I am aware there have been previous threads about this, I have reviewed a few. This one and this one pointed me to DX-Wire masts, but the threads were repair-specific; there is an old one which pointed me to SOTABeams masts. Then there are masts available at WiMo like this one and a few more options. Lastly I’ve read about the Decathlon ones but they seem to be available in Germany only, not EU-wide.
That’s already a lot to read and many to choose from, so I’m looking for recommendation and advice on the best portable mast to buy currently available on the market. My preferences are:
It needs to support Chameleon EFHW ~20 and ~40 m wire sloping from somewhere around 4 m to (close to) ground level. Less frequently I may want to install a lightweight Yagi for VHF but I have not decided on a specific antenna model yet. Even less frequently I may want to install a home-brew center-fed dipole in inverted V configuration.
It needs to be lightweight, good for extended hikes and large elevation differences, and not too long when collapsed. I think 6 m ones are practically usable at 4 meters, and not too heavy?
It needs to be as reliable as possible (I’ve read stories above about the masts collapsing — are there any which are less prone to this?).
It needs to be available in Europe.
The mast will require guying and will be set up in strong wind. At least that’s my experience so far with Irish summits… So any useful tips on guying are also welcome. Or on anything portable mast related for that matter.
The reason I ask is that the shorter “travel masts” manage to pack so small by having many more sections with thinner walls. In my experience, these do not grip so well and can collapse. You can of course, add clamps at each stage, but that just consumes too much time.
If you can carry a longer mast, my best deal at the moment would be the Zite 7 metre mast. It is sturdy and not expensive. This is a fibreglass mast, which I prefer over carbon fibre for my antennas.
Ha! Indeed the Decathlon one is available. Thank you @OE5JFE Joe. I’ll wait for others to comment/recommend, but this is already useful
@DD5LP Thanks Ed! I can cope with length, even 1 m collapsed is fine, I can strap it to my backpack somehow. Or if longer then use as a walking pole, anybody thought of that? The Zite one you’re proposing is slightly heavier than the Decathlon one, but if it is more sturdy or less prone to collapsing, I’d prefer that. Why is fiberglass preferred over carbon fibre?
I have 3 masts (because sure why not? ). I got two of mine from Wimo (i would buy a Sotabeams mast but they won’t ship to EI or GI so thats their loss). A normal carbon 7m mast and then the 10m heavy duty mast.
I also got one of those drive over mounts from Wimo too. Rarely use it but it is nice to sit in the car by the beach with a flask of tea or coffee and make some contacts. Usually using the Slim G and tickling a repeater or checking 145.500. Not SOTA I know, but just thought to mention it is a handy yoke to have.
Both perform great. I put a little S Clip in the top of the 7m mast to hang the Slim G off of.
I also have a Decathlon mast. But never used it. The little plastic clip at the top won’t hold a carabiner. I need to 3D print one of those goey-overy-slippy-downy-mast diddlybops that you can plonk a wire on.
Also another one of those goey-overy-slippy-downy-mast diddlybops that has the holes in it to guy wire though.
Also @EI4JY is the expert here, but you might want to print a Yagi or Moxon mount in future too for the 10m HD mast. That’s in my plans too.
I’ve just checked and unfortunately Amazon in Ireland doesn’t carry the Zite range of poles - only amazon.de - so you may have an issue with shipping costs, however, within the EU, hopefully not.
The decathlon is a “travel pole” and while I have not had that specific one, the only way to get a shorter packed length for the same height is to go with thinner walls on the sections. The Zite has solid walls, and depending upon what you want to support, you can sometimes get away using the top section, although on all of these masts, it is more likely that you will have to ignore the very top section.
Carbon Fibre is said to be conductive, so if putting up a vertical antenna running up the side of the mast, its turning may be affected. If putting up a dipole, you are probably OK with carbon fibre as the antenna wire is away from the mast.
I use a Decathlon travel pole (fibreglass) and don’t have too much trouble with it collapsing. It only does it in high winds. To minimise the risk I make sure each section is tight as I assemble it. It’s also important not to guy it too tightly as this puts a downward force on the pole making it more likely to collapse. If it’s wet as well as windy then it can be difficult to keep the mast up as if it collapses the pole is wet making it difficult to get enough friction when you put it back together. But then if you are out in that weather it’s probably time to call it a day.
I totally agree, Richard [I hope that didn’t sound too sycophantic] and I’ve previously written as much elsewhere. Yes, it sounds counter-intuitive but on windy days have a little slack in the guy ropes as the pole will thrash around a bit in the gusts of wind.
