In article , somebody wrote:

What is the result of using a metal mast as the center support of an inverted V
antenna. Will it work and if so can resonable low SWR be obtained using a
tuner? Any advice appreciated.

If the metal mast is isolated from the inverted V feedpoint (e.g. you
use a center insulator) then there will be no direct current
conduction onto the mast. And, if the inverted V is symmetrical with
respect to the mast, there won't be much opportunity for current to be
induced onto the mast... it'll be exposed to equal-and-opposite RF
fields from the two sides of the inverted dipole and the fields will
cancel.

Since there will be little or no RF current flowing on the mast, there
will be little or no effect on the antenna's feedpoint impedance and
radiation pattern.

If you use a coax feedline, you could very easily have more RF flowing
on the outside of the coax than on the mast... due to direct
conduction at the feedpoint (if you don't use a balun) and due to
induction (if the feedline is not positioned symmetrically with
respect to the inverted V).

An inverted-V on a metal mast is perfectly capable of having a low
SWR, even without a tuner. I have a three-wire inverted-V "fan
dipole" (wires cut for 40/20/10-meter operation) mounted from the top
of a 25' metal mast, and the SWR is under 2:1 throughout the width of
all of these bands. The SWR depends far more on the angle of the V,
and the antenna's height above ground, than it does on the presence or
absence of the metal mast. Ditto for the antenna's pattern.

So, the answer is "Yes, it will work". As long as you don't connect
the V itself, or the coax feedline braid, to the top of the mast,
you're unlikely to be able to tell the difference between using a
metal mast and a completely nonconductive mast.

You should, of course, apply all relevant safety precautions with
respect to lightning, power lines, and so forth.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
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