FIBERGLASS POLES

There are 5 types of fiberglass poles:

1. Lightweight, Telescoping Fiberglass Poles
2. Thick-Wall Telescoping Fiberglass Poles
3. Thick-Wall, Stackable Fiberglass Poles
4. Thin-Wall, Stackable Fiberglass Poles
5. Fiberglass Poles desguised as Flagpoles

Each serves a slightly difference purpose, although in some cases they may overlap.  Before purchasing a fiberglass pole, you should be clear in your own mind what you want to do with it.

Common Advantages of all 5 Types:

• Fiberglass poles are very lightweight and can easily be installed by just one person (except for the VERY long poles).
• Fiberglass poles are generally a lot cheaper than a steel or aluminum mast of the same height.
• Fiberglass poles are insulated, are non-conductive* and do not affect a bare wire which might happen to touch them.
• Fiberglass poles do not interfere with the radiation pattern of the antenna. This is especially true when used as a vertical.
• Should disaster strike, and the pole breaks, usually only one segment breaks and individual segments of the better quality poles can be replaced for a low cost.
• Should a fiberglass pole topple and accidently strike a human or animal, it is highly unlikely to be lethal.
• They are available in multiple levels of quality.  
  • CHEAP POLES are usually not worth the money.  
  • If you buy cheap, you buy twice.
  • Good quality poles cost more, but break far less often, and will last 10 years or more if you take proper care of them.

*CAUTION:  Carbon-Fiber poles are conductive and may affect radiation pattern. Although they are marketed to be stronger than pure fiberglass poles, because they conduct, they are NOT suited to be used for building vertical antennas, unless you slope the vertical wire diagonally away from the pole.

QUALITY:  I have over 30 years experience using fiberglass poles in the field and for permanent installations at home.  I have broken my share of [cheap] fiberglass poles.  I have also used high quality poles for many years without any breakage.

A pole is normally a long term investment and you should

be willing to spend a little more money for good quality.  

There is nothing worse than reaching that DX QTH, or IOTA island, making a handful of contacts, and then watching your [cheap] pole break in the wind or ice.  GAME OVER.

Pole Application Considerations:

Besides quality, you must also be sure you choose the right type of fiberglass pole for your application. Even a good quality pole will break if used in the wrong type of application.

How will the pole be used?

• Will the pole be use for portable or temporary applications, or will it be used in a permanent installation?
• As a vertical antenna, with a single wire running up the pole?
• As an Inverted-L, with the radiator wire running vertically up the pole, and then bending 90 degrees, continuing horizontally?
• As a vertical dipole with the feedline attached to the middle and exiting the pole either horizontally or diagonally?
• As CENTER  support for a normall dipole (e.g., Flat-Top, Inverted-V, or Off-Center-Fed)?
• As  END  support for a normal dipole (e.g., Flat-Top, Inverted-V, or Off-Center-Fed)?
• As support for a vertical loop (delta or quad loop)?
• Anything else?
• Do you live in an area which typically has strong winds or heavy icing?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT POLE SOLUTION:

The APPLICATION determins which solution you should choose.

1.  Applications for Lightweight Telescoping Fiberglass Poles.

This is the most widely used version of the fiberglass pole, at least here in Europe.

There are several brands to choose from, some good, some not so good, but you have a choice.

The advantage of this type of pole is, when collapsed it is very short and easy to transport, but when extended, it is very long.  It is also very lightweight, also important for easy transporting, especially when by foot, bicycle, or motorbike.  But even in a car, camper, or boat, size and weight can play an important factor.  

CAUTION:  NEVER USE COMPRESSION CLAMPS OF ANY KIND DIRECTLY ON THE SURFACE OF THESE POLES.  Instead, use straps for fixing these poles to their base mount.  If you must use a clamp, then you MUST use a rubber cushion between the pole and the clamp.

Best suited for:

• Vertical Antennas
• Inverted-L antennas
• Supporting lightweight dipole antennas
• Supporting lightweight loops
• The traveling ham (lightest and easiest to use)

NOTE:  because these are telescoping poles, they are relatively thin near the top and not suitable for supporting heavy weight at that point.

 NOT well suitable for*:

• Mounting an hf beam of any type - NEVER ATTEMPT TO DO THIS!
• Supporting heavy (WW-II - like) diple or sloper antennas, such as:
  • The Radio Works Carolina Windom
  • Buckmaster Windoms (OCF Dipoles)
  • W8AMZ  Dipoles and Slopers
  • Buddipole
  • Heavy multi-wire [fan] dipoles, such as some of the Alpha-Delta antennas.
  • End support for horizontal antennas.

*Note:  You can use the wire antennas listed here with telescoping poles, but you have to mount the feedpoint well down the pole.  Therefore you lose a lot of valuable height, and height is important for performance.  

