I just uploaded a small number of photos of my new Hex Beam installation (album:
NQ5T), finished just this afternoon.
The antenna is the K4KIO broadband kit. It is mounted on a homebrew fiberglass
rotating mast using Max-Gain fiberglass with Penninger guy slip rings and a
Yaesu 800 rotator at the base.
The K4KIO antenna went together easily and quickly. It's an excellent option if
you don't want to spend the time doing detailed construction yourself. In my
case, it was the best option, and I'm extrememly happy with the end product.
The mast is constructed from 4 sections of Max-Gain fiberglass from 2" (base) to
1 1/4" (top section). Total height is 25' to the antenna base plate -- the best
my local Zoning Board will allow without the hassle of a variance.
Rather than count on the Max-Gain compression clamps to hold everything in place
and eliminate any chance of slipping I pinned each mating fiberglass section
with a 1/4" stainless steel wire loop pin (belt and suspenders approach). The
top section has a short length of 1" solid fiberglass rod inserted and glued to
provide a firm surface for the antenna base mount screws. I replaced the
standard set screws in the antenna base mount with 3/4" hex cap screws and
drilled a mating surface into the fiberglass to minimize any possibility of the
antenna twisting at the mount point. Also used aluminum flashing to shim out
the small difference between the 1 1/4" OD top mast section and the 1.315" ID
mounting fixture.
The rotator base mount is set in 3' of concrete. The Penninger slip rings at the
guy points ensure that there is no rotational binding and no wear points on the
fiberglass itself. (These things are really first rate!) The bottom guys were
set early in the installation of the mast, and double as the lateral thrust
bearing for the rotator. Guys are Phillystran tied to 4' screw-in anchors.
Now that construction is complete, it's time to get this thing on the air :-)
Grant/NQ5T