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PVC Mast?
- Thread starter stingray
- Start date
It depends on how big the antenna is. A 5 foot piece of PVC at least 2 inches in diamater would be fine for a VHF/UHF antenna. Not so sure I would want to use one without guys for a CB antenna however because of the leverage presented by the long length. You could insert a piece of wood or a sleeve of another smaller piece of PVC to increase the wall thickness. Best bet is aluminum or steel for a 5 foot length.
B
BOOTY MONSTER
Guest
i use scheduel 40 PVC for my mast .i used 2 inch and 1 1/2 inch pipe with a few wraps of duct tape on the 1 1/2 inch to help the hose clamps get a better grip on it when its in the 2 inch . heres a few pics .
below homebrew wire 1/4wgp picture by BOOTY-MONSTER - Photobucket
WHOLE ANTENNA picture by BOOTY-MONSTER - Photobucket
below homebrew wire 1/4wgp picture by BOOTY-MONSTER - Photobucket
WHOLE ANTENNA picture by BOOTY-MONSTER - Photobucket
Can't see it very well in the pics, but this two and a half inch PVC mast is 10' tall, with a 16' tall conduit dipole and survived the New England winter, often coated with ice and snow in high winds.
B
BOOTY MONSTER
Guest
any idea for a time frame for that to happen LC ?
mines only been up a few months .
PVC isn't exactly the best type of antenna support if it's left in the sun a lot, and it depends on how much sun it 'gets'. It is very susceptible to heat and ultraviolet. There are other materials that are not as susceptible and would make for better supports, etc, if you happen to have or have access to them. If you don't, then use what'cha got.
Is there a time frame for PVC 'rotting'? Probably, but I don't have any firm idea of what it is. You can change that time frame by 'shielding' PVC, as in paint it.
It's about like 'thhn' wire, the kind that has a colored layer of insulation and then a clear layer. Hang it in the sun for a while and it starts looking like a snake shedding it's skin. That takes about a year give or take a few months, sort of.
You'll know when it's time, you just have to wait and see.
- 'Doc
Is there a time frame for PVC 'rotting'? Probably, but I don't have any firm idea of what it is. You can change that time frame by 'shielding' PVC, as in paint it.
It's about like 'thhn' wire, the kind that has a colored layer of insulation and then a clear layer. Hang it in the sun for a while and it starts looking like a snake shedding it's skin. That takes about a year give or take a few months, sort of.
You'll know when it's time, you just have to wait and see.
- 'Doc
........in materials such as PVC. the lossy crap they use for filler in this stuff will dissipate almost 20% of applied power at middle-upper hf frequencies. i mentioned this somewhere else but allow me to expound. trace copper elements, carbon black and other filler materials virtually destroy the dielectric properties of PVC and is IMHO not suitable for proper and effective ANTENNA OR balun construction. this dissipation loss increases at vhf/uhf.
http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-antennas/21730-end-fed-verticals-ground-planes-3.html#post45997
http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-antennas/21730-end-fed-verticals-ground-planes-3.html#post45997