Push Up Antenna Masts

[Mudfoot]

I have seen these things for sale many times. Never seen one in person. Usually, when I look at the reviews, people seem to like them. I don't know if it's because the mast was a compromise and it worked for them.

Usually what makes me skip them is they seem flimsy and require lots of guy wires, especially the taller ones. If anyone here has one and likes it, I'd sure like to hear about it. There's a 36' model I'm looking at. In order to keep guy wires at a minimum, I thought about bracketing it to the back peak of my garage, which is 27' high.

It will either have an Antron 99, Gainmaster or some 5/8 wave. Will these pushup masts handle these antennas?

 

[somicide]

i have several including a 40 foot channel master. certain radioshacks would sell these eons ago. they absolutely require guy wires (including thimbles and…you know…actual hardware rather than a few knots) and can absolutely support a 5/8ths but require an immense amount of effort if done by yourself

you need to be uhhhhh below the age of 40 to put up a 40 foot push-up-pole with a 5/8ths. im trying to make a joke here but seriously folks

im not saying theyre bad, but they genuinely require an abnormal amount of effort compared to the “its easy!” marketing supplied with the matryoshka concept

 

[fourstringburn]

I used these from Max Gain systems for an OCF once used. These are excellent quality with easy thumb-locks for each section. They do come in a heavy duty version and different lengths up to fifty feet and they have lots of needed accessories like guy rings and easy to use guy rope tensioners.

Fiberglass Push-Up Mast Kits

Heavy duty, Telescoping Fiberglass Push-Up Masts with convenient thumb clamp/nuts! UV & Corrosion Resistant and Electrically Non-Conductive

mgs4u.com

However, these are really meant for dipoles and other light weight antennas where there really isn't a lot of weight at the top of the mast. If done right, I believe it could support an Antron 99.

I would definitely attach the mast to the peak of your garage roof. That's how I once did mine but the roof peak was only about 14 ft so I still had to run 2 sets of guys but that was for a 50 ft mast for an OCF antenna. I also used 2 wall mast brackets and a eave mount upper bracket. The mast was just resting on the ground, no concrete.

At your roof height, I believe you should be fine but I also would use a lower mast wall bracket, maybe two like in the pic below. That could end up being be a steady mast braced at 27 ft and 3ft of the extended mast for 30ft overall.

One thing to consider about fiberglass masts, Unless you buy the 45 ft or 50 ft version, your top sections will be thinner with a 30 ft mast. With the 45 or 50 ft, you can utilize just the thicker and heavier bottom sections to get up to 30 ft. This of course adds to the costs. The top sections narrow down to 1/2 in and that isn't enough support.

Another thing to consider, Does the Antron require a DC ground? No DC ground on a fiberglass mast of course.

You may just want to consider using metal pipe. It'll be cheaper and no doubts if it will support your antenna.

Years ago when I ran an Imax 2000, I used 10 ft of 2 inch galvanized pipe and slid a 10ft 1-1/2 pipe inside about a third of the way and drilled holes and put a grade 8 bolt thru it to secure them. This made a nice telescoping mast so I can easily bring down the antenna if needed to work on it. I still used the same wall mount and eave mount brackets to secure it to the house.

2 inch Galvanized pipe is available in 21 ft lengths.
















MGS Pushup poles.

 

[Crawdad]

A Giga-Parts 34' model fiberglass. The bottom section is mounted to side of deck just under 10ft above ground. 2 sets of guys. Using a 4ft. piece of 3/4" copper pipe at the top for a little extra stiffness, fits snugly into the top clamp. Yagi weighs 5lb +/- Easy access for raising/lowering from deck. Have had some 30mph winds lately, no problem. Severe weather or tuning I just lower it.

7 3

 

[Mudfoot]

IDK, the push-ups seem like a lot of work. I helped a friend put up a TV antenna last summer. He had a dude down the street that had well casing. I think it was 2". We had a heck of a time getting it up. It's 20' sections. We used a reducer to 1-1/2" and winched it up and braced against an outbuilding. His back yard was on a steep incline, which helped getting it up. It dropped down into a 3' hole we dug.

It was terribly heavy. We also set up scaffolding to assist with. It was a real pain, but we got it. It was all for nothing as he didn't get the reception he wanted. It's still up, but he abandoned it and uses Verizon home internet now.

I wanted to get some of that pipe. Just didn't have a way to haul it. I think I'll try to find a way to get some here. It's around 8 miles away. It's $40 per 20 foot. I've been looking for regular tower around here. All I found is junk. My high school friend still has a sign company. He'll put anything up for $100. I remember buying the old TV tower for $40 section. Not no more. Just aggravating trying to figure out which way to go.

 

[Mudfoot]

View attachment 72432
A Giga-Parts 34' model fiberglass. The bottom section is mounted to side of deck just under 10ft above ground. 2 sets of guys. Using a 4ft. piece of 3/4" copper pipe at the top for a little extra stiffness, fits snugly into the top clamp. Yagi weighs 5lb +/- Easy access for raising/lowering from deck. Have had some 30mph winds lately, no problem. Severe weather or tuning I just lower it.

