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
==========
|
