I was seriously thinking of plunking down the $250 plus for the 40-foot
Wonderpole (www.wonderpole.com) to support parallel dipoles (probably 14
gauge stranded copper wire dipoles cut for 80, 40, and 20 meters), fed with
600 ohm open wire, but I am concerned about:

1.. Is the pole strong enough to hold up 80, 40, and 20 meter dipoles,
especially the top section?
2.. Do they, like most pushup fiberglass antenna, collapse or come loose
over time?
3.. How do they stand up over time.I'd like to use it in a permanent
installation.
4.. Do they need to be guyed (how badly do they flop around in 15-30 mph
wind)?
5.. How much overlap do you leave between the sections for extra strength?
6.. Are they a good company to deal with?
I am thinking about mounting it on top of my 45 foot light-weight steel
crank-up tower (no beam on it) to get my dipoles up 80 feet or so.

I called the company in Oregon (I believe), and they didn't know how it
would work in such an application and the guy who is the mechanical expert
never returned my call.

If anyone has any ACTUAL experience using a 40-foot wonderpole you could
share with me, it would be much appreciated.

BTW, the reason for the multiple wires is to broaden the narrow pattern a
single 80 meter dipole would exhibit on on the higher frequency bands (20-10
meters). But if it won't support it, I'll probably go with a single 80 meter
dipole for now.

Thanks, and 73,

Greg, N6GK

I would love to have a BIG OLE WONDERPOLE FOR MYSELF!

Any offers boys?

dxAce
Michigan
USA
"greg knapp 5" wrote in message
...
I was seriously thinking of plunking down the $250 plus for the 40-foot
Wonderpole (www.wonderpole.com) to support parallel dipoles (probably 14
gauge stranded copper wire dipoles cut for 80, 40, and 20 meters), fed
with
600 ohm open wire, but I am concerned about:

1.. Is the pole strong enough to hold up 80, 40, and 20 meter dipoles,
especially the top section?
2.. Do they, like most pushup fiberglass antenna, collapse or come loose
over time?
3.. How do they stand up over time.I'd like to use it in a permanent
installation.
4.. Do they need to be guyed (how badly do they flop around in 15-30 mph
wind)?
5.. How much overlap do you leave between the sections for extra
strength?
6.. Are they a good company to deal with?
I am thinking about mounting it on top of my 45 foot light-weight steel
crank-up tower (no beam on it) to get my dipoles up 80 feet or so.

I called the company in Oregon (I believe), and they didn't know how it
would work in such an application and the guy who is the mechanical expert
never returned my call.

If anyone has any ACTUAL experience using a 40-foot wonderpole you could
share with me, it would be much appreciated.

BTW, the reason for the multiple wires is to broaden the narrow pattern a
single 80 meter dipole would exhibit on on the higher frequency bands
(20-10
meters). But if it won't support it, I'll probably go with a single 80
meter
dipole for now.

Thanks, and 73,

Greg, N6GK

Unless you need the retracting feature, don't fool around with those baby
poles and buy one of the mothers featured at
http://www.excelsails.com/flagpole.htm
If you buy one of their 40 feet models, you get a rustic rod with a butt
diameter of 5.25" tapering to 2.5" at the top. Compare this with the puny
wonderpole's dimensions of 2" and 0.75" respectively.

"Jack" wrote in message
...
I would love to have a BIG OLE WONDERPOLE FOR MYSELF!

Any offers boys?

dxAce
Michigan
USA
"greg knapp 5" wrote in message
...
I was seriously thinking of plunking down the $250 plus for the 40-foot
Wonderpole (www.wonderpole.com) to support parallel dipoles (probably 14
gauge stranded copper wire dipoles cut for 80, 40, and 20 meters), fed
with
600 ohm open wire, but I am concerned about:

1.. Is the pole strong enough to hold up 80, 40, and 20 meter dipoles,
especially the top section?
2.. Do they, like most pushup fiberglass antenna, collapse or come
loose
over time?
3.. How do they stand up over time.I'd like to use it in a permanent
installation.
4.. Do they need to be guyed (how badly do they flop around in 15-30
mph
wind)?
5.. How much overlap do you leave between the sections for extra
strength?
6.. Are they a good company to deal with?
I am thinking about mounting it on top of my 45 foot light-weight steel
crank-up tower (no beam on it) to get my dipoles up 80 feet or so.

