Testing The Spiderbeam 12m Telescopic Fiberglass Antenna Mast.

[@FreddyNietzsche.]

7 years later : I think the idea of showing where you were was excellent, after all POTA is mainly about getting out and about , and for those can't get out much at least this provides a bit of discovery.. J'ai bien apprécié la video, c'etait instructive et m'a donné une petite idee de Montreuil, felicitations Gil.

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci!

[@cookiebeariscool]

Thanks for the review........ I paused the video and went to the spiderbeam site and just ordered the 12 meter one...... just have to wait about 30 days to get it here in New Zealand....... many thanks

[@nikosadie]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen... This really makes me want to get licenced and get into it.

[@MoTown44240]

Great video. First, most operators will not exceed the limitations of this equipment, i.e. more weight than each telescopic section can bear, assuring that each section is tightened before extending the next section. If you're a really concerned about slippage of the sections a piece of paper masking tape around each joint should be sufficient. Those hose clamps begin to add weight. Spiderbeam made the longer length mast poles available too late for my liking. I found a local United States distributor of thick wall fiberglass telescopic masts, Max-Gain Systems. My fist telescopic mast was their 32 foot heavy duty mast. My physical condition prevents me from hiking anymore and my age has something to do with not being able to carry great amounts of weight as I did prior to reaching 50. Athletic injuries from younger years have began to make my ankles, knees, well everything from my chin down, ache more at 73 years. My 32 foot mast nests down to 7 feet. I have joggers 3 wheel 2 seat stroller that I use for transporting my equipment from vehicle to whatever remote location I desire. The inflated stroller tires are a benefit when crossing non-paved surfaces.

[@marcinmichigan2772]

I have the 12m pole as well, I never thought of using a fishing pole tip as an insert for the tip, thank you my friend! de K8MH

[@barrykery1175]

Thanks for posting the most informative video. I am very impressed with the mast. Most Brand X masts have a super thin top section or two that are so weak and skinny that they just bend in a U so you end up with a 34 foot mast that ends up being only 26 foot once the top section bends. The mast you just demoed is the making of a full quarter wave vertical for 40 meters working portable. ......or.....attaching a HWEF20. Attaching a HWEF40 is do-able as an inverted L. 73 de KU3X/QRP

[@WH6FQE]

This is good to know. I am currently looking at the Spiderbeam 40 meter fiberglass mast for field day and EmComm use. Having the antenna 85 feet in the air would be nice.

[@sigmasd10]

RP, use a vertical 40m Delta Loop with the top apex held up the mast, guy ropes on the two lower corners and the feedpoint half way along the bottom side. Add a 2:1 balun at the feedpoint and you will have multiband operation from 40m right up to 6m, at least 1-2 db gain over a dipole and being in the vertical plane it will be bi directional (unless you slope it) so you will have even more gain. You will also have very low noise so you would be able to hear weaker stations.

[@RadioPrepper]

I tried a 30m Delta Loop but it was already quite big...

[@sigmasd10]

It would only be for portable use so size isn't a problem. My fixed 40m Delta Loop is horizontal and 5 metres (1/8th wave) above the ground in my front garden, and it works great...Raising it any higher here isn't possible as I have three BT telephone cables running horizontally about 2m above it, but for portable use with the Spiderbeam 12m mast I would use the mast to hold up the top apex at 12m above ground and slope the rest of the loop in the direction I want to work (say towards the West to work US stations) and use a guy rope on each of the lower two corners tied to a couple of tent pegs in the ground to tension the loop a bit...Obviously you wouldn't be able to add too much tension because the Spiderbeam mast is very flexible. The feed point would be half way along the bottom side, which is parallel to the ground, to give horizontal polarisation and it would be low enough that you could reach it comfortably to attach the coax onto it. You would need a 2:1 balun in the feed box, to match the loops 100 ohm impedance to the 50 ohms of the coax but these are very cheap and simple to make...I made one for only around £5.00 because I got the waterproof box and enamel coated wire for free from friends and other hams.