7 3

I like that. Definitely has potential. It looks nice.

 

[John David Trolinger]

I have the big Rohn push up mast with an RCA rotator and 10M Moxon. It has a house bracket, 3 sets of guys x4 ways and I only put it up 32FT. Now it has handled all of the big storms with no trouble but like others have said; PITA.

 

[Mudfoot]

I have the big Rohn push up mast with an RCA rotator and 10M Moxon. It has a house bracket, 3 sets of guys x4 ways and I only put it up 32FT. Now it has handled all of the big storms with no trouble but like others have said; PITA.

Is that still made? I'll have to research that. Sounds decent.

 

[fourstringburn]

IDK, the push-ups seem like a lot of work. I helped a friend put up a TV antenna last summer. He had a dude down the street that had well casing. I think it was 2". We had a heck of a time getting it up. It's 20' sections. We used a reducer to 1-1/2" and winched it up and braced against an outbuilding. His back yard was on a steep incline, which helped getting it up. It dropped down into a 3' hole we dug.

It was terribly heavy. We also set up scaffolding to assist with. It was a real pain, but we got it. It was all for nothing as he didn't get the reception he wanted. It's still up, but he abandoned it and uses Verizon home internet now.

I wanted to get some of that pipe. Just didn't have a way to haul it. I think I'll try to find a way to get some here. It's around 8 miles away. It's $40 per 20 foot. I've been looking for regular tower around here. All I found is junk. My high school friend still has a sign company. He'll put anything up for $100. I remember buying the old TV tower for $40 section. Not no more. Just aggravating trying to figure out which way to go.

Working with 2 inch galvanized or similar shouldn't be that difficult. If you want a telescoping setup with a 1-1/2 pipe inside, you should be able to stand on your roof and slide it in. I also should mention I drilled another hole on the 1-1/2 pipe near the top and put a bolt and lock nut so the pipe wouldn't slide all the way down in the 2 inch pipe.

21 ft galvanized pipe is about 100 pounds. For my current beam antenna, I used construction grade 21 ft x 2 inch A500 pipe and was 110 lbs. I rented a 26 ft U haul truck to pick it up from a local pipe supply place.

I was able to walk the pipe up myself with some difficulty and set it in a 3 ft hole and concrete it. I still used 2 wall brackets for support. This is holding up 2 rotor mast platform plates, a rotor, rotor mast, thrust bearing, and a 4 element Mosley antenna weighing just over 40 lbs overall.

Here's my setup and I did it all by myself but I could have used some help standing the 21 ft pipe up though.

 

[Mudfoot]

I had a similar setup at my old house. My dad and I bracketed some galvanized pipe with, I believe 1-1/2" pipe inside. It's still up and we did that in early 70's. The pipe I have access too, is oil field pipe. It's much heavier. As mentioned, my friend has a large sign company. He has several trucks and cranes. $100 and he'll put up whatever I have. We wanted to use him at my friend's house, but he couldn't gain access. His house is like a cliff dwellers home. Lol

We had an elaborate scaffolding and winching setup that would've made DaVinci proud. We're two old crippled up 63 year olds, but we got it. Took a week of piddling and scratching our heads. Those pipe sections were HEAVY!

I'm on a flat three acres with easy approaches. I still prefer tower. Just looking like push-ups and pipe is all I have time/money for.

I do like what you have. Looks great.

 

[Crawdad]

I like that. Definitely has potential. It looks nice.

I would second Fourstring's suggestion on Max-Gain products. Their fiberglass products are quality stuff. Shipping is a bit steep but what ain't? I don't think the GigaParts mast I have is available anymore, if I have to replace it, it'll be with Max-Gain.

7 3

 

[Mudfoot]

I would second Fourstring's suggestion on Max-Gain products. Their fiberglass products are quality stuff. Shipping is a bit steep but what ain't? I don't think the GigaParts mast I have is available anymore, if I have to replace it, it'll be with Max-Gain.

7 3

Yes, I like the looks of it.

 

[Crawdad]

https://www.rohnnet.com/rohn-telescoping-masts

 

[Mudfoot]

https://www.rohnnet.com/rohn-telescoping-masts

Thank you.

 

[fourstringburn]

The Rohn looks like an easy way to go. I would consider the ROHN H50 43 ft mast and take off the top section which is 1-1/4 in diameter so the next section should be 1-1/2 which is needed for the 1-1/2 U bolts for the Antron 99.

These appear to be 9 ft sections so a 43 ft minus 1 section (assuming they come apart) would be 34 ft just short of a half wavelength on 11 meters but right on the money for 10m.

Properly supported to your 27 ft roof I think this is possible without guying.

DXE sells these for $245 but it will require truck shipping due to size and weight. You don't live too far from Tallmedge OH so it might be worth the drive to pick it up.

Take a look at their wall brackets by Rohn and see what depth may be needed for your install.