Easy, Removable TV antenna mast

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Howdy...&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">First&nbsp;some&nbsp;background - I'm using a boomerang antenna, an amplifier, and a flat panel LED TV.&nbsp; The signals are a little weak at times.&nbsp; Due to weak signals, I missed Star Trek and Columbo over the weekend and was really pis*ed!&nbsp;&nbsp;Now that the trees have leaves, the digital signal is not as good&nbsp;as it was this winter.&nbsp;&nbsp;If the wind blows, the&nbsp;signal cuts out a little.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The idea was to get the antenna a little higher but still be able to remove it for stealth.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Below is the antenna and mast... For the bottom of the mast, I used&nbsp;about sixteen&nbsp;inches of&nbsp;1.25 inch PVC strapped (with hose clamps) to the roof rack support.&nbsp; This was the maximum height that I could go and still safely reach the pipes from the side door of the van.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_pjgz2qe...2M/Rtnu9KVlRKQ/s200/Antenna+Mast_Extended.jpg"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The antenna itself is attached with a screw and a PVC cap to some 1" PVC.&nbsp; The cap fits snugly onto the 1" PVC pipe - I have no fears of the antenna coming off.&nbsp; I wanted to be able to take it apart and throw the boomerang for protection against black bears... just kidding... That's another thread.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The two sizes of PVC slide together pretty tightly, but I still added one round of duct tape to shim it up a little.&nbsp; When the two pipes engaged,&nbsp;a bolt runs through them to prevent them from turning or separating... Tomorrow I'm going to change that to a bolt (on a&nbsp;wire)&nbsp;and cotter pin...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Here is a close-up.&nbsp; The ring above the top hose clamp is the duct tape "shim"...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z38tuDMTM...2U/xoBMeOPO-0o/s320/Antenna+mast+up+close.jpg"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Below is a picture of the base with the antenna and mast removed (as in transport or for stealth).&nbsp; Once parked in a safe camping area, I can slip the pipes together, secure, and hook up the wire in a minute or two...&nbsp; Whether or not it is used depends on the environment... Walmart, boondocking, campgrounds = no problem.&nbsp; On a residential street&nbsp;the antenna would be a dead giveaway.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;<img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05gHhJP1t...A2c/ZIX7Em3Fag4/s320/Antenna+Mast_Stealth.jpg"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Back to stealth mode.&nbsp; Most&nbsp;would not notice the little extra white pipe at the rear of the van...&nbsp; That's all you'll see in stealth mode.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The results exceeded expectations.&nbsp; Just raising the antenna a few feet made the difference between no signal and a solid 75%...&nbsp; I can also use the "Armstrong" method to rotate the antenna (turn it by hand)...&nbsp; The boomerang is somewhat directional.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">No more missed Trek or Columbo episodes...&nbsp; Life is good.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>

 

[Ricekila]

<P>Would a Bar Antenna work better ?</P>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">I don't know without trying it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I like the tilt aspect of the bar type&nbsp;antennas&nbsp;but it looks like they must have to be bolted down.&nbsp; If it's bolted down, it's more likely to be seen on top of the van&nbsp;when not in use.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I think the boomerang is more stealthy because it can be stored inside the van when a person is in hostile surroundings...&nbsp; Gainwise - it looks like their amplified version is about the same as my redneck contraption with the Radio Shack amp inline.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I'm kind of fond of the boomerang - it's worked very well considering the low altitude of the cargo van.&nbsp; Adding a few feet to its elevation really seems to make a difference.&nbsp; Most days in most places I get 20 channels or more.&nbsp; (2 or 3 of each of the same networks...)</p>

 

[Ricekila]

<P>Did you consider --- epoxying a tight PTT wood dowel in the bottom or sleeving the next size PVC - to hold a stainless hinge - witch is bolted to the rack near the mounting point on the rain gutter ---- lower it so it can be through bolted with a wing-nut to the forward rack --- then pop on the boomerang -- clip its wire C2G connector on the wire you silicon-ed into the mast -- then swing the mast up - using the same bolt and wing-nut secure it through the hole through the black plastic cap ----

<BR><BR>This way you can get out of the rain faster

<BR></P><P>And credit for Lucy for standing that close to the edge -- post special effects <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></P>

 

[VanTrekker]

