Read a super article on Hamuniverse.com about a guy who saved some money by building a drive on vertical support from wood. I thought yes im up for having a go at one. Often thought about building a metal version or even getting one built by a frabicater but then i thought im only going to be using light weight antennas so a wooden may fit the bill.
I started out with a set of bunk bed ladders that were being thrown away by a neigbour and originally donated for fire wood but now given a second life. Ive got a right angle screwed and dowlled together and already varnished.....Bargain!
A set of bunk bed ladders ready for modifying.
I cut one runner out leaving it mounted to the side.
I decided to add a small metal right angle bracket for extra strength.
Now an angled brace screwed to the horizontal and verticle sections.
Added a length of angle iron to the vertical section, the stuff they build shelving out off in warehouses etc. This will allow my fishing pole to be strapped to it using the pre drilled holes.
Up in the local hills approx 1100ft ASL using a 23ft fibre glass fishing pole with a half wave dipole taped to it cut for 20m. With taking advantage of the height and low angle offered from the vertical using the FT817 i can hear Canada and North America in real poor propagation so at least im half way there but just need more than 5w to be heard.