Getting the antenna in the air

So 144MHz.  I wanted to keep things simple, I didn’t want to be taking afternoon holidays to prepare so I decided to start with a simple set-up, taking part in the AL section (10W, single aerial). So I got my IC706 from the loft and bought a 9 element Powabeam yagi from the DX Shop.  Working out the mast took a little more thought but MM0CUG has a drive-on aerial support that looked suitable although this is only ok for small, lightweight aerials.  I worked out that a pole clamped horizontally to my car roof rack would be a solid second anchor and also allow the beam to be rotated by hand and clamped tight.  I had a couple of 12' poles available (ZAP spares) so putting the beam at 24' was ok for one man to push up.  My local friendly scaffold company were happy to supply a couple of pole joiners and 90 degree clamps for cash.  So a quick try out on the road outside my house and all seemed ok.

 



MM0CUG mast support

 

 








Mast gets clamped here, slacken clamp to rotate