Spring has sprung and thoughts turn to improved HF propagation/activity.
I have some wire antennas and a restricted location. A temporary mast to run these antennas up would be ideal.
Anyone with experience with 9 or 10 metre squid poles? If so, I would appreciate the pros and cons of using them, as well as a recommended source to buy one from - should I go down that path.
Their typical lifespan (infrequent and frequent use) would also be useful to know.
Two-way Yaesu VX-3R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wideband RX handheld Yaesu FT-1802M 2m Ham TRX mobile x 2 Yaesu FT-7800R 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile Icom IC-208H 2m/70cm Ham TRX and wide band RX mobile Icom IC-706MKIIG all-band all-mode Ham TRX mobile Icom IC-V85 2m VHF Ham TRX handheld Wouxun KG-UVD1P VHF/UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld Wouxun KG-679P VHF wideband Ham TRX handheld Wouxun KG-713 UHF wideband Ham TRX handheld
VK6 - PETER wrote:Anyone with experience with 9 or 10 metre squid poles? If so, I would appreciate the pros and cons of using them, as well as a recommended source to buy one from - should I go down that path.
You need to lock them in well when extended otherwise they can fold up. If they do that then the top ones come down in a hurry and can fracture when they hit the bottom. Lock them in tight and no probs. People have made rotatable dipoles with them with success.
If you are a member of HARG or NCRG then I can recommend somebody... no freight cost or e-scam risks. PM me if you want.
Rob
OF78WD Amateur moderator . →Arguing with a fool proves there are two
Spring has sprung and thoughts turn to improved HF propagation/activity.
I have some wire antennas and a restricted location. A temporary mast to run these antennas up would be ideal.
Anyone with experience with 9 or 10 meter squid poles? If so, I would appreciate the pros and cons of using them, as well as a recommended source to buy one from - should I go down that path.
Their typical lifespan (infrequent and frequent use) would also be useful to know.
Regards
Peter
I use a 9 meter squid pole mounted on my fence with 9.5 meters of wire on it. The extra .5 meter is between the base of the squid pole and the SGC auto tuner that sits on the ground,
it has 4 10 meter radials . It works OK, certainly no DX buster but I can easily make the US and Europe on 20M. Its proved solid for local contacts on 80M and 160M.
I have had a few contacts to the states on 40M, not got up early enough to try 40M to Europe. I only have it up when I want to use it.
They don't like strong winds and the sun starts to fade them after a year. I bought mine from Tower Communications in Hazlemere
I locked mine in tight and now it won't collapse down...!
To strengthen mine up, I put a broomstick up inside the base (packed it out with insulation tape wound around the broomstick) and also put insulation tape over the section tapers. It never slipped down, but when it came time to move it, the broom stick took a fair bit of coaxing to get out and the sections won't collapse down even with a bit of lubricant and a fair bit of force! Mine was an Ebay purchase.
Cheers,
Last edited by VK6LD on Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
