WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

Hello

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.

Regards

Peter

Hi Peter

http://tinyurl.com/4yarlue 3 days left..if viewed after that might not be visible.

Pro:Plenty of people use a squid pole for antenna's of one form or another so can't be too bad.
Con: don't know of any

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.

VK6 - PETER wrote:Hello

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

Blinky wrote:Hi Peter

http://tinyurl.com/4yarlue 3 days left..if viewed after that might not be visible.

Pro:Plenty of people use a squid pole for antenna's of one form or another so can't be too bad.
Con: don't know of any

I found that brand on the ebay store to be a bit to flimsy. Mine is Telepole 900.

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,

I appreciate all the comments posted.

It seems to be a worthy option for my situation.

Thank you for taking the time.

Peter