[@caulktel]

Another great video Gil, very pretty scenery there. I use a 28ft Jackite fiberglass pole with a home made EFHW. I just ordered a Yeasu FT-817ND today so I can have more bands available to me while running portable. Now if the forest fires cooperate I will have some fun. Very smokey here.

[@RadioPrepper]

+Joel Caulkins Thanks Joel, FB on the 817!

[@RadioPrepper]

+Joel Caulkins Thanks Joel, FB on the 817!

[@davidj.wilcox6053]

Great video. To prevent collapse in the USA Amazon and Autozone sell Koehler EZ Clamps, stainless hose clamps with built in knob, don't require a wrench or screw driver to adjust. Great for preventing collapse and easy to adjust. Thanks for the great quality video and the excellent audio. My 72 year old ears tire easily with the wind noise of other videos. Dave K8WPE

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you, good to know.

[@sleeve8651]

Never fails when you want to test your new antenna, there's a bloody contest ! I feel your pain Mate ! 👍😉

[@VE3IPS]

Great idea on the table and chair for field ops. We may not always have the luxury of a picnic table. Great comparison on the mast

[@RadioPrepper]

Thank you.

[@Ron_C]

Awesome! I literally ordered this same mast last Friday! Glad to know I won't be disappointed.

[@paulineelbelati6943]

from where you bought it? I am looking for such a thing in The Netherlands

[@Ron_C]

@@paulineelbelati6943 www.spiderbeam.com/

[@RadioPrepper]

Directly on the spiderbeam site.

[@geoffreylotz3661]

Thank you for this video, OM - much appreciated. I have recently moved to CT7 from ZS1, and am now in a rented QTH for 12 months. I want to put up my 80m horizontal loop again at this QTH, but need it to be easy to take down again when we move. I have been thinking about using these Spiderbeam masts at each corner, lashed to fence posts, and basically permanently extended until the end of our lease, but had some concerns about their weight carrying capability (80 metres of D10 is not heavy but not light either) and wind/weather resistance. You video has helped me a lot with clarifying my thinking. My concern is around them collapsing, obviously. Thanks again, have fun. 73 de CT7/ZR1XZ.

[@RadioPrepper]

The longer ones use clamps to prevent collapse.. Obviously you will have to guy them..

[@pa3fat]

Just received my Spiderbeam mast. Also got the clamps for securing the elements. Need to prepare them (cut/crimp) before trying to use. Over the years when twisting the elements they tend to wear out and in the end break/split at the bottom. Thanks for all your video's just watched your after lockdown outage with the minion sdr !

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks. I don't have the clamps, we'll see...

[@gac231]

Et merci pour la revue du spiderbeam 12m

[@stevebrettuk]

Hi Gil, just catching up with all your old videos since subscribing recently. I've used that Spiderbeam pole (on loan from a friend) and can confirm it's absolutely awesome. I went looking for a budget alternative and found the Windjammer camping flagpole on eBay. I have the 10m version - it holds itself up really well at full height with a wire, and can take a fair bit of wind before giving up. I often take a few of the higher sections out and stuff my X30 in the end with the coax running down inside. It'll also take a light yagi at that height. I used to tape it at the joints, just to be sure, but these days I don't bother, there's a sweet spot where it holds itself up nicely but isn't a total pain to bring back down again. Talk to you over the water one day, I'm very near GB3EK. Soixante-treize de 2E0KSB, JO01RI.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great info thanks. I am in Antibes now though ;-)

[@thomthumbe]

A fiberglass mast was a tempting purchase, but I’m sticking with my metal portable mast. Almost no bending at all when using a end fed, or a wire dipole or a small beam ant, and with a dual-band Diamond stick on top plus two runs of LMR-240 (using a Velcro strap on every mast section to keep the coax from blowing around). And when backpacking, I’m not likely going to take with me or use a mast at all. But this was interesting to watch! TKS es 73!

[@RadioPrepper]

No coupling to the radiating wire? I use LMR-240/UF..

