Great idea! Dipoles look like they would work perfectly with this setup. Thanks!

Thanks for your efforts, Steve. In addition to a good review of the Spiderbeam pole, this video serves as a great primer on the use and benefits of a portable telescopic mast.

Thanks for the review. I like the silicone wrapped clamps.

I have had mine up in a permanent installation since autumn 2020 in VE3 land, and we can get, and have had severe weather (either very low temps, -30C, more than 30C, and survived winter winds, and springtime storms including an infamous 'derecho' that blew through a year or so ago). They're tough and reliable. I have two and fully recommend.

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Hey, that's good info to here. They are tough.

Just received the 10m version today. You're not kidding it is rock solid! I was looking to see how others are deploying this pole so thank you very much for sharing your information. Your video is helpful!! Cheers and 73!

Great review and very informative, especially appreciated the detailed antenna explanations..Thank you for your time..

Thank you for the video and ideas.

This is one of the greatest videos I’ve seen 👍👍

Great Video! Thank you for the review.

Love you hoa idea. Post going in this spring…

I'm sold on it. Gonna go order me one tonight. 73ss

great review thankyou

Tnx om. Hard to beat this pole. My tower is on the downhill slope in the backyard. I keep the pole in the front corner so I can run half square antennas. Another good thing to use is self amalgamating tape instead of clamps. Keeps it from collapsing on itself. I haven’t tried a vertical yet on it. I’d say it works well

Nice video. I have the 10M Spiderbeam that I use for field days. I mainly went that way, because in the stowed position, it's a about 1/2 the length. I main use an EFHW with it.

I've just taken one of my 🕷 12.5 Spiderpoles down after 5.5 years being secured with clamps, and it's as good as the day I put it up, bar a little fading. It's been up in 90 kph 💨🌩🌀💨 winds. I have it with 3 mid height 2mm cords and a short star picket strapped at the base. The Pole has been up and down 5 or 6 time for different antennas, and a second wired pole is used as a reflector. WORKS A TREAT 🎉over the pond to the States from OZ. FOO was Here. VK4F👀

Thanks for the video on the big 12 meter mast, Steve. You mentioned the 7 meter Spiderbeam pole and I encourage you to get one soon. I have had mine for a few weeks and it's small collapsed length and light weight make it a great portable antenna support. AC4SH

@hamradioportable1630

2 жыл бұрын

Yes it is definitely on my short list. I'm spending most of my pota time on the upper bands. Thanks for watching. Steve

That was a great video and an excellent product! Just a couple of observations that might be useful: 1. a couple of years ago I had mine up all winter long as the first support of a 160 meter wire antenna. I found that after extended exposure to the elements the bottom cap was quite weathered and cracked. I suggest that for extended deployment the bottom cap should be wrapped with tape to protect it from UV. 2. An alternate to the 4x4 post is a U-post (also called a U-channel post). Get a six foot post and drive it into the ground an appropriate amount, cover the bottom section of the mast with a piece of foam pipe insulation, and strap the mast to the post. For my all winter long deployment I also used the guy collar that they sell and attached four guy ropes.

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Very good info William. Thanks for watching. Steve _ Ad4xt

@WilliamParmley

Жыл бұрын

@Ham Radio Portable By the way, this reminded me about my bottom cap, so I ordered a replacement. $4.00 each, so I ordered two! Received today ($6.00 shipping). 😎

Great video

Bought one after watching this... PERFECT... you covered everything I needed to know about it. THANK YOU!!!

@hamradioportable1630

5 ай бұрын

Good deal! You will enjoy. Steve- Ad4xt

Great vid. Thanks.

Steve, the 12 meter Spiderbeam pole is actually 43 feet long, I use one as a EFHW inverted L 80m to 10m antenna. You make some very good suggestions .

Thanks for the great video. I think I may try one of these to give 80 meters a shot, really appreciate the ideas on different antenna configurations. 73 - Brian / K4KB

Thank you sir 👍🏾

Thank you for sharing, very informative. 73

This pole is a legend Steve, I have 2 of them. I can even use it to support my 20m Moxon at reduced height. I also have the 10m version. Its not quite as HD but still very good.

@forgetyourlife

Жыл бұрын

I hate how fat the 10m pole is. The 12m is much thinner.

Great video Steve, thanks! I like that it gives you so many options. 73, K8JLW

Received mine today. Gotta start looking for one of these bungee dodads. Just kidding. Nice video. Good point on keeping the base stable. 73

Silicone tubing…. Learn something every time. Thank you. Nothing but good comments when people talk about Spiderbeam. Review of antennas and drawings helpful.

@hamradioportable1630

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah it is. I had to work around the barking dog . Lol Thanks for watching.

@laszlokovacs8827

2 жыл бұрын

@@hamradioportable1630 Where do you get silicone tubing?

@lf7961

2 жыл бұрын

@@laszlokovacs8827 Rheem 6 ft. Plastic Silicone Condensate Drain Tube for Rheem Mid Efficiency Indoor Tankless Gas Water Heaters/Home Depot

Great idea! I have Spiderbeam 18 m long. I will make vertical for 80m that maybe can resonate on 40m as well. Regarding 160m, I can add coil + relay which will open/short circuit, so that it can resonate on 1.85 or 3.6 MHz (no coil=3.6 MHz, with coil=1.85 MHz). What you think? Oh, yes. Since I need 20 meters, I will add 1 meter aluminum rod, 3mm diameter at the top, and rise whole Spiderbeam 1m from the ground. Wire will go all the way to the ground, so this way it may resonate on 3.6 MHz. Radials will be added, but I have no much space in my backyard, so maybe 20m in one direction, 14m in all other directions.

