[Ultrarunner2017]

I am going to go with 1-1/4" EMT. That's the standard size for antenna mast.
The only reason I thought of using 1" was that the ground clamp for 1" pipe was a lot cheaper than the one for 1-1/4", but I later realized that I was not looking at the same type of ground clamp. I need to use the bronze one, so the difference in cost isn't so much.

Judging by the thickness of the wall of 1-1/4" EMT, it is heavier than the steel mast pipe I used to buy from Radio Shack. Even those never bent, and I had some pretty heavy antenna on them, including a Wilson rotor (large one for amateur radio Yagi).

This antenna has a low wind loading. It's only a vertical 14ft high, with three small (20") radials at the bottom.

FW

 

[c16mo]

I used an 1-1/4 inside a 1-1/2" emt to hold my Davis wireless weather station. This was about 15' above our rear deck. I never had a problem until a tornado came through and the mast bent - when the wind hit 190 MPH !

 

[Ultrarunner2017]

I used an 1-1/4 inside a 1-1/2" emt to hold my Davis wireless weather station. This was about 15' above our rear deck. I never had a problem until a tornado came through and the mast bent - when the wind hit 190 MPH !

The instrument actually remained operational up to 190mph?

FW

 

[c16mo]

I didn't realize it for some time. The only thing usable after the tornado was the console so I bought a completely new system. When I eventually downloaded the old console to my laptop it had recorded 190 MPH winds. I actually suspect it may have recorded higher winds if the mast hadn't bent allowing the station to hit the roof (before the roof left).

The instrument actually remained operational up to 190mph?

FW

 

[arkieguide1]

Hi; I am going to install an amateur radio/scanner antenna. This antenna is fairly small and light, being constructed from 1/2" copper pipe and is about 60" long. I want to use a 10 ft mast, and thinking that 1-1/4" or maybe 1-1/2" EMT would do. It's a lot less expensive and I think a much better conductor of electricity (for grounding) than the painted steel mast sold at Radio Shack, and I wouldn't have to scrape the enamel from the pipe before attaching the ground clamp. Do you think that EMT would withstand the wind loading caused by this small antenna? I estimate wind loading to be very low, considering that this is basically a single element vertical antenna with no ground plane radials. I live in New Jersey, where we don't see many really bad storms, and I can remove the whole assembly in the event we do get a TS or hurricane. Thanks FW

People get confused over grounding. Your antenna mast needs to be hard grounded at its base. Your radio & equipment must be grounded to your system ground. My co-ax I do use a ground fitting on it before It enters my house. Mast base is 9' of 3" galv. pipe 3 foot in the ground concreted, then 5' out of the ground where my mast is hinged, 1 1/4" galv. pipe for the mast. I have 3 grd. rods spaced around the mast base plus a wire to my system grd. from the base - round my house makes about an 80' run, plus another grd rod about 1/2 the way.

 

[GrayHair]

@arkieguide1 , another 14 year old thread.

 

[Steve2444]

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