[@Redhawk03a]

Super helpful video! Thank you for the clear demonstrations including how to mount a heaver antenna on the mast! best regards from California! KN6RWM

[@9999plato]

As thick as that tip is it bends pretty well. I used it as the center pole in an inverted V EFHW 130" chameleon antenna. I'm not sure but I might have been better off with leaving the top 2 sections mostly collapsed to leave it at 35' instead of sagging badly at 42' extended. I need to relocate it today and will try a 35' vertical with the remainder as a sloper. I strongly recommend using the clamp kit especially if you plan to leave it up for a while. When doing a long V or any other configuration that might create a good amount of tension the topo flexes at least 5' back over negating the top 2 sections. You can definitely get 35' reliably but don't count on putting a heavy balun up there. If I were to do it again id get the taller model (60 ft?) so as to get 45-50' of rigid mast. They will all flex up top. The pole is offered with a metal loop inserted in the top so you can tie some poly line in a loop and string your antenna through it. Overall I recommend it but with the caveats mentioned above.

[@RadioPrepper]

Yep, I often remove one or two sections..

[@DonDegidio]

Gil, Great video. Bought two of the 12m poles at the time of Hamvention. I would recommend getting the hose clamp kit. It is available for the 12m pole. I've had both poles up in the back yard supporting an terminated inverted u antenna and the wind movement made one the poles collapse. Since using the clamp kit, the poles have stayed up even in high winds. 73 WB3BJU

[@PatFortino]

Thanks for the review of the spiderpole. Great job. K7GUD

[@luke8210]

Cool mast, those set numbers are a bit scary though.... Very mobile setup however, I like it.

[@OH8STN]

I still love this video ☺ searching for something else on KZbin but this was number one in the results. Hope you're well 73 Julian oh8stn

[@RadioPrepper]

+OH8STN Thanks Julian, stay warm up there!

[@joeym6730]

How common are corvettes in France?? Thank you for the video. I was trying to see some videos on the Spiderbeam and your video is great. Thank you for maiming it and sharing it.

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, extremely rare in France..

[@pathopkins4500]

Very nice KZbin video Gil =) I really like the pictures of the country and fortification site .... love the car show as well =)

[@RadioPrepper]

+Pat Hopkins Thanks Pat, I was worried these little extras might annoy people...

[@pathopkins4500]

Gil ..... I think that pictures of the area and history adds to the event you are doing on a video =) If you look at most of the RaDAR / Manpac / SOTA / WWII / POTA /NPOTA ..... most containing surrounding pictures and history =) Thanks a bunch Gil and you are doing a great job =)

[@lawrencethompson465]

@@RadioPrepper Au contraire! I very much appreciated the “extras” in your video. I too use the 12 mtr Spiderbeam. Currently, it is holding a 140 foot doublet inspired by Richard of Sotabeams (42 foot lead-in). I am hearing some states and countries I have never heard before. I really appreciate and learn from your knowledge and experience. Thanks!

[@F1LYS]

Interesting, thank you for sharing. I was wandering if I should get one of those.

[@johncliff5417]

Hi there Gil, I enjoyed your video there using the Spider Beam fibre glass pole. They seem very good. I thought they were a lot thinner than that before seeing your video, so thanks for putting that point straight. Thanks for giving me some ideas for putting up antennas in a small garden. 73 and good DX from John - G0WXU

[@RadioPrepper]

+John Cliff Thanks John. The 12m pole is a bit heavy but rugged and a good length. I do like it a lot. For hiking though I use a 6m light pole. I think I need a 9m light pole for that, as 6m is a bit short for 40m operations..

[@jimself1954]

Thanks for the video. I ordered the 12m spiderbeam based on your findings. I use an 8010 EFHW and have a 49:1 end fed 20 meter antenna which will be perfect with this pole. Thank you. Jim Self KW4PW

[@RadioPrepper]

Definitely, I need to get mine back from up north...

[@Bro-f3h]

Good job!

