Fence Top Rail Antenna Mast

Just don t use tubing it is thin.

Fence top rail antenna mast.

Components for chain link fencing are inexpensive. Our yardgard 1 3 8 in x 10 ft. I bought 3 screw in anchors and some wire line for the guys. The antenna will be mounted on a 1 1 2 inch chain link fence top rail.

For the sizes you mention the strengths might be close mainly because the emt diameter of 2 inches versus the top rail which is probably 1 315 inches. Lew showed me how one end on each is tapered to fit into the next pole. It is quite stout. In your case the ss 20 would be minimal.

I used two 15 or 16 ft top pipes for a tv antenna mast. Keep the total length of mast under 10 feet and you ll do fine. The half and three quarters inch are too small so i d suggest staying away from that. Emt thin wall conduit works just fine for small antennas.

The so called top rail is the horizontal runner across the top. Made from galvanized steel this top rail connects to terminal posts with rail ends and brace bands. It goes into a 10 foot tripod though and uses two sets of guy wires. It is still up and my wife s aunt still has tv 4 years later.

I used 3 d rings like on a dog s collar and a hose clamp for the top end mounts for the guys. Lmr 600 will be used for the feed line. Three 10 feet sticks of top rail are used as the mast so the base of the antenna will be at 30 feet. Creating antenna masts using chain link fence top rail.

My main mast is 1 5 8 ss 40 industrial top rail. Strength goes up rapidly with increases in diameter. One inch or one and a quarter inch works well and is stiff enough for a small tv antenna a discone or a small vertical. I also found out that 1 3 8 top rail comes in ss 40 but the fence company next door doesn t carry it.

It is good to try to minimize the mast diameter in the vicinity of a yagi antenna particularly uhf. This is a bit overkill but the feed line and connectors are already on hand.