people understanding the word "radio" seems to be a complete thing of the 
past and I hate to see that. RadioShack is kind of a help yourself store 
now, if you know what you want, you better get a catalog number and order it 
online, or go in with the catalog number and tell them you want that, and 
even then sometimes you get people confused. I think I've been in 1 
RadioShack in the last 6 or so years, though being banned from several local 
ones for their stupidity and arguments doesn't help that, but anyway, and 
that one time I went in to the store, I was getting a cordless phone battery 
for my girlfriend's parents phone, went in with the catalog number, and the 
old battery, showed it to the guy at the counter and said I want one of 
these it's catalog number......... and he got it. It was an extremely common 
one though.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 10:37 PM
Subject: Re: mast


> make your own telescoping mast as was suggested.
> go to a local large hardware store and track down one of the guys working 
> in
> the piping department.
> He, or perhaps she, should be able to line you up with 3 10FT pieces of
> steel or heavy aluminum heavy wall pipe that will slide into each other.
> then, you can use heavy duty pipe clamps, or drill holes through the ends
> you wish to slide together and set with an appropriately sized long bolt.
> I've got several different chunks of this kind of piping I've used in the
> past for push ups or masts.
> Use an eye bolt set into one of the pipes near the end so you can tighten
> the nut on the inside of the pipe, if you need to guy the mast.
> You'll spend allot less than $119, or $89 or whatever you will find a
> commercially availible mast going for.
> Is there a reason it has to be telescoping?
> if there is no major factor for why it has to telescope, you can use 
> pieces
> of the same outside diameter pipe and use end couplings to join them.
> Chain link fence posts will work as well...they're generally only in 8FT
> sections though.
> You can spend allot less if your willing to get a little creative and if 
> you
> have the mechanical aptitude...that and an X Y L that is willing to drive
> you and traypse around hardware stores and such hi.
>
> some of the best stuff for antenna support structors is becoming pretty
> difficult to locate...roof mount tripods, telescoping masts, crank up
> towers, and all that good stuff.
> they're availible at a premium from ham stores, but the days when you 
> could
> hit your local radio shack or CB store and get them for cheap are gone.
> who needs a tv mast or a cb antenna mast when you can use your IPhone or
> other smart phone and have the world and tv at your finger tips.
> that's why radio shack sells more sell phones and pc's now then actual
> "radio" equipment.
> I would make a guess that almost everyone, including store employees don't
> even understand the term " radio shack" and what it means.
> regards
> Colin
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Fiorello" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 6:30 PM
> Subject: mast
>
>
>> Hi Tom and List;
>> Many years ago I used a flag pol.  It was a bit heavy but worked great
>> and was locally.  I had them weld some extra pipe to make it longer
>> which added to the weight.
>>
>> -- 
>> richard