radials and mounting

[nutcracker]

Im putting my antenna up on a metal pole today but cant figure out how to do the radials. Because on the other side it would be touching the pole. Heres my idea for the setup. Is there any flaws to this? I dont see why it shouldnt work but want to make sure before I do it. The ring goes around the pole so that the radials will be free from touching anything.

[ external image ]

['Doc]

Can it work? Yes. Will it work? Don't know, just depends on how you do it. Simple is nice. I think I'd keep the number of those radials to around 3 or 4. Want to add more, have at it.
- 'Doc

[nutcracker]

im going to start on it in a bit. But Im only going to have 4 or 5 radials, I just put alot in the pic. I dont see any other way to do it because the radials would be touching the metal pole?

[nutcracker]

another thing I wondered is how should I mount it without it touching the metal poll? Would a piece of rubber between the pole and antenna work?

[jegs]

If you are building a simple ground plane antenna for a base it doesn't matter if the radials touch the mast. In fact you should ground the radials to an earth ground along with the shield side of the coax to drain static build up. The only antenna that you don't want the shield side of the coax touching the mast is a dipole. You only need three radials spaced evenly apart for a ground plane antenna.

[nutcracker]

I am going to just let them touch and see how it goes. But When im mounting it onto the mast does the driven element need to just not be touching the mast, or does it have to be away from it a small distance so it wont screw with the swrs?

[jegs]

I am going to just let them touch and see how it goes. But When im mounting it onto the mast does the driven element need to just not be touching the mast, or does it have to be away from it a small distance so it wont screw with the swrs?

The driven element or the center conductor of the coax must not touch the mast. The distance between the two isn't important unless you are running a lot of power.

[nutcracker]

Would 800 watts be too much? I was thinking about just cutting a piece of pvc pipe in half and clamping that between the mast. I figured out the center conductor dosent like to be close to the driven element either, it has to bent in a U shape or else it makes the swrs jump up.

['Doc]

How you go about making that antenna is just a matter of imagination really. The vertical element doesn't/shouldn't touch the mast of the radials. The radials touching the mast isn't exactly very important.
One method is to use a sction of PVC pipe as you thought about. Make the vertical element stick out the top, clamp the radials further down the pipe a bit with a hose clamp. Run the coax up through the pipe and exit somewhere inbetween the vertical element and the radials. Run the center conductor/braid to the appropriate places and make a connection. How to connect that PVC pipe to the mast? More imagination! Make the pipe a foot or so too long, run a long nail through it and stick the thing down inside the mast (nail keeps it from going too far into the mast)? Duct Tape! That always works, doesn't it?? How many mast sections have you ever seen using one'a them nails to keep them from slipping into each other?
Is that -THE- way to do things? Not really, but it'll work.
- 'Doc


I've seen some really 'goofy' ideas work just fine. I've also seen some really nice ideas not work at all. Your millage may vary.

[nutcracker]

Well it works very good. Im not sure but it seems to have cut down on some noise too. I welded a bolt to the mast and that is where the ring bolts to. Then just slid a piece of pvc over the mast to where the verticle clamps too.

['Doc]

Hey! If it works, it works. Good enough!
- 'Doc