[@Roddy1965]

I use a ParEndFed (now from Vibroplex) quad band, for SSB, and it's quite excellent. Canada to S. Africa twice, Europe, on 100W.

[@RadioPrepper]

Yep, I did Florida to Estonia with mine using 1.3W.

[@Roddy1965]

@@RadioPrepper wow that's amazing. Love the channel. Keep up the good work. va3krt

[@jgwimmer]

Very nice video. Well done, and I wish you good DX!!

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!

[@TechGearJunkie]

That's pretty cool. I need to add a mast to my list.

[@karolymeszarosHA]

It's was instructive and pleasurable! Thank you very much! Charlie, HA1SM

[@larrybushman1]

I was sure you would like that mast have had one for around 3 years and been very pleased with it. Great to see your operating conditions for the VMARS net last week. Many thanks for another entertaining video. 73s Larry M3MPD

[@RadioPrepper]

+The Pensioner Prepper Thanks Larry, nice to hear you on the air!

[@dambuster6387]

I have the same pole I am very pleased with it. Good value for the money. I use it for my 40 m delta loop. The very top section needs to be guyed .

[@RadioPrepper]

Yep, I use mine all the time, no guy wires, but I use pretty light wire.

[@w.rustylane5650]

Never cut the antenna wire--fold it back on itself to get the swr where you want it.

[@jennifer86010]

Folding back antenna wire will not work. Electrically, the electrons will continue to radiate to the end of the wire, which will be far too long. You must do: 1. Cut the wire to the desired length with no excess. OR 2. Fold back the excess wire and remove insulation from the tip and the main wire and wire them together. This is the only way the electrons will radiate at your desired length. We often confuse mechanical logic with electrical logic and they are not often the same.

[@RadioPrepper]

You could fold it but I think the wire has to be in contact the whole way.. Better spool it at the top though.

[@KL3NCH]

Merci beaucoup Gil. Jusqu'a je vais penser de acheter un 12M Spiderpole, je peux regarder votre meilleur vidéo. (mauvais 50 ans viellle Français apprendre a l'ecole Anglaise!) 73, Steve.

[@RadioPrepper]

Hey not too shaby ;-) 😉 The 12m is heavy. 10m might be a good compromise..

[@elzarbiman9657]

Hi Radio Prepper. How do you join the elements of the mast. . You don't need something else ( tools ) ? Spiderbeam sells an accesorie to attach it. Thanks a lot.

[@RadioPrepper]

Nothing. You just pull on them. Friction is sufficient on the 12m mast. Longer masts require clamps.

[@elzarbiman9657]

@@RadioPrepper Thank you very much .73

[@davidenglund]

Just ordered mine. How did you remove the smaller sections? Through the bottom? I'm thinking of using for POTA, and I'll use a couple hamsticks on a Chameleon Antenna Octagon Antenna Spoke Base. Thx

[@RadioPrepper]

Easy, you slide them out from the bottom.

[@OH8STN]

Well done Gil! BTW, you videos are getting much better. Shared, liked, ...

[@RadioPrepper]

+OH8STN Thank you Julian, I am not yet satisfied and hope to do better...

[@OH8STN]

Radio Prepper Takes time, you'll get there 👍

[@brentjohnson6654]

I have been interested in spider beam to hoist an EFHW antenna. I am guessing it would be best not to tie the feed point to this pole but something else non-conductive. How long have you had the pole up? I plan to start portable for POTA and will have ham sticks for a couple of the bands. And then I would supplement with an EFHW. I am new so I will bring HF rig from QTH. I am considering making my own EFHW transformer. Thanks for you videos. It helps to see the item I am wondering about put to use. Al the best! 73 de KI5HXM

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, I have been using it almost every outing for maybe 5 years. As far as I know it is non-conductive. It sure works great.

