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Author Topic: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.  (Read 1492 times)

W1BR

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Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« on: April 18, 2021, 12:15:39 PM »

I just noticed Harbor Freight has a 20 foot aluminum flagpole on sale for under 50 bucks.  Add a $129 remote tuner and a few radials and you may have an HOA compliant setup if the pole is allowed.  A lot cheaper than the one that sells for over a grand and never ships!!

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W6QW

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2021, 01:06:02 PM »

Keep in mind that the individual sections use plastic twist-to-lock so you will need to utilize an exterior wire or electrically interconnect the individual sections. Alternatively, you may want to consider a fiberglass push-up pole with an internal wire.
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KG4RUL

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2021, 04:32:24 AM »

Finding the "cheap" flagpole is just a start.  Now you have to create an insulated mount that can stand up to weather and wind.  Not a trivial task.
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AC2EU

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2021, 06:38:44 AM »

Keep in mind that the individual sections use plastic twist-to-lock so you will need to utilize an exterior wire or electrically interconnect the individual sections. Alternatively, you may want to consider a fiberglass push-up pole with an internal wire.

That wire could also be zip tied to the exterior of the fiberglass pole for simplicity.
20 feet won't be very good below 20 meters, but I suppose better than nothing.

LA9XNA

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2021, 07:00:57 AM »

You should also consider looking for a flag pole in fibreglass.
By using fibreglass you just run a conductor inside the pole and everything is hidden for your HOA.
To prevent the birds from landing on top and do the droppings you shuld also put a spike on top of the dome. I would recomend a 3' brasing rod :-)
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W1BR

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2021, 09:57:43 AM »

30 footers are available on Amazon for under 100 bucks.  I suspect these are very lightweight.  Insulating the mast shouldn't be that hard using PVC pipe and clamps.  (Slit the PVC.)
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KM1H

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2021, 04:56:53 PM »

Finding the "cheap" flagpole is just a start.  Now you have to create an insulated mount that can stand up to weather and wind.  Not a trivial task.

Large size glass soda bottles have been used for many decades.
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WA9AFM

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2021, 11:28:59 AM »

Just visited my local Harbor Freight (The Men's Boutique') and took a look at the flagpole in question.  First, it's painted on the exterior and thus, no continuity between sections (I took my VOM with me and tested for continuity).  Second, the sales guy confirmed there is a nylon gasket between sections to help with the locking feature. 

However, this unit is a very sturdy and would make a great support for a dipole, inverted V, or end fed wire.
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KM1H

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2021, 03:56:04 PM »

Dont overlook used or new aluminum irrigation tubing in areas that use it; typically used for one season and then sold rather than store in the winter. Some dealers buy it back and resell real cheap. I used a pair of used 3" x 20' for the 40' boom of my 4 el full size 20M yagi for abut 30 years at two homes in town here.

Their couplings are weak so I picked up a scrap piece of thick wall AL pipe and had a friend machine it for a nice slide in Penetrox fit.

It rode well thru a few hurricanes, Nor'easters, no name high wind storms, and ice loads at the 160' level of the 180' tower on this exposed hilltop. Rotated using a HB swinging gate and a Tailtwister.

Carl
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VE7RF

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2021, 09:24:12 AM »

If it's a tapered   aluminum flagpole, or a sectional type, with nylon inserts,  you might be able to get the mobile welding  fellow out... and heliarc weld all the joints for a permanent 100% length.   Another thought is aluminum PIPE, like perhaps  20' piece of  2.875"  OD, (sched 40).... then a  10-20'  length of 2.375" OD  (sched 40)  stuffed into it.   Then either bolted connection, like a pair of 1/4-20  SS  bolts +  SS nylocks... or  again, heliarc weld the joint.

You could also build it in 3 x sections, like   2.875" OD, then 2.375"  OD, then 1.90" OD  (sched 40 on all 3 x sections)    then  bolt (or weld)  the  2 x joints.   For a freestanding structure, it would work.   Just use  6061-T6.   DXE  sells  6061-T8 TUBING  in .120" wall, and they all slide nicely into each other.  IE:  3"-2.75" - 2.5"-2.25"- 2.0".   The bottom  3"  section could easily be re-enforced with a piece of 2.75".   Then the bottom section would have a .240" wall.

Irrigation tubing is typ thin wall, like .050"  and may well not be the best option for a  free standing vertical.
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KM1H

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2021, 05:13:08 PM »

Quote
Irrigation tubing is typ thin wall, like .050"  and may well not be the best option for a  free standing vertical.

