Envelope-to: dave@picks.force9.co.uk
Delivery-date: Mon, 08 Aug 2005 08:28:44 +0100
From: "Mike Dennison" <mike.dennison@ntlworld.com>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Date: Mon, 08 Aug 2005 08:27:54 +0100
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Subject: Re: LF: 136 khz acty Sunday
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>   I bought one of those DK9SQ telescoping masts a couple of years ago.
>   Yes, its very light but also very weak The top section is maybe 1/4"
>   diameter. I was able to (just barely) get it to hold up a 75m dipole
>   made up of #20 insulated wire fed with 300 ohm tv twin lead, I used
>   fishing line instead of rope at the dipole ends. I used the mast as
>   a center support, and it still bent a bit under the weight of the
>   very light dipole. Also, there is no locking mechanism on the
>   telescoping sections, to prevent it from collapsing on itself I had
>   to put a piece of tape accross each of the lower sections.
> 73 Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ

I had exactly the same experience with mine, though it was useful 
when operating occasional LF portable. When I used it at home, my 
neighbours didn't like it because it was so unstable in the slightest 
wind.

I still keep it handy, though, as it makes a very lightweight 25ft 
extension to my arm when I need to disentangle branches from the 
antenna after a storm.

Mike, G3XDV
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