[@Hindukushsailing]

Awesome. I just bought a very well used ICOM m700 pro. It fires up with a 12 volt battery. I do not have a ham License yet. I was trying to figure out a power supply for this radio it's 150 watts full power?? If that is the proper term? I was looking for a suitable switchable ac to dc power inverter that was not to expensive. Then I want to buy something like yours. A Spiderbeam and a wire antenna. Sit on the back porch to not annoy my family. Haha. Cheers dude loved the video. 👍👍

[@RadioPrepper]

Great, I had an M700 (not pro) excellent radios.

[@RobertMacCready]

Interesting review. I guess you can go as far up as you want with the mast. So, if you had this 12m mast and mounted a j pole and only wanted to go up 7m, that you can do?

[@RadioPrepper]

You remove elements from the bottom, simply slide them out, takes 10secs...

[@CroPrepper]

Would this pole support a 4:1 balun feeded by rg58 for a linked dipole or would it bend too much?

[@RadioPrepper]

I think so. You'd have to remove a couple sections.

[@philliptoone]

I love your 20th Century Motor Corporation hat. ;)

[@RadioPrepper]

Good catch ;-)

[@dalemyers5096]

My car is a 1960 mg magnette. I live in the usa, north carolina.

[@MarkKrubsack]

Nice!

[@Roddy1965]

Just got this pole. It's very good.

[@RadioPrepper]

Still using mine!

[@paulbaran1404]

Where did you buy the Spiderbeam mast from. Please tell me. Also Love your video's.

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks. Directly from Spiderbeam.

[@captainmarvel6031]

Thanks for the bideo! How does the Astatic mic work with the kx2? Is that an amplified mic?

[@RadioPrepper]

No, pretty well.

[@QRPCW]

Buen vídeo Genial instalación del mástil 73

[@srs26]

Hi Gil, great video! Where did you buy the LMR400 Ultraflex from? Kind regards, Simon M0SYS

[@RadioPrepper]

Hi, on EBay, like most the other stuff I buy.

[@ik8vwa]

hi, what's the exact model of the little device to check the swr?

[@RadioPrepper]

I suggest a NanoVNA.

[@ik8vwa]

thanks, I was thinking about something easy so power, maybe with a battery@@RadioPrepper

[@warplanner3258]

Gil, I have become an avid follower of your videos and love the content and theory and practical building and such. Forgive me but I gotta tell you that each and every time I watch one, I fully expect to see you break out with some incredible array of lethal weapons a la your look-alike, Jean Reno, in The Professional. Just sayin' Keep up the excellent work! 72 de k6whp dit dit

[@RadioPrepper]

LOL, I can't put everything on KZbin ;-)

[@nelxonmiranda]

Hello. Beautiful city. Can you please tell me the name or the brand of your CW paddle? Tnx. 73

[@RadioPrepper]

+Nelxon M. Hi, it is a Kent.

[@placeholder-065]

Hello Gil, I'm contemplating buying the 12m HD (or 18m) fiberglass Spiderbeam pole. This video is made in August 2017 so you have the pole like almost 1,5 years now. My single question, are you still happy with the 12m HD pole? Bav Gust ON6KE

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes, very much so, except it's a bit heavy for long hikes, but very tough.

[@placeholder-065]

Excellent, that's good news. Thank you Gil. Gust ON6KE@@RadioPrepper

[@vk6op648]

lol GLAM radio, comfort is everything

[@RadioPrepper]

+VK6OP Oh man, I must be getting old!

[@ON8EI]

Well done. Getting back to the hobby 73's ON9CJD

[@RadioPrepper]

+JD Transport Thanks!

[@thuff3207]

I fund this looking for a 10m good mast for my linked dipole. This looks like a good mast for some portable opps.

[@RadioPrepper]

As long as you don't have to hike with it it's great.

[@thomasreid7082]

Gil, have you ever heard of the Megamast by Studio Assets? www.seaportdigital.com/27-5-8-4m-megamast-camera-stand.html I'm told they will soon have a 50' Version.Thoughts?

[@RadioPrepper]

I have now, but given the price, no thanks.

[@paulfallon181]

I didn't notice any guy wires. Was that due to not being windy when you filmed the video

[@RadioPrepper]

Indeed.

