It was at the top of the gable at the roof peak.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oz-Post-Oz-Post-Steel-2-Wood-Fence-Bracket-WAP-OZ-50110/204675163
-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
Base Antenna Help
- Thread starter cakeman
- Start date
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oz-Post-Oz-Post-Steel-2-Wood-Fence-Bracket-WAP-OZ-50110/204675163
I use an A-99 ( Noodle
) on a Galvanized 30' Push Pole , Just sitting on the concrete slab on the side of my home Bolted to the house in 3 spots , No Wires , No Issues .( 2 ) 6-8' Grounding Rods . I don't care for the receive on my A-99 but it's been thru a lot of Storms & High Winds here in the NE Corner . 3 weeks ago we got Gust over 70 mph , Gas Grill was tossed , Patio set smashed & Damage to my Cement Block wood Stove Chimney ( Has no mounts on it ) Insurance adjuster stated over $8500 in damages . That A-99 was banging around up there 48' to the tip ( approx ) but stayed in place . Next day Swr , fine also . Not the Best antenna for sure " But Takes a Licking & keeps on Ticking " . JMO . Stay Healthy & Safe ! 73 & God Bless ! Leo
) on a Galvanized 30' Push Pole , Just sitting on the concrete slab on the side of my home Bolted to the house in 3 spots , No Wires , No Issues .( 2 ) 6-8' Grounding Rods . I don't care for the receive on my A-99 but it's been thru a lot of Storms & High Winds here in the NE Corner . 3 weeks ago we got Gust over 70 mph , Gas Grill was tossed , Patio set smashed & Damage to my Cement Block wood Stove Chimney ( Has no mounts on it ) Insurance adjuster stated over $8500 in damages . That A-99 was banging around up there 48' to the tip ( approx ) but stayed in place . Next day Swr , fine also . Not the Best antenna for sure " But Takes a Licking & keeps on Ticking " . JMO . Stay Healthy & Safe ! 73 & God Bless ! Leo
Hello Cakeman: Yeah the top of the roof or apex is a great place to put the antenna mast. I install another 2x6 board on the inside and outside of the apex to reinforce just to make me feel better. This allows the mast to be mounted to the outside 2x6 board keeping the mast away from the roofing some what. And if you need to move it the boards can be unscrewed, as 3 inch heavy wood screws can be used. Good luck, please let us know how it all works out for you.
Jay in the Great Mojave Desert
Jay in the Great Mojave Desert
I placed a square concrete pad, 16"x16"x4" on the ground, drilled a hole in it dead center, drove a long rebar into the ground through the hole, and set the mast pipe over the rear. Halfway up the wall I added a support bracket to stabilize the middle. When I had previously not used the concrete block beneath in another installation the vibration from the wind drove the mast into the ground several feet.
I used two of these brackets back-to-back wirh a c-clamp for the middle support.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-20-in-x-13-in-White-Heavy-Duty-Shelf-Bracket-14825/202895666
I agree with Jay. The added board keeps it off the roof drip edge.
When I put it up there was a solar minimum condition. I had removed it before conditions improved, however, I did make a few contacts via sporadic-E. One I enjoyed was a several minutes long comm from NW Arkansas to Uvalde County, Texas. I may try it again for fun when conditions improve. It was about bandwidth making it of 1.25" tubing.
Thanks for all the ideas. I think y’all have me off to a good start. Seems to all make more sense now. I ordered a rohn h50 telescoping mast and a Maco antenna. I’m sure I’ll have more questions once I get started installing. I’ll update with pictures once install is complete. Thanks again for the help.
Cakeman, I don't recommend burying the mast or setting it directly on the ground. The dirt will rust out the bottom of the expensive PU pole over time. Check with the place you ordered your mast from...they might have a ground mount that allows the base to be secure and a little above the ground. I use to attach stuff to my house years ago, and it cost me big money to have those places fix, due to rotting wood and neglect on my part.
I don't like getting the antenna too close to the house either...if you have a choice. I'm not too sure, but I think most houses these days are probably full of little noisy electrical devices that can possibly get into your receiver via the coax.
I have just temporarily installed a new A99, which is 13" inches shorter than all the old A99's I've had over the years. Right away I noticed that this new A99 does not have near the bandwidth the old longer versions showed me. My radio has a workable range of 25.5 to 30 MHz, and this new antenna is for sure different and with a lot less bandwidth.
It does take care of the whole 11 meter band at less than 1.50:1 SWR however, but again it does not show near as low of SWR like my old A99's of the past.
I first leaned it up against my garage on a 10' foot pole to make sure it was working like it should for 11 meters, and the antenna did not show to be terribly noisy. I decided not to add the GPK and to use less feed line at the time. So setup it right outside my radio room and put it up on the same 10' mast, where I had an old antenna mount still in the ground and in good shape..
