30-foot Telescoping Fiberglas Poles

[Tom Hammond-3]

Hi Folks:

A while back, several folks posted links to a number of telescoping
fiberglas pole sites.

I've visited the Jackite site. They are offering their 32' poles
(black or orange) for $54.

I thought someone had found similar poles for a bit less than the
Jackite price, however I may be in error here.

The Jackite poles look quite good and appear to be reinforced in the
placed which would normally require such reinforcement.

I have several 30' 'Hot Poles' from an electric company. They failed
the semi-annual HV QC tests, but will work exceptionally well for
general antenna support use (particularly during FD), BUT they're a
bit on the heavy side and a bit larger in diameter than I'd like to
have if I was gonna take the pole on a trip in the car. Something
slightly smaller / lighter is in order for such trips.

If you have a link to other ECONOMICAL sources of heavy-duty
telescoping fiberglas poles, please either post them to the reflector
(preferred) or drop a note to me direct.

Hope to order something yet this coming week.

Thansk,

Tom Hammond   N0SS

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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Tom and all,

I don't know about the price comparison, but another source is The Mast
Company - http://www.tmastco.com/ .

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> A while back, several folks posted links to a number of telescoping
> fiberglas pole sites.
>
> I've visited the Jackite site. They are offering their 32' poles
> (black or orange) for $54.
>
> I thought someone had found similar poles for a bit less than the
> Jackite price, however I may be in error here.
>
> The Jackite poles look quite good and appear to be reinforced in the
> placed which would normally require such reinforcement.
>
> I have several 30' 'Hot Poles' from an electric company. They failed
> the semi-annual HV QC tests, but will work exceptionally well for
> general antenna support use (particularly during FD), BUT they're a
> bit on the heavy side and a bit larger in diameter than I'd like to
> have if I was gonna take the pole on a trip in the car. Something
> slightly smaller / lighter is in order for such trips.
>
> If you have a link to other ECONOMICAL sources of heavy-duty
> telescoping fiberglas poles, please either post them to the reflector
> (preferred) or drop a note to me direct.
>
> Hope to order something yet this coming week.
>
> Thansk,
>
> Tom Hammond   N0SS
>

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[Ken Alexander-2]

Also consider the DK9SQ telescoping 33 ft mast,
available from Kanga U.S.

http://www.bright.net/~kanga/kanga/dk9sq/mast.htm

73,

Ken Alexander
VE3HLS



--- Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Tom and all,
>
> I don't know about the price comparison, but another
> source is The Mast
> Company - http://www.tmastco.com/ .
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > A while back, several folks posted links to a
> number of telescoping
> > fiberglas pole sites.
> >
> > I've visited the Jackite site. They are offering
> their 32' poles
> > (black or orange) for $54.
> >
> > I thought someone had found similar poles for a
> bit less than the
> > Jackite price, however I may be in error here.
> >
> > The Jackite poles look quite good and appear to be
> reinforced in the
> > placed which would normally require such
> reinforcement.
> >
> > I have several 30' 'Hot Poles' from an electric
> company. They failed
> > the semi-annual HV QC tests, but will work
> exceptionally well for
> > general antenna support use (particularly during
> FD), BUT they're a
> > bit on the heavy side and a bit larger in diameter
> than I'd like to
> > have if I was gonna take the pole on a trip in the
> car. Something
> > slightly smaller / lighter is in order for such
> trips.
> >
> > If you have a link to other ECONOMICAL sources of
> heavy-duty
> > telescoping fiberglas poles, please either post
> them to the reflector
> > (preferred) or drop a note to me direct.
> >
> > Hope to order something yet this coming week.
> >
> > Thansk,
> >
> > Tom Hammond   N0SS
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   
>
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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[Sandy W5TVW]

I have been very pleased with my MFJ 33' mast.  Easy to setup and takedown.
Still looking for a light and secure base for it.
I presently use a "garden claw" hand tiller stuck in the ground and the mast held in place with a
couple of bungee straps wrapped around mast and tiller staff.
Antenna is usually a 33' wire with 3-4 33' wire ground radial counterpoises laid on ground.  This
with a K1.
73,
Sandy W5TVW
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Alexander" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>; "Tom Hammond" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 8:10 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] 30-foot Telescoping Fiberglas Poles


