THE "POLE" POSITION

A  LOW-TECH  but  HIGH-IMPORTANCE  Item.

 

WHY do so many hams spend several thousand $$$ on their transceiver, then only spend a few hundred on their antenna?  

 

After-all, the best thing my Elmer taught me is:

 

"It's the Antenna, Stupid!"

 

 

A cheap transceiver with an excellent antenna is a much better solution than a modest antenna used with the most expensive transceiver in the world.

 

THE POLE is the backbone of your antenna system.

 

Your antenna lives or falls/fails with the pole! 

 

 

For working DX:  HEIGHT IS MIGHT

 

We depend on the pole to raise our antennas to the height required for effective DX work.  Yet many hams continue to skimp on this important piece of our station.

 THE 'POLE' IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT

PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE!

 

Your Investment in a good Pole/Mast:

 

Early in your ham career, you should make intelligent decisions about which pole(s) or mast(s) to buy.  Steel or aluminum masts will last a lifetime unless you use them wrong.  Fiberglass poles will last 20 years or more, if you take care and use them properly.

 

 

TRADITIONAL STEEL POLES (MASTS):

  • Expensive
  • Very Heavy
  • Require sturdy guying
  • Usually require 2 or more people to erect
  • Can do severe damage to humans or property if they fall down

 

 

MODERN ALTERNATIVES:

  • Fiberglass Poles
  • Aluminium  Masts

These modern poles are lighter, cheaper, and can be raised with a lot less effort.  They also require less or lighter guying than poles made of heavier material.  They enable your antenna to reach higher heights for less money.

 

There is a clear distinction between each of these, but in some cases it is not so obvious.  Indeed, there are instances where you could use either fiberglass, or aluminum.  In other cases the choice is obvious.

 

For info on fiberglass poles, click here:   Fiberglass Poles

For info on aluminum masts, click here:   Aluminum Masts