![]() ![]() The next step could have been done several ways. At this point the arrangement was very similar in concept to the Buddipole "arms" except for the materials used and the tubing dimensions. The extra nut was then removed and hammered into the opposite end of each section of PVC. With another connecting nut threaded onto ther exposed bolt threads it was relatively easy to hammer them into the PVC tubes until the first nut was level with the end of the tubing. ![]() A 36" length of 1/2" ID PVC conduit was cut int two equal lengths and a combination of 1" long connecting nuts (3/8"-24) and 1 1/4" 3/8-24 bolts were assembled using high strength "Locktite" to form the connector at the lower end of each "arm". We made a conscious decision to emulate the design of the Buddipole system when it came to the design of the "mast". As we worked on the project we realized that we could simply substitute a mobile dual band antenna that was designed for both bands and used a 3/8"-24 mounting stud at it's base. It consists of four radials, two cut for one band (2 meters) and the other two cut for a different band (70 centimeters) The radiators consist of a "vee" with one leg cut for one band and the other leg cut for the other band. The basic design of the antenna started out to be a variation on a design concept that has shown up in the pages of QST and on the Internet fairly frequently. Small wire nuts were forced onto each cut end to protect assorted body parts like hands, eyes etc. The 70 centimeter radials were cut to 6" from the center stud and the 2 meter ones were cut to 19 1/4". Once the inner ends were fabricated, the radials were installed and then measured for the final cut appropriate for the band in question. Thus, less stuff to drop and lose in the field. That way we never have to completely remove the bolts from the mount in order to mount the radials. This end was made this way to slip under the four bolts in the corners of the mount. ![]() The radials wer heated at one end using a blow torch and then bent into a "U" shape with a 45 degree bend downward just past the horizontal "U". These are slightly less than 24" long and made of steel. ![]() The radials for our antenna were constructed from Insulation Supports made by the Simpson Strong Tie Company. Another two similar holes were drilled and tapped in the vertical surface of the aluminum angle to permit the mount to be secured to the mast without additional nuts, washers etc. These holes were tapped 3/16"-24 because that was the closest tap set we had at the time, not because there was anything special about 3/16"-24. We drilled a 1/2" hole in ther center of the horizontal portion of the angle and four smaller holes in the corners of the same surface. We could have simply gone to the nearest CB shop and purchased a mirror mount for a CB antenna but we had the raw material and he had the skills to make the project work. Since I was visiting my son Steve, KC1AJC at the time, he perused the "junkpile" in the corner of his workshop and began to fashion a suitable antenna mount from a scrap of heavy angle aluminum. I decided to do things a bit differently. According to the instructions from Buddipole this was to be used when erecting a vertical antenna using the components of the Buddipole system. This little project came together after I purchased a Buddipole HF Antenna System and noticed that the "Versa-Tee" in the system had an extra mounting hole on the top surface. ![]()
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