hi tom:
there are military surplus fiber glass sectional masts availible on Ebay for
very reasonable prices.
They come in four foot sections with ends that connect together...and you
can buy a bass plate and top section as well....they are obviously
non-metallic, easy to take down and put up, and pretty cheap.
As was stated already on this list, a metallic mast or tower won't be an
issue as long as you have the twin lead portion of the antenna away from the
vertical antenna support structure.
And if its at an angle away from the tower from the feed point, even better.
I am considering the fiber glass sections myself since my antenna structure
has to be light weight, easy to take down and easy to put up.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Karnes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: antenna problem


> Thanks for all six of the responses I have received so far. The Kenwood
> 850 has an internal antenna tuner. It worked fine last year  at Handihams
> radio camp in Malibu.  That was with a G5RV. The R7 is just like it was
> when I acquired it from the estate of silent key Bob Larson, except for
> one joint half way up the mast and the 10 radials at the base. Would
> polishing up the surface do any good or does rf not care? I couldn't use
> it San Francisco because my lot was only 22 feet wide, but now I have 75
> by 300 feet. First I'll try the suggestion from two of youto put the twin
> lead straight and perpendicular to the long line, but at an angle to the
> ground. I's new and connects directly to the transmitter. I've used two
> different coax cables on the R7 with identical results. The ground is
> fine. I could get the G5RV higher if I could figure out what to use as a
> non-metallic mast. Any ideas?  Would it be worth buying an external
> antenna tuner to use instead of the internal a t in the K850?
> Again, thanks for all the quick help. I don't stay on this list because
> there is too much traffic for me to add to what else is coming through,
> but it is great to get back on now and then. I'm always available at
> [log in to unmask]
> Tom Karnes K6FUN
> 73
>