Thats what they make paracord and similar for.
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WY7CHY

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2021, 10:34:53 AM »

For around $500-$600 you can get a solid fiberglass pole; 25 feet long. Used for light poles and other utility type poles. Put a 6BTV inside of it, make a good mount for it, and make your own flag pole with an excellent HF all band antenna inside. You won't need to put a tuner on it. You can add a tuner in the shack for some minor tuning expanding the bands. Whole price would be about $800.

Problem with most traditional flagpole type antennas, is they are usually OCF or other similar that requires a base mounted tuner. Not a big deal, but that's another $800 or so to tack onto the price. A 6BTV is an excellent antenna. It, with some radials, and a 25 foot fiberglass tube, and you're good to go.
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Born Wild - Raised Proud: 73
Cheyenne, Wyoming

W9IQ

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2021, 02:50:12 PM »

You have my interest. Can you reference a source for these 25 foot, $600 hollow poles that will house the 6BTV vertical?

- - Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

WY7CHY

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2021, 09:32:48 PM »

You have my interest. Can you reference a source for these 25 foot, $600 hollow poles that will house the 6BTV vertical?

- - Glenn W9IQ
You can use something like this:
https://www.united-states-flag.com/commercial-grade-sectional-25-ft-flagpole-satin.html

Or something like this (recommend)
https://www.mcmaster.com/fiberglass-poles/structural-frp-fiberglass-round-tubes/
Get 2 10' sections and 1 5' section. 3" diameter (Depending on your antenna trap and resonator diameter) This fiberglass is 3" outside diameter, but only 2" inside diameter. You might have to get something with a larger inside diameter.

You will have to be creative in the mounting part. And you have to be able to plan things out. You can't play it by ear. The one I helped my friend set up in his HOA sort of went like this....
Installed and Tuned the antenna like normal, mounted on a 3"-4" steel pipe (4-5 feet buried in concrete) and a tilt base. (Tilt base makes it easier to go up and down numerous times when tuning the antenna).
Make sure you have all your radials down in place and properly installed.
The tilt base is slightly off center from the mounting pipe. This is good. Because the mounting pipe will also have 2 U-bolts to attach to the fiberglass pole that is slipped over the 6BTV after final tuning. The fiberglass is in 3 sections coupled together to be one piece. When you slide it over the antenna, cushion the bottom where it lays at the base of the antenna. Then, when it's tilted up and locked in place, you take 2 additional U-bolts and bracket the fiberglass to the 3-4" pipe you sunk in the ground. Make it sturdy.

Don't worry about the looks of the base, because you're going to have to decorate it for looks. My friend and I used a HALF of a Wine Barrel. You can usually find these old wooden barrel at flea markets, yard sales, or new. We used the half of barrel and cut it so we could spread it open to wrap around the antenna/flag pole. Cut slats from wood privacy fence wood and put that in place of the top of the half barrel. Put it about 2-3 inches down inside the barrel. Covered it with garden rocks. (This way we could take it out later if we needed to get back to the antenna). You can use anything like lava rocks or whatever is decorative. Then put a couple of potted flowers sitting on top of it. Around the base of the barrel we made a larger circle of stones, gravel, and flowers. His wife was OVERLY impressed.

If done correctly, take your time, be methodical, be patient, and be a perfectionist, you can do this all in one day. It will look great. You'll never have to touch it again. The barrel also adds protection from water, snow, etc. coming in contact with the coax/base of the antenna. This explanation isn't a play by play for you to copy. (Although I don't care if you do). It's designed to have you think outside the box for YOUR setup. Your yard. And what can work for you. For my 6BTV I didn't need to hide it, but I also couldn't use a tilt mount base either because I have tree branches in the way and can't tilt my antenna. I had to lift it on and off. What a PITA (Pain in the A$$). But you work with what you have.

If you don't make a good solid base for the fiberglass to bolt onto, you risk the chance of it falling over. And if it does, it's taking the antenna with it being it's inside of it. Also remember; depending on the type of antenna will determine the size of the fiberglass mast. A 6btv is great, but the resonator is wide. If you get the narrower band resonator (less than 2") then it's easier.

Anyway; if nothing else, I hope I gave you something to think about.
Mike



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Born Wild - Raised Proud: 73
Cheyenne, Wyoming

KG4RUL

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Re: Cheap Flag Pole for HOA.
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2021, 04:37:38 AM »

You have my interest. Can you reference a source for these 25 foot, $600 hollow poles that will house the 6BTV vertical?

- - Glenn W9IQ
You can use something like this:
https://www.united-states-flag.com/commercial-grade-sectional-25-ft-flagpole-satin.html

......... Cut slats from wood privacy fence wood and put that in place of the top of the half barrel. ........................

Anyway; if nothing else, I hope I gave you something to think about.
Mike

Yep, I am thinking about what the neighbors will say when I cut up the fence.
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