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[VHFcontesting] 12 foot rover mast too high?

To: "vhfcontesting@contesting.com" <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] 12 foot rover mast too high?
From: Pete K0BAK via VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Reply-to: rxr978-vhf@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 07:47:25 -0800
List-post: <vhfcontesting@contesting.com">mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
To the rovers:

I have a walk-up mast system (Penninger Radio) for my minivan rover beams that 
I previously had to construct on-site at each stop. I've been working toward 
getting a real ham rotor on the bottom of the mast, and to travel with the 
beams up to increase my operating time by not having construct at each site.

I just put the system together yesterday. The combination of the pivot device, 
the rotor, and mast sections I'm using altogether put the top of the mast 
slightly over 12 feet from the ground. It looks dangerously tall to me for 
driving.

Before I spend more time on getting the mast more stable with some metal 
between a ring bearing and the roof rack, do you guys have an opinion about 
driving with a mast that high? On interstates and state roads, it shouldn't be 
a problem, but I'm wondering if you have a mast that tall with antennas (I will 
have 4 ~10' beams) while driving to good sites on heavily-wooded roads with 
antenna-snagging low branches.

What would you consider the maximum reasonably-safe height for travel in the 
Northeast with it's narrow back roads, tree canopies, and old railroad bridges 
(I'm from Pennsylvania)?

Thanks, Pete K0BAK

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