I have a 20 meter vertical on mine with the feedpoint up about 16ft or so with 4 radials. Works really well. I had a z6bkw on it at one time but it stayed bent over. Didnt break though and i left it up for months like that.

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Yea, it's one heavy duty mast. Steve Ad4xt

Hi Steve.. only one thing I would recommend is to be not so strong when retracting the elements.. when I heard them hitting the ground it reminded me of why one of mine is damaged. When coming down they can hit each other and shatter the bottom of the bigger section if a smaller one had come through first. Don't forget they are fiberglass after all. Good video.

@hamradioportable1630

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that. I have added some extra foam padding inside the bottom cap. Steve

I've used mine for several different antennas... N9TAX roll up J pole at the top with RG8X coax, 10, 20, 40, 80 meter inverted V antennas with a LDG 1:1 balun, and an 84 foot random wire connected to an Icom AH-4 antenna tuner. I bought the version with the cotter pin glued inside the top section, and when I zip tied the LDG balun to the very top, the mast bent over about 2 feet from the center line. I started zip tying the balun to the bottom of the second section from the top and now it remains upright. 34 feet still isn't bad, but I would recommend zip tying the coax every other section of the mast to keep from having too much weight being pulled from the top. 73 KD5YOU

@hamradioportable1630

2 жыл бұрын

Great info John. I like your zip tying the coax to the mast idea to limit the stress of the RG8x coax. I have used tape or small pieces of paracord. Good feedback Here. Thanks Steve Ad4xt

@kd5you1

2 жыл бұрын

@@hamradioportable1630 You're welcome Steve. I noticed that if I zip tie the coax along the mast, I distribute the weight, but I see that it can benefit the coax as well. 73 KD5YOU

@pdilan1

10 ай бұрын

⁰⁰⁰000

I just got one!

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Great!! , Enjoy.

Spendy, but it looks like good value for the bucks. You can also cut an angle on a 2 ft piece of 2in or whatever diameter will be large enough ABS then pound that in the ground for a great pole base.

How far are you sending your signal at 40 feet with a efhw at 100 watts do you figure? Excellent video..

Wonderful video. 73, KC1PSK

Good stuff Steve -- thanks for sharing! 73 de ki5gx

Nice video and great review. I especially liked the drawings, they were very helpful. I have the same mast and usually am able to bungee it to a fence post or camping post(where you put your tag that shows you paid), but have also had luck with a flag pole hitch mount. Matt - KE0TXC

@hamradioportable1630

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, good info.

I'm curious if you could wrap your antenna wire around the pole for the vertical?

The top 3 sections tend to bend like fishing poles when deploying it as a sloper mast. It negates the top 10 feet or so. I only need to look 15 feet in front of me right now to see the sag on my 130 foot EFHW antenna. If you want a STRONG vertical antenna mast that will support a balun or somethjing with weight buy a DX Engineering fiberglass mast. They are 7' tall collapsed and very heavy. The normal one can support baluns or slopers with ease the HD version can probably support a large vertical VHF/UHF antenna (17 foot) or some other project. These masts are heavy and not very portable.

Hi Steve, very nice video and that is a wonderful pole. Do you think it can hold a 2 el. 20m VDA?

@hamradioportable1630

3 ай бұрын

Sounds too heavy. Best for wire antennas.

Thanks! Ordered two of the 30' versions. All the best! VY2MJ. 😀

With the exception of the radials for the "vertical", you never mentioned any counterpoise for the other wire (EFHW) antennas. I understand that the coax itself might work as one, but would love to hear from you what you think.

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Not really needed for a EFHW. Sometimes I will run short piece of wire to a ground stake.

Is it only good for a wire dipole?

I use a telescoping paint pole

@hamradioportable1630

18 күн бұрын

I have too in the past. A cheaper option. Longer and a bit on the heavy side. But hey, use whatever you can get that wire in the air. Steve - Ad4xt

What would you use as a pole support on a flat roof, flat base with cement weights?

@hamradioportable1630

8 ай бұрын

.5 gal. bucket of cement and guy wires. Be safe with whatever you choose. Safety first.

I.ve been off ham radio for 44 years! now I am coming back to it! I am about to setup a G5RV and I intended to use a Spiderbeam that I already bought but I have changed my mind! Now I want to hang the g5rv only at the ends of each leg. I was thinking on one end simply tied to a wall and the opposite end tied to a rope through a pulley with a rope tied to a brick so that it goes up and down when very windy. what do you think it should be ok even if not supported in the center?

@hamradioportable1630

6 ай бұрын

Yes it should work as long as you have the window line off the ground where it connects to the coax. We used an antenna this weekend at winter field day .Zs6bkw which is very similar. The higher the connection point the better. Steve - Ad4xt

Thanks for the review! Is it still working for you? Subscribed to your channel ! 73,WG7D

@hamradioportable1630

Жыл бұрын

Still working, It gives lots of options. Around home or portable.

Live in an HOA so this Spiderbeam 12M has tweaked my interest. Thanks for doing the review. de KQ1K