Other Options for
Antenna Mounts and
Communication Stations

Jay Fenton has put a great deal of effort working on a number of designs for portable stations and antenna mounts that can provide support for individual communication as well as for incident command centers. Here are a few of them.

Sign post mounted station

Setting up is easy and usually be used within a short distance of the home.

Rolling, portable station

Units of this sort fit in many vehicles and provide more extensive support for long-term EmComm requirements.

Trailer hitch mount antenna

Provides a stable base for the antenna and a convenient workspace for EmComm needs.

Drive-on mount (Version 2)

Provides convenient antenna base for vehicles with no trailer hitch. The combination of this design and available heavy-duty fiberglass poles allows for expanded field possibilities. [More information below the photos.]

Jay Fenton reports on this new design:

The new prototype drive-on mount got it's first real test on 29 January. Both the slope and crown of the road required 10° of correction. There was additional adjustment possible. I will be testing this mount again this Saturday, 1 February,  during the 94803 first Saturday of the month GMRS net using the Diamond X300 shown here. The push up mast is a DXE-TFK25 from DX ENGINEERING which has a 25-foot extended height. I did not extend the top 4-foot tube, as I didn't want to take a chance on damaging this loaner from Michael Gold. This is the same push up pole used at Brickyard to support their Diamond X300.

I'm pleased with this design but need to do more work on the "toolless" T-bolt construction. These took a lot of time to build, but they do simplify and speed field assembly. DX ENGINEERING also has a 46-foot version ( DXE-TFK46-HD). The receiver tube could be changed to a larger size to fit the 3-inch base section diameter. The 7.5-foot height would require standing on a pickup bed or ladder to push up. 

The combination of this prototype and available heavy-duty fiberglass poles allows for expanded field possibilities. The prototype is available for loan. Please try to give me advanced notice as I may be out of town at the farm. 

Drive-on mount (Version 1)

Provides convenient antenna base for vehicles with no trailer hitch. In addition, the steel base could be clamped to a surface, such as a bench.

Roof-mount antennas

More permanent and stable for home stations.