[@jennifer86010]

11:59 "This is a great antenna"....I'm sure it works during good conditions. Unfortunately, it is never equipment that determines successful contacts, but rather band conditions. Under good propagation conditions, I've used 1 watt and little more than a 9-volt battery feeding a paperclip to contact distant DX stations. Under bad band conditions, 1,500 watts into a multi -element Yagi mounted at 23 meters barely works at all. Ham Radio manufacturers always sell more equipment during 11-year cycles when we are blessed with sun spots which ionize Earth's ionosphere. Currently, in 2021 we are still near the bottom of the cycle...a cycle which is also among the bottom of cycle groups. Band conditions are difficult now to say the least, with tremendous QSB and atmospheric noise on many frequencies at certain times of day. After living through both rich Solar Sun Spot Cycles and poor ones, I have finally realized that buying fancy, expensive new radio equipment will not help make contacts. Driving a Rolls Royce through a blinding blizzard is no different than driving a Volkswagen...( by the way, Volkswagen owns Rolls Royce) So, just like the weather, in spite of the fact that one may own a beautiful yacht, it is of little use if the ocean is choppy and stormy. Hopefully we will start to receive better Sun Spot Activity and our ionosphere will start to charge up.

[@RadioPrepper]

I couldn't agree more.

[@ON8EI]

Oh yes I hate contest too.

[@DennisMathias]

Instead of cutting it could you just fold or wind it back on itself?

[@RadioPrepper]

Yes.

[@ON8EI]

Join the club, I dislike contests too. Love your videos. ON9CJD

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks.

[@jeanlucettore5931]

Bon mât mais utilité illusoire . Une canne à pêche sur un point haut fait aussi bien l'affaire . Sauf que wimo se gave bien au passage ...

[@RadioPrepper]

It depends on what kind of antenna you use. For a light wire antenna a fishing pole works as well. For a Yagi-Uda or VHF/UHF vertical, as well as a long inverted V, the Spiderbeam works better. I prefer a light fishing pole for hiking, no doubt...

[@RadioPrepper]

Oui, ça dépend du poids de l'antenne. Dans certains cas une canne à pêche est un meilleur choix. Pour une Yagi ou VHF/UHF verticale, ou une longue V inversée, le Spiderbeam marche mieux...

[@CroPrepper]

Ordered mine today... Nice page with different antenna designs for this pole: www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/80m-on-12m-pole/

[@gac231]

La France est passée aux pieds et miles?

[@RadioPrepper]

La majeure partie de mon audience est anglophone.

[@andreymarinov4410]

Nice Video 73 de F1VNO

[@RadioPrepper]

Merci!

[@AntonioBarba_TheKaneB]

well done! 73 de IU2KIY

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks.

[@craigpalmer9196]

automotive hose clamps KF5JYZ

[@RadioPrepper]

With tape on them...

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

IMsorry that france and poland suffered much during ww2 kg6mn

[@nivid01]

NICE ANTENNA MATE, BUT YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING SECURING IT WITH A ROPE AFTER YOU EXTEND IT. YOU SHOULD SECURE THE BOTTOM PART FIRST WITH TWO HOSE CLAMPS OR RATCHET TIE DOWNS BEFORE YOU START EXTENDING IT.

[@RadioPrepper]

Never had a problem doing it this way. It is not a permanent installation.

[@richardwesterman5773]

Steve, you obviously have not had any experience with Spiderpoles. NEVER secure with hose clamps or any other clamps. Metal clamps should NEVER be used on thin-wall fiberglass tubes. Ratchet-Straps are best, but rope works just fine. With over 30,000 of these Spiderpoles in the field, we know best how to use them. de DJ0IP (Spiderbeam)

[@RadioPrepper]

Absolutely! I have deployed mine probably a hundred times. It is my most used piece of radio gear.

[@johnallsopp8260]

Do you find the segments stick 73 de G4YDM

[@RadioPrepper]

Separately?

[@OTONAFIT]

💛💛💛