When I am able to set it up permanent on my new 50' foot PU Pole, I will be adding a coax choke to the antenna end of the setup and then I will be checking to see if the noise is Ok or Not up close to the house and if the choke is working right before I decide where it will go. I will also be adding the GPK too...just to be sure.
I may find that I have to mount it further outback where I have my original antenna mount setup. It does talk skip just fine as it is, but I have noise and receiving is difficult at times. I'm hoping the coax choke does the job.
I don't like getting the antenna too close to the house either...if you have a choice. I'm not too sure, but I think most houses these days are probably full of little noisy electrical devices that can possibly get into your receiver via the coax.
I have just temporarily installed a new A99, which is 13" inches shorter than all the old A99's I've had over the years. Right away I noticed that this new A99 does not have near the bandwidth the old longer versions showed me. My radio has a workable range of 25.5 to 30 MHz, and this new antenna is for sure different and with a lot less bandwidth.
It does take care of the whole 11 meter band at less than 1.50:1 SWR however, but again it does not show near as low of SWR like my old A99's of the past.
I first leaned it up against my garage on a 10' foot pole to make sure it was working like it should for 11 meters, and the antenna did not show to be terribly noisy. I decided not to add the GPK and to use less feed line at the time. So setup it right outside my radio room and put it up on the same 10' mast, where I had an old antenna mount still in the ground and in good shape..
When I am able to set it up permanent on my new 50' foot PU Pole, I will be adding a coax choke to the antenna end of the setup and then I will be checking to see if the noise is Ok or Not up close to the house and if the choke is working right before I decide where it will go. I will also be adding the GPK too...just to be sure.
I may find that I have to mount it further outback where I have my original antenna mount setup. It does talk skip just fine as it is, but I have noise and receiving is difficult at times. I'm hoping the coax choke does the job.
Last edited:
Hi cakeman,
I certainly don't want to disagree with any advice that's been given, because everyone that's responded has a great amount of knowledge and experience with this stuff, so take my recommendations as an "add-on".
I have done the eve mount idea quite a few times.
right now i have a 22 foot fiberglass mast mounted to the eves of my house, and i bought these brackets, and i LOVE them!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TV-Antenna...743714&hash=item51e5ee9117:g:CV0AAOSw0JpV3z4Z
WAYYYY better than what you'll find in the home improvement stores. thicker metal, more adjustability, and very secure. I highly recommend them.
when erecting a mast that will go all the way to the ground, the amount of "shake" the mast will experience below the guy wires (if used) and even below the brackets, should not be underestimated.
for this reason, i would not recommend using just one of the brackets i linked to at the apex of the eves.
get a couple of 8 or 10 foot 2x4's, and lag bolt them to the eves as far down below the apex as your roof pitch will allow (mine is about 3 feet below the apex).
lag one 2x4 behind the eves securely, then cut the other short enough so it will fit in front of it. (i match the angles so it looks better, and paint them to match the eves).
then screw it to the front of the one you bolted behind the eves. now you have a place to put the lower bracket that will sit flush with the upper one).
if the top of your house sits at 20 feet, and you have a 50 foot mast, then you are going to need two sets of guy wires. one on the top of the mast right at the base of the antenna, and one 10 feet below that.
four guy wires are nice, but really three in a triangle configuration will work just fine.
DO NOT try to get away with just using one set.
the last thing you want is to be worrying about your antenna every time a wind storm comes through town.
I like to use the dacron rope type, as they are easy to work with, and don't radiate like galvanized guy wires can.
they will have a slight initial stretch, but i have found that after a week or so, you can go out and re-tension them, and re-tie the knots and they hold pretty damn well.
3/16" size will work fine and i use these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/150-1-4-Da...445838?hash=item1e88ff364e:g:MKMAAOxypNtSjVg7
you may need more than that amount.
you'll want to use a "thimble" for whatever size rope you get, like this:
put them in the guy wire collars on the mast, as they will keep the rope from getting cut by the collars over time. you can get them at the home improvement stores.
As for the base of the mast, you need to secure it to the ground in some way.
the depth doesn't matter as far as antenna performance or grounding goes, but you won't want it wandering around.
my suggestion would be to get a 5 gallon plastic bucket, bury it almost all the way in the ground below the mast, and fill it with concrete. then just put the mast down in the concrete when you install the mast.
as for grounding, per NEC code, you HAVE to tie your antenna ground to your main electrical panel ground, so you'll need to pound a ground rod in at the base of the mast, attach it to the mast, and use solid copper wire size #8 or bigger buried a few inches under the soil all the way around the house, and tie it in to the main house ground.
hope this was helpful.
i know it sounds involved, but peace of mind usually is.
