guess correctly on how many carabiners were needed on the messenger line.
At the top of the mast I put a 2-meter J-pole antenna which will eventually be connected to an AllstarLink node. I just need to find my Raspberry Pi computers. There in a box somewhere!
This afternoon I completed the work to finalize the bracing for the mast and attached the LMR-400 coax to the window line coming down from the G5RV.
It’s in the later evening on the 25th now and I’m listening on the 40 meter band. That band is really booming tonight. I’m hearing signals from coast to coast as well as north and south. Just finished a QSO with Eric, KK6F in southern California. He was copying my 100 watt signal at a 57-58 whereas his amplified signal at 400 watts was booming into here. I think the antenna works. I sure is quiet compared to the G5RVJr up on my roof!
