Steve:

You know, I actually thought about those push-up fiber-glass masts, but 
decided against them due to my perception, maybe false, that they might not 
stand up well to our rugged winter weather here in Michigan, which often 
involves very high winds.

The prices seem pretty much in line with what I'm ultimately going to have 
to pay for the Channelmaster variety, but it really is something worth 
considering.

I have decided against the aluminum section idea, where the sections would 
have to be drilled or otherwise assembled for the reason that a telescopic 
mast just seems to be so much more manageable from the ground, when putting 
the whole thing together.

All of this is totally new to me, and I hope I'm making a reasonable 
ecision.

Such are the woes of living on a property that lacks good supports for wire 
antennas.

I now wish I hadn't given my tower and tri-band beam away, but it went to an 
EOC to the County north of me, so it will ultimately be put to good use, I 
guess.

I wouldn't have done it, though, if I had known the Colorado situation was 
going to end as it did.

But, as they say, that's water over the dam.  (grin)

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 10:48 AM
Subject: masts


Tom,

I think you already have something lined up, but for what it's worth:

Max-gain sells fiberglass products and has push up fiberglass masts that
while not cheap, are  higher quality than others being sold to hams:


http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-push-up-mast.htm
A different way to go is with surplus military 4 foot aluminum sections.
   These don't telescope, but would have to be assembled and walked up
from horizontal to vertical:

http://www.tmastco.com/

And one final source for junk as you engineer this project:

http://www.penningerradio.com/

73, Steve KW3A