[Antennas] Mobile Push-up Mast?

Mon Sep 27 22:29:21 EDT 2004

Antennists..
I will be designing an interoperability comm van for my public safety
agency.
Although there will be minimum "fire drill" factor in getting the van on the
air, there
will be times when we need a mast because of de-sense from onboard repeaters
in the van;
the need for extra height; the need to operate HF using a horizontal wire
antenna.
I've ruled out pneumatic ENG-TV masts (cost), some home-brew kluges I've
seen (not volunteer-proof and look dorky) and those mil surplus and Radio
Shack masts that drop into each other (tend to skewer people underneath).
I'm looking for a telescoping mast that will attach to a large van push
bumper, or maybe
a mast stand that you park on top of, and then walk the mast in. The mast
can be 20-30 feet, the load will be a dualband VHF/UHF vertical and possible
side loading (guying) from rope/HF wire antenna.
I'd like to hear what your agency has done for your commo van mast.
Thanks,
Jay
AAR9QM/W6CJ