| Also consider the DK9SQ telescoping 33 ft mast,
| available from Kanga U.S.
|
| http://www.bright.net/~kanga/kanga/dk9sq/mast.htm
|
| 73,
|
| Ken Alexander
| VE3HLS
|
|
|
| --- Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
|
| > Tom and all,
| >
| > I don't know about the price comparison, but another
| > source is The Mast
| > Company - http://www.tmastco.com/ .
| >
| > 73,
| > Don W3FPR
| >
| >
| > > -----Original Message-----
| > >
| > > A while back, several folks posted links to a
| > number of telescoping
| > > fiberglas pole sites.
| > >
| > > I've visited the Jackite site. They are offering
| > their 32' poles
| > > (black or orange) for $54.
| > >
| > > I thought someone had found similar poles for a
| > bit less than the
| > > Jackite price, however I may be in error here.
| > >
| > > The Jackite poles look quite good and appear to be
| > reinforced in the
| > > placed which would normally require such
| > reinforcement.
| > >
| > > I have several 30' 'Hot Poles' from an electric
| > company. They failed
| > > the semi-annual HV QC tests, but will work
| > exceptionally well for
| > > general antenna support use (particularly during
| > FD), BUT they're a
| > > bit on the heavy side and a bit larger in diameter
| > than I'd like to
| > > have if I was gonna take the pole on a trip in the
| > car. Something
| > > slightly smaller / lighter is in order for such
| > trips.
| > >
| > > If you have a link to other ECONOMICAL sources of
| > heavy-duty
| > > telescoping fiberglas poles, please either post
| > them to the reflector
| > > (preferred) or drop a note to me direct.
| > >
| > > Hope to order something yet this coming week.
| > >
| > > Thansk,
| > >
| > > Tom Hammond   N0SS
| > >
| >
| > _______________________________________________
| > Elecraft mailing list
| > Post to: [hidden email]
| > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
| > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
| >  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
| >
| >
| > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
| > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
| >
|
| _______________________________________________
| Elecraft mailing list
| Post to: [hidden email]
| You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
| Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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| Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
|
|
|
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|
|

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[Tom Hammond-3]

Hi Dan:

I'm posting my reply to your query to the Elecraft reflector as well,
in the hope that it might assist others in procuring "failed" hot
poles as well.

You wrote:
>Can you describe what you mean by "hot poles"? And any idea how I
>could get hold of some from the local electric company here? When
>they fail the test, are they sold as surplus or just destroyed?

Generally, most electric utilities will destroy hot poles which fail
their Hi-Pot tests. They don't want to risk that someone might get
hold of one and then try to 'work' on their local wires with it...!

HOWEVER... if you can develop a relationship with someone at your
local utility, especially if you can convince them that their failed
hot poles would be the best thing since sliced bread for local hams
to use as EMERGENCY ANTENNA SUPPORTS, you might be able to get them
to allocate some of their failed poles to your use.

It happened that one of our club members worked at an electric co-op
which was tossing several poles and he (basically) just went out and
scarfed them out of the trash bin before the trash collectors got to
them. I think we managed to get hold of about 6-8 that way.

Then, a couple years ago, when the State of MO held an emergency
comms exercise in the St Louis area, with emergency services reps
from many city / county / private groups present, the comms rep from
Missouri's largest electric utility was present and he saw is using a
couple of the hot poles for supporting our HF dipoles and a couple
VHF verticals. He mentioned the fact to one of our comms guys who
immediately put the 'arm' on him for their company to make their
failed poles available for the same usage, rather than destroying
them. It worked, and we came away with a dozen or so poles, most of
which have been distributed to ARES and emergency preparedness groups
throughout the state. A VERY worthwhile project.

There are also companies (www.tmascto.com, for example) which sell
NEW hot poles. But the price is fairly significant.

Good luck,

Tom Hammond    N0SS

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[Richard Kent]

Thanks for the Idea. This might Help at Jamboree on the Air setups.

Richard Kent

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tom Hammond
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 10:25 AM
To: Dan KB6NU; [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] OT - 30-foot Telescoping Fiberglas Poles

Hi Dan:

I'm posting my reply to your query to the Elecraft reflector as well,
in the hope that it might assist others in procuring "failed" hot
poles as well.

You wrote:
>Can you describe what you mean by "hot poles"? And any idea how I
>could get hold of some from the local electric company here? When
>they fail the test, are they sold as surplus or just destroyed?

Generally, most electric utilities will destroy hot poles which fail
their Hi-Pot tests. They don't want to risk that someone might get
hold of one and then try to 'work' on their local wires with it...!

HOWEVER... if you can develop a relationship with someone at your
local utility, especially if you can convince them that their failed
hot poles would be the best thing since sliced bread for local hams
to use as EMERGENCY ANTENNA SUPPORTS, you might be able to get them
to allocate some of their failed poles to your use.

It happened that one of our club members worked at an electric co-op
which was tossing several poles and he (basically) just went out and
scarfed them out of the trash bin before the trash collectors got to
them. I think we managed to get hold of about 6-8 that way.

Then, a couple years ago, when the State of MO held an emergency
comms exercise in the St Louis area, with emergency services reps
from many city / county / private groups present, the comms rep from
Missouri's largest electric utility was present and he saw is using a
couple of the hot poles for supporting our HF dipoles and a couple
VHF verticals. He mentioned the fact to one of our comms guys who
immediately put the 'arm' on him for their company to make their
failed poles available for the same usage, rather than destroying
them. It worked, and we came away with a dozen or so poles, most of
which have been distributed to ARES and emergency preparedness groups
throughout the state. A VERY worthwhile project.

There are also companies (www.tmascto.com, for example) which sell
NEW hot poles. But the price is fairly significant.

Good luck,

Tom Hammond    N0SS

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[Francis Belliveau]

The web address Tom provided had a minor typo.

www.tmastco.com will work better.

Fran

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