Mounting and usage tips from our very creative customers…

These photos illustrate the use of a conduit size which works well with the large (2.5 inch OD) base section size of our "HD" masts…. provided by our customer Wilbur Carruth.

Wilbur writes:   

Included are some photos how I devised a method to install and raise the pole single handedly with little effort. I purchased your model MK6-HD assembly which has a lower section with a diameter of 2.5". Wishing to be able to install the pole by myself, and not be in a strain to keep it vertical until the guys were secure, I decided to put a piece of pipe in the ground to hold the unit upright and leave me with both hands free. A standard two and a half inch pipe or conduit measures 2.369" inside diameter, so that would not work.

A three inch pipe is way too loose and sloppy. A little research found that a piece of two and a half inch "Intermediate Metallic Conduit" actually measures 2.597" inside diameter and is a beautiful fit for the 2.5" fiberglass pole. Intermediate Metallic Conduit, known as "IMC" in the electrical trades, is a heavy wall, threaded pipe, but is thinner than standard rigid conduit or pipe. 2.5" pipe WILL NOT WORK! It has to be 2.5" "IMC" for the proper clearance.

The IMC comes in a ten foot length, so I cut it in half and used a five foot piece for support.  By digging a hole three feet deep and planting the pipe, making sure it is plumb (vertical) leaves two feet sticking out of the ground. I drilled a hole and put a 3/8" bolt through the pipe and also drilled the fiberglass lower section for the bolt. By sitting the fiberglass pipe into the IMC, and resting it on the bolt, you can slip the bolt out, lower the fiberglass just a bit and re-insert the bolt again for a secure hookup. Then you can raise the sections, one by one, and then tie off the guy ropes without even straining. The bolt could have been shorter, but that was in the junk box so I used it.

The other gizmo in the photo is an 80 meter receiving loop antenna.