Guy Hardware for the
“1080-00-108-1173 CAMOUFLAGE SCREENING SUPPORT” kit.
These support mast kits make
an excellent strong antenna mast for emergency and portable communications field
operations. A full kit of 12 sections of the 1.786” Dia. x 4 ft long assembles
into a versatile 44.6 ft. high antenna mast.
With these military surplus
camouflage screening (netting) mast kits being available in the DOD DRMO
centers, and as a quantity of these kits have found their way into the hands of
New England area MARS members and ARES operators, an effort has been made by
the CCPG members to design and have manufactured guying hardware and rope kits,
bases, antenna support arms, and antennas to allow these support mast kits to
be used emergency communications antennas and antenna supports.
A typical complete system
with G5RV antenna:
illustration a. (Click
HERE for Larger View)
The system as shown in
illustration a. above consists of a 12 section mast assembled from “Screening
Support” mast kit plus guy rings, snap hooks, guy ropes, antenna halyard,
antenna support arm, antenna, and anchors as supplied by the CCPG.
As this project has evolved,
the need for a number of parts has become apparent in order to make this mast
antenna system a field deployable package. Besides the guy rings, ropes, and
carabineer type snap hooks, the need for a hinged base to allow one or two
people to walk the mast up and secure it, an antenna support arm to hold wire
antennas away from the metal mast, a means of tensioning the guys with out
having to deal with knots that lock and can not be readily undone to adjust guy
tension and mast tilt off the vertical position, and easily deployed guy
anchors. The CCPG is also offering several wire antennas suitable to be used
with these masts for emergency communications use to allow MARS/ARES
organizations to have a ready to use complete field deployable antenna system.
As the Camouflage Screening
Mast Kits are well made strong masts compared to some that are available, the
tubing being 1.786” diameter .106” wall high grade aluminum, the quality of
materials and rope chosen for these needed parts has been selected carefully
for both ease in installation and in having a reliable system ready to use.
One item we have found to be
very beneficial in setting up a mast is an earth anchor used by arborists and
those who move trees regularly which is an inexpensive toggle and cable type
guy anchor rated to hold up to 800 lbs.
this can be very easily
driven into the ground with an engineer’s hammer or small sledge hammer. To
remove them afterwards is a simple matter in one of three ways, a long pry bar,
a car jack, or to simply pull them out with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
For a more conventional
reusable anchor, we have found Arborist and Nursery supply distributors a
source for screw auger type anchors similar although smaller than those sold by
Rohn for use with guying towers. These can be screwed into the ground and
unscrewed to remove afterwards and are easy to use.
About the components offered
by the CCPG:
About Guy-Rings : (Click
HERE for guy ring and snap hook image)
The
guy rings are made of 6061 T6 aluminum
plate and have holes
for
use with both three guy positions 120 degree spacing, or four guy
positions
at 90 degree spacing as well as for antenna or halyard/pully attaching.
About Snap Hooks:
The snap hooks chosen for the use with the guy rings and antenna
halyards are a top quality ¼” zinc plated
steel carabineer type roughly
1” wide,
2.3” long. and have a break strength of 800 lbs.
About ROPES and technical
information:
Note 1: The 1/4” dia. Polypropylene Rope used for
the guys is a low cost
hollow braid type black rope of 1000 lb.
breaking strain as rated
by the
manufacture and very low stretch and has relatively low
abuse tolerance and low UV resistance
compared to Polyester rope.
This rope is ideal for an emergency
occasional usage antenna system
where cost is a consideration.
Note 2: The 1/4” dia. polyester Rope used is a much
easier to handle more
supple rope and is highly UV resistant at about the same strength
as the polypropylene rope however is not
always available in black,
some ropes may be white in color and the
cost is double compared
to the more inexpensive polypropylene rope
for a much longer life
tougher rope that will stand up to long term repeated usage better
than polypropylene rope.
Note 3: The 3/16” dia. polyester rope chosen for use
as antenna halyards and
pennants is a type manufactured for use as
flagpole halyards and
will stand up to flexing around small
pulleys better than other types.
This rope is 460 Lb breaking strain rated which exceeds the breaking
strain rating for 14 gage stranded wire
commonly used in antenna
construction. (CopperWeld spec rates 14 ga.
30% Hard Drawn Type 1
at 310 lb breaking strain – Annealed 14 ga.
30% at 129 lbs).
Future planned parts
designed and under consideration if there is
adequate interest to
cover manufacturing costs:
Erection fixture - for one person vertical assembly and erection of mast
Hinged base for either dirt or solid surface
(being quoted for MFG)
Right angle base for use under a vehicle tire
(N7INK RORO Mount)
Trailer hitch mount for vehicles with a 2”
receiver hitch
Heavy duty wall mount brackets
Steel reusable Guy Anchors (easily removed
when mast is taken down).
As time permits and over the
spring and summer, we plan to add pictures to this web site illustrating the
various steps in setting up one of these masts.
For information about placing
guy anchors, see: Guy
Locator Chart
MAY 26, 2005 –
Incomplete work in progress.