<div>I thought about some kind of a swing-up arm that way but didn't want to do that at this point. In a nutshell, the wires are too short right now and I didn't want to add another piece of cable and barrel connector (adds more signal loss)</div><div>&nbsp;</div><p style="margin: 0px;">The problem is that some time back I cut the coax fairly close to the antenna. I had been taking the antenna on and off frequently and was coiling up the coaxial cable - I figured it would likely break at some point due to flexing it all the time so I'd cut the wire back. That left it too short to go much higher than four feet over above the roof.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><div>At some point (likely this year) I will be replacing the boomerang with a newer, upgraded one. At that point, doing something like you suggested would be more feasible. The extra height would be very helpful.&nbsp; For now, it's working&nbsp;better that it was and that's a good thing.&nbsp; </div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thanks much for the insight!</div><div><br>V.T.</div><p></p>

 

[Les H]

Hey VT , do you also have to use a digital converter box? It seems everywhere I go, I'm in the mountains, or there's leaves on the trees, or the breeze blows, or a squirrel farts... You get the idea. For the van I have a 7" LCD tv/DVD with a radioshack in line amp, and an RCA flat , rectangular outdoor Hd antenna supposedly good for 20 miles or so, but still don't get anything, even though it is obviously digital ready/capable. In our house, each tv has a converter box, we
have an online amp and a halfway decent antenna, and average about 13 channels. While, most times when I go out to the woods ( more than our house, that is) I don't watch tv at all, occasionally a DVD., but it would be nice to have the option. The forced changeover to digital, was , IMHO, crap. It either comes in , or it doesn't. The days of adding a coathanger or tin foil are , sadly, over.
Les

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi!&nbsp; No, I don't use a digital converter box.&nbsp; The TV is about a year old and the digital converter is built in.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I once had an RCA antenna that was good for about 20 miles or so.&nbsp; It just didn't perform well at all.&nbsp; The boomerang and Rad Shack amp seem to help.&nbsp; I just found out that the Rad Shack amp is only 12 db.&nbsp; For a mere $14.95, I ordered one from Ebay that brags it can boost a signal by 30 db.&nbsp; We'll see how that works...&nbsp; It might help in the fringe areas.&nbsp; Raising the antenna a bit really has made a difference.&nbsp; It is also easier to rotate now which also helps a lot.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">We were hosed with the digital conversion.&nbsp; HD is beautiful to look at but if it doesn't work, what good is it?&nbsp; It's good to know that I'm not the only one frustrated with the situation.&nbsp; I feel sorry for all the people stuck with old TVs.&nbsp; They are really piling up at the Goodwill...&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p>

 

[Lonewolf]

<p>T.V. rots the brain. Take it in small doses. Like anything moderation is key</p>

 

[Simran]

Brad,<br>You really put some thought into that. I'm glad it wasn't a wasted effort.<br>You keep taunting me I may need to get a TV<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">!!<br>It looks good.<br>BTW I had a crazy weekend; traveled 1400 miles! It was nuts. That's what a guy gets for being part of a family!!!<br><br>gus<br><br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;" align="center"><img style="width: 286px; height: 249px;" border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="http://www.businessblogshub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/tv_rots_your_brain.jpg" width="234" height="249"></p><p style="margin: 0px;" align="center">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" align="center">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" align="left">Lonewolf, I agree with you about too much TV. It not only&nbsp;rots the mind but also&nbsp;helps rot the body when your eyeballs are glued to the set and the rear end is in a chair.&nbsp;&nbsp; For the weekend outing I ordered four books for the Kindle - hopefully less TV will be watched.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks for the kind words, Gus.&nbsp; Originally the TV was purchased for the entertainment value but it's proving to be helpful if there are weather concerns - I can't always get to an internet signal and the radar views help a lot.&nbsp; (The&nbsp;"picture is worth&nbsp;a thousand&nbsp;words thing')&nbsp; Most areas have a local channel with a subchannel that is devoted to 24/7 weather.&nbsp; My TV was a modest little 15.6" model - $150.00 or so.&nbsp; It runs beautifully from the modified sine inverter.&nbsp; (Only 15 watts)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Take care folks.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">V.T.</p>

 

[Lonewolf]

reading is way better but thats still a screen man how bout a good old fashioned paper book<br>