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Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 489 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Best antenna position and mounting. Sat Nov 05, 2022 10:52 pm
I have a sirio gainmaster 5/8 as well as two dipoles to play with. I want to mount the Sirio at home and I have a 6' steel pole with T and K brackets, and clamps.
I'm hoping to get set up homebase before Christmas and set up in the shack in the conservatory
I've deleted some photos of my house walls but I'll take some more and welcome any advice .
I'm thinking of a 21' scaff pole mounted from the ground to be more secure rather than the 6' pole high up.
I look forward to a discussion, advice, and most importantly an outcome
Cheers.
Tristar likes this post
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2632 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:34 am
I had a gainmaster and it was mounted with the base around 12ft from the ground. It did work well i found but i live by the sea. I did guy mine as the winds we get can be a bit strong but i did see one mounted on a chimney stack locally and it stood up in some big winds for the last 3 years..(did notice it was gone last week).
Sharpshooter likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6268 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:12 am
Best antenna position?
For the Sirio it would be pointing up to the sky with the coax at the bottom!
Honestly, joking aside Nige just simply get it up wherever and however you can mate. There's nothing better than a bit of forward planning for such things so that the antenna doesn't fall down or even you off a ladder but you can waste a lot of time with indecision never getting on air.
For the dipoles most mount them vertically too but for those that mount them horizontally they'll be shocked by the amount of reduction in 'noise' they give. It'll only be any good for DX activity though where polarisation doesn't matter but there'll be too much loss with local vertically polarised contacts.
I like your thinking of a longer scaffold pole though and a solution many have found to be practical. Easier to place multiple fixings spread over the load and 'Terra-firma' stops it dropping down....but not over.
However you finally decide I hope you have fun, keep safe and enjoy getting on the air with a more worthy antenna plus the creature comforts of operating from home.
All the best, Victor
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Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 489 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Sun Nov 06, 2022 12:02 pm
Cheers fellas, What was gone Alan, the chimney? I definitely won't be mounting mine on the chimney
I've been watching some YouTube videos this morning and Fred in the shed put a 20' (approximately) pole up from the ground and I think he loosens the brackets and slides it up from time to time . Oooer mrs I'll have another look later. Seems a good idea. My thoughts included drilling into the patio so the pole sank a few inches to aid stability.
That's a thought Victor. I have two firestick dv27's and need a 3/8 centre for dipole. I'm going to mount it at the caravan, vertical only of course. And a good height at 12' and a 6' pole as I'm near overhead cables. Saying that, I could maybe have it adjustable to go horizontal too
The other dipole as you say, I could mount horizontal at home and have a two way antenna switch, maybe even three as I have a 4' pole for a PMR antenna when I get one
Yes your right Victor, you will probably be screaming at me through your pc screen come Christmas, "GET THAT BLEEDING ANTENNA UP"
Les-1 10 + Year member
Call Sign : 26CT739 / 26GB739 Posts : 62 Times Thanked : 8 Join date : 2019-07-16 QTH or Location : Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire Equipment Used : Superstar 3900n, Magnum S9, Cobra 148 GTL DX, Superstar 360 FM, Nato 2000, Lafayette 1200, Hygain V, Albrecht AE2990AFS, Cobra uk29 LTD ST, York jcb 863, York jcb 861, Uniden Uniace 200, Midland 4001, RM KLV550, RM KL400, Zetagi B300P, Sirio GainMaster, T2LT, 7' Firestik, Atron99, 18' Silver rod, Sadelta Echo Master plus, Astatic echomax 2000, Moonraker power mic Age : 59
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Sun Nov 06, 2022 4:10 pm
Hi there, I purchased these 2 inch diameter poles in 2011 for my Sirio Gainmaster. https://www.kcb.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d167_Poles-_-Masts.html I have been using 2 poles with a nut & bolt through the middle of the interlocking part as precaution as i get battered by the wind and mounted on t & k backets so height is 20 feet off ground I can add more if needed but work well. It needs to come down next year now for maintenance (I may raise it up another 2 foot) hope this helps.
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Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 489 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Sun Nov 06, 2022 4:40 pm
Les-1 wrote:
Hi there, I purchased these 2 inch diameter poles in 2011 for my Sirio Gainmaster. https://www.kcb.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d167_Poles-_-Masts.html I have been using 2 poles with a nut & bolt through the middle of the interlocking part as precaution as i get battered by the wind and mounted on t & k backets so height is 20 feet off ground I can add more if needed but work well. i'll try & take a picture when i can, it needs to come down next year now for maintenance (I may raise it up another 2 foot) hope this helps.
Thanks Les, I'm hoping to scrounge a 21' scaffolding tube for nowt lol. Aluminium if possible but will more likely be steel.
Les-1 likes this post
chazwozza Senior contributor
Posts : 130 Times Thanked : 1 Join date : 2020-02-15 QTH or Location : England Equipment Used : Radios
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:53 am
Free standing tower about 40ft should do well away from the house
Sharpshooter Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-329 Posts : 489 Times Thanked : 13 Join date : 2022-04-05 QTH or Location : Deeside, Flintshire Equipment Used : A growing list
Subject: Re: Best antenna position and mounting. Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:30 pm
chazwozza wrote:
Free standing tower about 40ft should do well away from the house