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A good mast design, but...

A project log for Near-vertical Incidence Skywave Antenna

DIY version of the military AS-2259 NVIS antenna for regional comms on HF.

dan-maloneyDan Maloney 01/04/2016 at 11:550 Comments

I decided to fly my multiband inverted-C dipole from the mast, to get it out of the heavy foliage it's currently in. I lowered the mast - a task that required a helper once I untied the first guyline - and attached the dipole. Getting wires and guylines sorted out wasn't trivial, but I was able to walk the mast back up and secure it, again with help.

The one caveat here is the coupler between the two mast sections. It loosened up somewhat while I was working on the mast on the ground, and I failed to tighten the nuts before I put the mast back up. So there's a little kink in the mast now. I tried tightening the nuts from the ground, but they're just high enough that I can get much leverage. Don't feel like lowering the mast again, so I'll have to get a ladder or bucket to stand on for a boost.

Still, it's pretty handy to have a 15' mast that I can raise and lower easily.

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