There is nothing wrong with any of these antennas except for their excessive and unnecessary heavy weight.

If you are lucky enough to have a tower in your back yard, then by all means use one of these if you like.  You will have many years of use out of it.

But if you are looking for good performance and only have a small budget for the pole, these are the wrong antennas.

2.  Applications for Thick-Wall Telescoping Fiberglass Poles

These poles are not so common.  I only know of three sources, one in Europe and two in the US.  You will find the sources listed on the dedicated page for this antenna type.

As the name implies, the walls of the individual tubes are much thicker than that of the lightweight telescoping fiberglass poles.

These are similar to the lightweight telescoping poles, in that when collapsed, they are short and easy to transport, BUT they are not lightweight; at least no "backpackable-leightweight".  

Best suited for:

• Supporting heavy wire antennas (primary use)
  • All of the antennas listed in red above
  • Especially the Carolina Windom, which requires a non-resonant pole if the feedpoint is mounted on the pole
  • End support for horizontal antennas
• Supporting small VHF Yagis or Quads
• And perhaps a very small 6m Yagi

Not well suited for:

• Supporting HF Yagis or Quads (DON"T DO IT)

Note:  the advantage of the thick-wall telescoping poles over the thick-wall stackable poles is, they store as one thin pole and weigh less.

The disadvantage is price.  These cost considerably more than the stackable poles.

3.  Applications for Thick-Wall Stackable Fiberglass Poles

Probably the best known source for these poles is Army Surplus.  They come in 4 ft. long sements, are swaged on one end and typically painted olive (drab) green.

(Note: "swaged" means smaller on one end.)

Although these are often thought to be surplus army antenna poles, they are actually army tent poles.

These poles are relatively heavy duty when used for hanging wire antennas, but absolutely NOT suitable for supporting hf beams.

Their swaged couplung is not a tight fit and the poles sit very loose on each other. For that reason, these poles must be guyed when using more than 3 or 4 segments.

Best suited for:

• Heights up to about 40 feet.  Beyond that height it becomes very un-managable unless you have 4 or more people helping erect it.
• Supporting heavy wire antennas (primary use)
  • All of the antennas listed in red under point #1
  • Especially carolina Wondoms, which require a non-resonant pole if the feedpoint is mounted on the pole
• Supporting small VHF Yagis or Quads
• And perhaps a very small 6m Yagi



Not well suited for:

• supporting HF Yagis or Quads (DON'T DO IT)
• 1-man expeditions

Biggest advantage:  Low Cost!

There are also other, commercial sources of new poles like this.  The main difference is price. The new commercial poles cost more.  These are typically thinner than the military surplus poles.

There is one additional use for the thinner thick-wall tubes:

1. Used for spreaders in wire Yagis or Quads

Biggest disadvantage:  only usable up to about 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 ft.). After that they are very wobbly.

4.  Applications for Thin-Wall Stackable Fiberglass Poles

These poles are very rare.

They come in short lengths, typically about 4 ft. (1.2m) lengths, and are swaged on one end, to enable stacking to the next segment.

(Note: "swaged" means smaller on one end.)

These are VERY lightweight and can be used effective for lengths up to about 5m (16 ft.).  They also require guying, unless there is absolutely no wind.

Best suited for:

• Spreader arms for lightweight portable Yagis (for temporary installations)
• Spreader arms for lightweight portable Quads (for temporary installations)
• Short wire verticals (17m or above)
• Small outdoor Receive-Only Loops

Not well suited for:

• Permanent installations of Yagis or Quads
  • Too lightweight to survive storms
• Supporting dipole or similar horizontal antennas
  • Insufficient height for good performance
  • Often not sturdy enough for the job
• Mounting any kind of beam of any type, any band

CAUTION:  NEVER USE COMPRESSION CLAMPS OF ANY KIND DIRECTLY ON THE SURFACE OF THESE POLES.  Instead, use straps for fixing these poles to their base mount.  If you must use a clamp, then you MUST use a rubber cushion between the pole and the clamp.

5.  Applications for Fiberglass Flagpoles

These are relatively rare, especially in Europe.  You find them more often in the USA.  At first glance they really appear to be a flag pole.

Best suitable for:

• Vertical antennas
• OM living in housing areas with HOA restrictions
• Spys and double-agents  (hi)

Not suitable for:

• Horizontal antennas such as dipoles or inverted-L antennas

Biggest advantage:  Not recognizable as an antenna.

Biggest disadvantages:  Cost!  Limited to use as a vertical.

NOW LETS LOOK CLOSELY AT EACH TYPE OF POLE:

1. Lightweight Telescoping Fiberglass Poles
2. Thick-Wall Telescoping Fiberglass Poles
3. Thick-Wall Stackable Fiberglass Poles
4. Thin-Wall Stackable Fiberglass Poles
5. Fiberglass Flagpoles

To be continued . . .