Extending A Patio Mount

Ratchet

Ratchet

Regular Member
My Satellite Setup
TM 5402(M2), TBS 6983, Sky+ HD, Stab USALS HH100, Faval 1M, Triax TD54, Hauppauge HD PVR
My Location
Falkirk
I've got a 1m x 50mm galvanised tripod style patio mount. I'm looking to extend the height by a couple of feet and was thinking of slipping a slightly thicker pole over the top of the existing pole. My plan is to add another 1m pole with 30cm overlap to give a net height increase of 70cm. I've searched lots of online satellite shops and a couple of local suppliers but nobody seems to stock 60mm diameter pole. I don't want to go down the route of adding a mast coupler and another 50mm pole as this would inroduce weakness. Anybody know of a stockist of 60mm poles or perhaps a better solution to my proposal ? I found ISS International with 60mm poles but they appear to be a supplier and not a retailer.
 
I would have thought that a mast coupler would be fine, especially if you added some additional support.

See pic below, is this the type of mast coupler you don't want to use, I have one in the back of my van, and seems to hold the extra pole very rigid.

Something else you could do, would be to get an 8ft scaffold tube and clamp it to the existing using scaffold swivel couplers, they are very strong.

Or another option even, get an alloy 50mm pole, slit it down the side, and use jubilee clips, to essentially make a full length mast coupler.

You may need additional bracing in any case, you could use lashing wire as guy wires, or clamp some diagonal poles on.
 

Attachments

  • 2-mast-coupler-240-p.webp
    2-mast-coupler-240-p.webp
    10.4 KB · Views: 41
Robbo said:
I would have thought that a mast coupler would be fine, especially if you added some additional support.

See pic below, is this the type of mast coupler you don't want to use, I have one in the back of my van, and seems to hold the extra pole very rigid.

Something else you could do, would be to get an 8ft scaffold tube and clamp it to the existing using scaffold swivel couplers, they are very strong.

Or another option even, get an alloy 50mm pole, slit it down the side, and use jubilee clips, to essentially make a full length mast coupler.

You may need additional bracing in any case, you could use lashing wire as guy wires, or clamp some diagonal poles on.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions Robbo, some good ideas that I hadn't thought of. That is indeed the type of mast coupler I was wary of, not through experience but just a gut feeling that it could be a potential point of failure in high winds. I'll have another think about it.
 
The coupler will be stronger, or at least as strong as the original mast, unless it's a scaffold pole. See this one in operation, the coupler is just above the Sky dish.
 

Attachments

  • through_roof_PA222191.webp
    through_roof_PA222191.webp
    42.6 KB · Views: 46
Coincidentally I need to buy one of these this week for my patio mount. The previous installer decided it would be a good idea to spot weld the post to the bottom of the PM after alignment so I need to splint the pole to give me some adjustment. Does anyone know the cheapest place to get them (other than CPC as they're out of stock) £23 seems to be the lowest I've found so far.
 
You might find something here :

_http://www.capitalstores.co.uk/2-inch-cb-radio-antenna-mast-coupler-with-10-bolts

A little cheaper than the price you quoted.
 
Try searching ebay mate for "mast coupler", you should be able to get one delivered for under £20.

I have one with rusty bolts, for a tenner posted if you want it.
 
Try your local scaffold site. I received 3 scaffold poles, 2 swivel clamps and a mast coupler for a tenner.
 
I checked all the sponsor sites, googled it, checked my wholesalers but didn't for one minute think to check on Ebay doh! Thanks for the tip about Capital Stores, I've not heard of them before. Robbo, thank you for the offer of your one, unusually for me I'm going to buy new just this once and get it overnighted here for Tuesday so I can start work on getting the dish up now my back has recovered from concreting the base in. Maybe the OP (who's thread I hijacked) would like it instead but thanks again for offering it.
 
aceb said:
I checked all the sponsor sites, googled it, checked my wholesalers but didn't for one minute think to check on Ebay doh! Thanks for the tip about Capital Stores, I've not heard of them before. Robbo, thank you for the offer of your one, unusually for me I'm going to buy new just this once and get it overnighted here for Tuesday so I can start work on getting the dish up now my back has recovered from concreting the base in. Maybe the OP (who's thread I hijacked) would like it instead but thanks again for offering it.
Click to expand...

That was a kind offer from Robbo but I've already ordered a coupler, 1m pole and an end cap. The picture from rolfw as well as his and Robbo's reassurance made me go down the coupler route. I'll post an update when the job is complete, thanks to all for their advice.
 
Funily enough, this thread has prompted me to get a temporary mount set up. I was using a scaff pole on a workmate, but it was a pita. I have a rusty old tripod mount somewhere in the garden, half a scaffold pole and the coupler, with a few bricks as weights it will make a nice temporary mount.


EDIT:

Found all the bits, had to use a new pole for the bottom and drill a few holes, but seems pretty firm. Possibly would add additional diagonal bracing for a larger motorised though.
 

Attachments

  • tripod1.webp
    tripod1.webp
    108.6 KB · Views: 53
Mark, does the pole remain as straight as the bottom tripod piece or does it "bend" at the joint?
 
Not sure about that mate, as my bottom pole isn't vertical, also my two poles are slightly different diameter. The thing to do anyway would be to adjust the base accordingly to get the top pole vertical, though in theory there should be no bend at the joint.
 
_http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.com/product/?s=2-mast-coupler have one.
 
Job done, although not using all of the extra height yet. The mast coupler is quite a heavy duty piece of hardware, the pictures in the adverts don't really do them justice. Seems to be solid as a rock.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN2160.webp
    DSCN2160.webp
    61.7 KB · Views: 48
Nice job, The wee Triax dish looks tiny in the shade of that big beasty!
 
Stab motor - nice. I remember them being quite sturdy. Is there a lot of wobble at the top of the extended pole?
 
Captain Jack said:
Stab motor - nice. I remember them being quite sturdy. Is there a lot of wobble at the top of the extended pole?
Click to expand...

No sign of any wobble yet but the real test will be the next bout of high winds. Like many areas of the country we've had 2 bad storms so far this year, the second of which destroyed my original mount.
 
Back
Top