LC
I certainly don't want to disagree with any advice that's been given, because everyone that's responded has a great amount of knowledge and experience with this stuff, so take my recommendations as an "add-on".
I have done the eve mount idea quite a few times.
right now i have a 22 foot fiberglass mast mounted to the eves of my house, and i bought these brackets, and i LOVE them!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TV-Antenna...743714&hash=item51e5ee9117:g:CV0AAOSw0JpV3z4Z
WAYYYY better than what you'll find in the home improvement stores. thicker metal, more adjustability, and very secure. I highly recommend them.
when erecting a mast that will go all the way to the ground, the amount of "shake" the mast will experience below the guy wires (if used) and even below the brackets, should not be underestimated.
for this reason, i would not recommend using just one of the brackets i linked to at the apex of the eves.
get a couple of 8 or 10 foot 2x4's, and lag bolt them to the eves as far down below the apex as your roof pitch will allow (mine is about 3 feet below the apex).
lag one 2x4 behind the eves securely, then cut the other short enough so it will fit in front of it. (i match the angles so it looks better, and paint them to match the eves).
then screw it to the front of the one you bolted behind the eves. now you have a place to put the lower bracket that will sit flush with the upper one).
if the top of your house sits at 20 feet, and you have a 50 foot mast, then you are going to need two sets of guy wires. one on the top of the mast right at the base of the antenna, and one 10 feet below that.
four guy wires are nice, but really three in a triangle configuration will work just fine.
DO NOT try to get away with just using one set.
the last thing you want is to be worrying about your antenna every time a wind storm comes through town.
I like to use the dacron rope type, as they are easy to work with, and don't radiate like galvanized guy wires can.
they will have a slight initial stretch, but i have found that after a week or so, you can go out and re-tension them, and re-tie the knots and they hold pretty damn well.
3/16" size will work fine and i use these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/150-1-4-Da...445838?hash=item1e88ff364e:g:MKMAAOxypNtSjVg7
you may need more than that amount.
you'll want to use a "thimble" for whatever size rope you get, like this:
put them in the guy wire collars on the mast, as they will keep the rope from getting cut by the collars over time. you can get them at the home improvement stores.
As for the base of the mast, you need to secure it to the ground in some way.
the depth doesn't matter as far as antenna performance or grounding goes, but you won't want it wandering around.
my suggestion would be to get a 5 gallon plastic bucket, bury it almost all the way in the ground below the mast, and fill it with concrete. then just put the mast down in the concrete when you install the mast.
as for grounding, per NEC code, you HAVE to tie your antenna ground to your main electrical panel ground, so you'll need to pound a ground rod in at the base of the mast, attach it to the mast, and use solid copper wire size #8 or bigger buried a few inches under the soil all the way around the house, and tie it in to the main house ground.
hope this was helpful.
i know it sounds involved, but peace of mind usually is.
LC
Marconi, thanks for the insights. I never thought about damage. I am assuming water damage from where the mounts are screwed to the house? If you put your new one on your house what will you do different to avoid damage. This gives me more to think about. Thanks for bringing it up. I could put it up in my yard but I would probably have to run the coax about 300’. Not sure how that would work.
I did find the ground mount bracket for the p/u pole. I think I am going to order it to secure the base of the pole. Seems like the best option.
I am hoping odd noise will not be a problem, but you are right with all the electronics and things in the house. I will look into a coax choke. I do not know much about them but It will give me something to research and learn more about.
Thanks again for all the points you brought up. It gives me some things to think about.
Hi cakeman,
I certainly don't want to disagree with any advice that's been given, because everyone that's responded has a great amount of knowledge and experience with this stuff, so take my recommendations as an "add-on".
I have done the eve mount idea quite a few times.
right now i have a 22 foot fiberglass mast mounted to the eves of my house, and i bought these brackets, and i LOVE them!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TV-Antenna...743714&hash=item51e5ee9117:g:CV0AAOSw0JpV3z4Z
WAYYYY better than what you'll find in the home improvement stores. thicker metal, more adjustability, and very secure. I highly recommend them.
when erecting a mast that will go all the way to the ground, the amount of "shake" the mast will experience below the guy wires (if used) and even below the brackets, should not be underestimated.
for this reason, i would not recommend using just one of the brackets i linked to at the apex of the eves.
get a couple of 8 or 10 foot 2x4's, and lag bolt them to the eves as far down below the apex as your roof pitch will allow (mine is about 3 feet below the apex).
lag one 2x4 behind the eves securely, then cut the other short enough so it will fit in front of it. (i match the angles so it looks better, and paint them to match the eves).
then screw it to the front of the one you bolted behind the eves. now you have a place to put the lower bracket that will sit flush with the upper one).
if the top of your house sits at 20 feet, and you have a 50 foot mast, then you are going to need two sets of guy wires. one on the top of the mast right at the base of the antenna, and one 10 feet below that.
four guy wires are nice, but really three in a triangle configuration will work just fine.