I called the company in Oregon (I believe), and they didn't know how it
would work in such an application and the guy who is the mechanical
expert
never returned my call.

If anyone has any ACTUAL experience using a 40-foot wonderpole you could
share with me, it would be much appreciated.

BTW, the reason for the multiple wires is to broaden the narrow pattern a
single 80 meter dipole would exhibit on on the higher frequency bands
(20-10
meters). But if it won't support it, I'll probably go with a single 80
meter
dipole for now.

Thanks, and 73,

Greg, N6GK

Wow, great pole, but....
Gee, only $1100.00 for a 40 footer! That's out of my league for a 40 foot
fiberglass pole!


"John N9JG" wrote in message
...
Unless you need the retracting feature, don't fool around with those baby
poles and buy one of the mothers featured at
http://www.excelsails.com/flagpole.htm
If you buy one of their 40 feet models, you get a rustic rod with a butt
diameter of 5.25" tapering to 2.5" at the top. Compare this with the puny
wonderpole's dimensions of 2" and 0.75" respectively.

"Jack" wrote in message
...
I would love to have a BIG OLE WONDERPOLE FOR MYSELF!

Any offers boys?

dxAce
Michigan
USA
"greg knapp 5" wrote in message
...
I was seriously thinking of plunking down the $250 plus for the 40-foot
Wonderpole (www.wonderpole.com) to support parallel dipoles (probably 14
gauge stranded copper wire dipoles cut for 80, 40, and 20 meters), fed
with
600 ohm open wire, but I am concerned about:

1.. Is the pole strong enough to hold up 80, 40, and 20 meter dipoles,
especially the top section?
2.. Do they, like most pushup fiberglass antenna, collapse or come
loose
over time?
3.. How do they stand up over time.I'd like to use it in a permanent
installation.
4.. Do they need to be guyed (how badly do they flop around in 15-30
mph
wind)?
5.. How much overlap do you leave between the sections for extra
strength?
6.. Are they a good company to deal with?
I am thinking about mounting it on top of my 45 foot light-weight steel
crank-up tower (no beam on it) to get my dipoles up 80 feet or so.

I called the company in Oregon (I believe), and they didn't know how it
would work in such an application and the guy who is the mechanical
expert
never returned my call.

If anyone has any ACTUAL experience using a 40-foot wonderpole you could
share with me, it would be much appreciated.

BTW, the reason for the multiple wires is to broaden the narrow pattern
a
single 80 meter dipole would exhibit on on the higher frequency bands
(20-10
meters). But if it won't support it, I'll probably go with a single 80
meter
dipole for now.

Thanks, and 73,

Greg, N6GK

I was seriously thinking of plunking down the $250 plus for the 40-foot
Wonderpole (www.wonderpole.com) to support parallel dipoles (probably
14
gauge stranded copper wire dipoles cut for 80, 40, and 20 meters), fed
with
600 ohm open wire, but I am concerned about: .....................

Dunno. Costs too much vs a standard push up mast, unless it
lets you avoid guys, and I sorta doubt that being the metal mast
does require them. The antenna wires can guy the top, but you may
need a set of mid point guys. Another problem...I prefer a metal
mast as far as a lightning return. I've taken strikes, and never have
a
problem with the metal masts. I assume a glass mast would be toast
unless you ran wires down it as a lightning return.
The only advantage I could see is it's non conductive as far as rf,
but in the real world, I've never once had a coupling problem from
using a metal mast to support wire antennas.
MK

Question. Do you guys *not* have surplus military equipment around? Surely!!
A hydrolic or pneumatic mast, or even a handrolic mast makes a good
support for wires and the like.
In the UK we have plenty of ex MOD surplus gear for sale in various
guises. Pump up masts used to mount lights, television stations/film
sets use them, and so do the military for Ahem, mounting antenna's.
Do a web search, you might be surprised what turns up.Dave

--
Amateur Radio Call Sign M1BTI, Located in Manchester England.
Locator square IO83TK
Chairman Of Trafford Radio Club. Club Call Signs G0TRG & M1BBP
Located at Umist, University Of Manchester Institute For Science And
Technology
Share What You Know, Learn What You Dont.