Sometimes I’ve tightened two sections so tightly [usually because they previously collapsed] that I really struggled to disassemble the pole completely afterwards and had visions of having to carry a partially-extended pole back to the car. However, in those cases I’ve lightly tapped the end of the pole onto a rock and that force was enough to overcome the friction without damaging the two sections involved (do it with the screw-on plastic cap or stopper to the rock).
If you find after years of sterling service some pole sections collapse even when you tightened them well, they might need a clean. From time to time, I completely separate all the sections and leave them (and the end cap / stopper) to soak in warm soapy water, then wash them in cold water and leave to dry for ages before reassembling ready for the next activation.
I do this after every activation, even in dry weather. The pole spends some of its time on the ground while I set up or take down the antenna and it might pick up some moisture from the grass. So I make sure it is dry before the next activation. I’ve heard of activators not doing this in winter and finding that the pole is completely frozen on their next activation.
A lot of useful advice in this thread, exactly what I was hoping for!
@EI3LH Ian thank you. Yes, I’m considering buying 2 for backup purposes so that if one breaks I don’t need to frantically order before next weekend’s activation. But carry with me only one. Good advice about the useless clip on Decathlon mast! I had been planning on using it…
@DD5LP Thanks for checking Ed. There’s no problem ordering on German Amazon from Ireland. And the Zite mast looks interesting, but… I can’t find it on amazon.de either. Do you have a link? Thanks for the note on conductive carbon fibre, that explains it.
@G8CPZ Andy and @G4TGJ Richard, I’ll follow your advice on cleaning.
I’ve also spotted this aluminum mast in WiMo shop. Granted it is heavier and longer when collapsed, and obviously conductive, but still within reasonable portable limits – 1.4m can be attached to the backpack in a way that it doesn’t get in the way. I may be wrong here but it seems more rigid than any of the other masts mentioned, plus there’s no risk of collapsing due to clamp design.
Not sure how much use this will be for you Adam, but I just stuck the 7m Wimo mast in to a parasol holder in my back garden, hooked a 25ft piece of Amazon Basics speaker wire to it and another across the garden as a 25ft counterpoise, plugged in to a BNC connector.
Fed it all in to a 7p Amazon BNC Plug Special, connected to my KZ2. Pressed ATU for 20m. Called CQ at 10w and…
…then 5 seconds later the heavens opened so I’m sat inside now, grumbling!
Positive side was the whole thing took about 37.26833333recurring seconds to set up, get on air and to pack away. YMMV!
When my shiny P1S arrives I could print you one of those goey-overy-slippy-downy-mast diddlybops.
Hahah careful, I may take you up on this offer and then follow up with 100 more requests for printing as I have a pile of them. Yeah for a hobbyist these days a 3D printer is becoming a must.
Good job operating on these Amazon Basics I’m still new to all this but was just as surprised when I was able to activate a mountain using only the counterpoise. I’m sure radio stuff will surprise me many times more.
Thanks! It’s literally following the recommended antenna in the KX2 owners manual. It just says use two bits of 25ft wire and the infamous ‘7p Amazon BNC Special’ connected directly to the KX2.
The ATU does all the heavy lifting. Yesterday it tuned 1:1 on 160m using a half-eaten scotch egg for an antenna (its a stealth antenna as you can eat it while you work the mysterious Twilight Zone that is 160m).
They have 12 local distributors in in EU countries. You could put your money where your mouth is and offer to be the EI/GI distributor for SOTAbeams as they are asking for people to do this? Then you can have first pick of the new products and make some money too.
Well it’s up to you to offer to setup as the EI/GI distributor and arrange to stock what you think will sell. There’s a reason for lots of “local” dealers and it’s all to do with the horrendous costs of shipping. And shipping odd shaped, odd sized items is even more expensive. So rather than offer a pole for €25 and €40 international shipping, it makes sense to appoint local dealers and ship items in bulk to the local dealer so the local shipping is substantially less.
Could be something Long Communications might be able to look in to if there was enough interest. I’m unsure. They’re pretty much the only amateur radio shop left in EI now as far as I am aware.
I have the 7m HD sotabeams one and am happy with it. It is heavy, but it is strong and hasn’t broken yet. It’s strong enough to take a 20m long end fed wire fixed to the top and put under tension, so it gives an extra meter or two over some other lighter ones. But it is heavy, 1.5kg. The sweet spot / compromise to me is the 6m sotabeams one, half the weight and not a lot smaller, available in EU, but you probably cant use the top section. I don’t know, i dont have one
In any case, don’t fret over it too much, it’s only your first mast You will end up with many. Hopefully.
). I got two of mine from Wimo (i would buy a Sotabeams mast but they won’t ship to EI or GI so thats their loss). A normal carbon 7m mast and then the 10m heavy duty mast.
I’m still new to all this but was just as surprised when I was able to activate a mountain using 
