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Reviews For: Max-Gain Systems Fiberglass Push-Up Mast

Category: Towers, masts, accessories, climbing & safety gear

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Review Summary For : Max-Gain Systems Fiberglass Push-Up Mast
Reviews: 44MSRP: 139 + Shipping
Description:
Forty-two foot fiberglass push-up mast kit.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mgs4u.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
12444.5
K3JB Rating: 2010-02-10
Great product Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have been using the MK-8HD for eight months with a G5rv. Spoke with Allen concerning my requirements, the shipping was on time, the mast was exactly as discribed and was installed per the instructions with no problems. I live by the Chesapeake Bay and experiense wind gusts in excess of 45 MPH, the Maxi-Gain has bent a bit but has survived with no problems. I plan on ordering their 50 version next.
KD0EPA Rating: 2010-02-01
Product satisfaction Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have been using my Max-Gain MK-4-HD mast for several months now with no complaints. Assembly and installation are a snap, and it goes together very fast. Raising and lowering of the mast for antenna tinkering or storms is hastle free. I currently have an Arrow Antenna 6 meter drooping ground plain on the 3/4" tube, and a Davis Pro 2 weather station mounted on the 1 1/4" tube, for a combined weight of about 6 1/2 pounds. The mast is guyed at the 1 1/4" guy ring level. 60 mph wind...no problem. I just ordered another (the MK-6-HD extended) for the lake house!
KE5ZVC Rating: 2009-08-02
Great expandable product Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I ordered 4 sections starting from the 2.5 in section. Now, I am ordering another two to add on, along with two of the NEW guy rings made just for this unit. I'll use the guy rings to not only guy the pole, but the guy wires will actually be a 20 dipole at one height, and a 40 meter dipole at a higher point!

I took the weight off the clamps by adding a stainless steel screw through each section 13 inches from the top, and the inside section rests on it.

Very reasonable price for the performance and convenience.
KX2T Rating: 2009-06-25
Great LL 80mtr Vertical Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I ordered 2 MK8's a few months back, but only put up one at this qth, used the 42ft with #12 wire and used 12' of 300ohm twinleed for LL at the center with 3 elevated radials, guyed once at 30'. Man this vertical worked great but had to take it down cause were moving qth's. The next qth I'm going to put up 2 of them and phase them with 4 elevated radials each, after the one worked out so well the two verticals should play excellent for E/W paths for DX. These masts are strong, I had them supported at around 12' at the base and guyed once at 30' with outstanding results, I will do the same at the new qth but maybe guy them 4 ways/every 90 degrees. Great HD push up mast.
KE7WRY Rating: 2009-03-18
MK-8HD Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered the new MK-8HD on advice from MaxGain. I am so glad I went with it rather than the standard MK-8. It starts with 2-1/2" section & it is stout! Raises & lowers easy. Great product & if the need arises, will definitely get another one from them!
K6USN Rating: 2008-10-30
Great for portable use ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the 21.5 ft (8lb) version. This model breaks down into four foot sections.
It fits in my car, and is the perfect companion for the PAR end-fed dipoles. I can raise the mast, bungee it to a railing, and be on the air in 5 minutes. The PAR end fed dipoles don't require radials, so this combination of push up mast and antenna is very convenient for weekend
or portable use. An alternative to the bungee cord/fence rail mount is to take along an inexpensive patio umbrella stand and drop the 2 inch push up base into that for a self standing
system.
Great product, and the best quality fiberglass mast I've come across.

Allen
K5AF Rating: 2008-10-30
Low-Cost Vertical Alternative Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
43 Feet is something of a magic number lately. One manufacturer has a 43' aluminum vertical that is quite pricey, but seems to perform well.

I was looking for a lower-priced alternative that could serve multiple uses, and could also go with me to Field Day or other portable operations. I've found my mast.

It consists of 6 - 8 foot sections that are nested and secured by heavy-duty PVC clamps, for a total height of 43'. This is very easy to erect, more on that later. The whole thing weighs only 16 lbs. What's more, if you want a shorter mast, you can simply use sections to give you the height you want.

If you want a vertical antenna, simply run a wire on the inside or the outside of the mast. The real advantage, however is that you can run 300 ohm ladder line inside the mast an string a dipole from the top of the mast. You can use the dipole on multiple bands and then short the twinlead at the base to give you a top loaded vertical for the lower bands.

Raising this mast couldn't be easier. you can guy the bottom 8' section in the vertical position and have guy ropes attached as needed on the upper sections. Standing on the ladder, you can easily extend the upper sections. A better alternative, though, is to extend the top three sections with the mast on the ground. one person can easily raise the mast and secure the guys on the bottom section.

What is so amazing about this mast is that it rivals cheaper "fishing pole" masts in price. When you buy the 43' version, you have tremendous flexibility. You can create a 22' heavy-duty mast by leaving every other section nested for greater rigidity. When fully extended, the mast will sway in the breeze if not fully guyed, but minimum guying (at 18' and 36' points) will keep it in place nicely.

All in all, I am highly satisfied with this mast (I actually bought two) and am looking forward to exploring the many uses it can have!


KT9B Rating: 2008-07-10
Works Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had been looking for a way of getting a 40m circular dipole (Tak-Tenna) up 30 feet and came across the MGS push up. I ordered the 40' mast so I'd have some wiggle room on the hight on Monday and it arrived two days later.

I normally wouldn't review a product that I've only had for 1 day but after putting it up we had a storm front come through that generated 60+ MPH winds.

The pole went together in about 5 minutes and is very straight forward. It is mounted in a 2.5' hole with no guy wires. The pole handled the winds with the antenna mounted with no problems.

I set the pole collapsed and raised it once it was set. The assembly is light enough to do that if you have a small antennae.
K4DZR Rating: 2008-04-20
DOES THE JOB! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
While searching for a source for fiberglass spreader arms for a quad I located Max-Gain. I reviewed their informative website and ordered the spreader arms and a MK6 push up mast. I had wanted a push up mast to support a 40mtr dipole and the lightweight feature of the MK6 was just what I wanted. I ordered from Allen on Monday and received everything FEDEX the next day! I followed the simple assembly instructions and had the mast with dipole up the following day. No guy wires needed. The quick clamps are well made. I used a hinged base that I had used before with a steel mast. Just walked it up and supported it with a nylon line to a tree that I just had "topped". I am saving the spreader arms for later to add a 4th element to my 3 element quad. They look great also. Great service from Max-Gain. The MK6 is a good way to suspend a dipole for an inverted V. It has taken 30MPH wind gusts so far without a problem.

AE6JN Rating: 2008-02-16
Excellent Mast! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the MK-6 because from the description it seemed like it would be easy for me to set-up by myself. Well..it couldn't have been any easier! The mast clamps are great and make pushing it up a real breeze. I am using the MK-6 to support two dipoles. Before this I was using a 10ft Radio Shack mast. Now I have much better height (and performance) and didn't have to strain putting it up. Highly recommended.