DO NOT try to get away with just using one set.
the last thing you want is to be worrying about your antenna every time a wind storm comes through town.
I like to use the dacron rope type, as they are easy to work with, and don't radiate like galvanized guy wires can.
they will have a slight initial stretch, but i have found that after a week or so, you can go out and re-tension them, and re-tie the knots and they hold pretty damn well.
3/16" size will work fine and i use these:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/150-1-4-Da...445838?hash=item1e88ff364e:g:MKMAAOxypNtSjVg7
you may need more than that amount.
you'll want to use a "thimble" for whatever size rope you get, like this:
put them in the guy wire collars on the mast, as they will keep the rope from getting cut by the collars over time. you can get them at the home improvement stores.
As for the base of the mast, you need to secure it to the ground in some way.
the depth doesn't matter as far as antenna performance or grounding goes, but you won't want it wandering around.
my suggestion would be to get a 5 gallon plastic bucket, bury it almost all the way in the ground below the mast, and fill it with concrete. then just put the mast down in the concrete when you install the mast.
as for grounding, per NEC code, you HAVE to tie your antenna ground to your main electrical panel ground, so you'll need to pound a ground rod in at the base of the mast, attach it to the mast, and use solid copper wire size #8 or bigger buried a few inches under the soil all the way around the house, and tie it in to the main house ground.
hope this was helpful.
i know it sounds involved, but peace of mind usually is.
LC
Thanks Loosecannon for the info and links. I like the Dacron idea. I think I will definitely use it instead of the wire.
As far as mounting the p/u pole I am thinking the bracket you linked plus two wall mount brackets into the brick of the house. One at 7’from the ground and another at about 14’ from the ground. Might be overkill but I figure the more brackets the better. Then I plan on guying it 3 ways.
I wasn’t sure on the ground wire, but your explanation clears it up. That’s kind of the thought process I had on it but wasn’t exactly sure.
Thanks again for the info you added here. All the info I can get helps tremendously. I’ve always wanted a base station but wasn’t sure how to go about it but with everyone’s help and tips here it is sure making it a little easier to feel good about. I just don’t want to tear my house or any equipment up.
That is OK cakeman.
No harm done, I was just telling about my troublesome experiences and having to do home repairs later as a result. Lots of folks mount their antenna to their house and for sure it will work.
The only reason i question getting close to the house with my antenna mast now is because in the videos I posted earlier mention that the source of noise is often closer to your antenna system that you might think.
I also remember having trouble with the antennas on the mount that I setup right out side the window of my shack. Back then I could never figure out the problem or how to fix it. Since then I've learned that when folks started talking about mitigating Common Mode Current problems...it got my undivided attention.
Here is that mount:
When I put my new A99 up recently on a 10' mast and with new coax and a new antenna, and a new radio with no CMC mitigation I had S7- S9 noise when conditions were bad and S5+ when conditions were good.
I could have bought a better antenna and that might have made some difference, but I didn't want something big and easy to see from the street. That said, I will be testing this antenna up higher first, and then I will add a GPK. If that does not work out I will add a choke, and then I may have to move the setup farther out back to my old mount about 36' feet away.
I could just set my antenna up and forget it, but assuming the idea might work, I like to test in some simple ways and record my results, so I have something to show a buddy when I can.
No harm done, I was just telling about my troublesome experiences and having to do home repairs later as a result. Lots of folks mount their antenna to their house and for sure it will work.
The only reason i question getting close to the house with my antenna mast now is because in the videos I posted earlier mention that the source of noise is often closer to your antenna system that you might think.
I also remember having trouble with the antennas on the mount that I setup right out side the window of my shack. Back then I could never figure out the problem or how to fix it. Since then I've learned that when folks started talking about mitigating Common Mode Current problems...it got my undivided attention.
Here is that mount:
When I put my new A99 up recently on a 10' mast and with new coax and a new antenna, and a new radio with no CMC mitigation I had S7- S9 noise when conditions were bad and S5+ when conditions were good.
I could have bought a better antenna and that might have made some difference, but I didn't want something big and easy to see from the street. That said, I will be testing this antenna up higher first, and then I will add a GPK. If that does not work out I will add a choke, and then I may have to move the setup farther out back to my old mount about 36' feet away.
I could just set my antenna up and forget it, but assuming the idea might work, I like to test in some simple ways and record my results, so I have something to show a buddy when I can.
Last edited: