Flag Pole Antennas
Due to high demand and our desire to get people on the air with a fine product, our Summer 2003 sale is extended to December 31st!
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Using this antenna is so much fun that I often use it
instead of the Yagis. Neat to say, "Antenna here is
a flag pole!" All you need is a rig, tuner and coax.
Many people came up to me in at the recent ARRL National
Convention in Dallas to share how much they liked their
flagpole antenna. We've seen some "flag pole antennas" made out of plastic with wires inside - this is a real flagpole and a real antenna. Our flag pole antenna operates on all bands, 40 through 10 meters using your rig's tuner. It can also be used on MARS frequencies in this range, as well as on 11 meters. The standard flag pole antenna has four (4) sections of 2" diameter 6061-t6 aircraft grade aluminum tubing that neatly drop into place for an overall height of 15 1/2'. There is a rotating top cap with a welded top and ear for the rope. The cleat to tie off the rope is another welded piece on the bottom section that attaches to the base insulator section. The base is simple to install using a PVC sleeve and one sack of cement - that's all there is to it. This makes the flag pole antenna non-permanent to conform to as many codes (i.e. CC&R's) as possible. Installation is about an hour using fast-drying cement (see install info below) - and you are on the air! The Force 12 flag pole antenna comes complete with: four (4) swaged tubing sections; top rotating welded cap; rope slide; rope; flag clips; solid pultruded fiberglass base insulator and an optional installation kit. The kit includes four (4) radials already with lugs for simple attachment and a feed point pigtail. With the kit, all you need is your coax feed line. The Force 12 aluminum flag pole antenna weighs only 12 pounds and ships in a 4' long carton. For more efficient coverage on the low bands, additional sections are available. These are IN STOCK, ready to send to you. At the price of $119.95 plus shipping, this is a wonderful buy and the installation kit is only $24.95 for a total of $144.90 but -- The summer price until December 31, 2003: $119.95 Contact Force 12, Inc. at or send an e-mail to force12info@fix.net . |
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The photos to the left are of the
extended base, feed line and radials. The insulator is
super strong 1.5" diameter pultruded fiberglass and
the hardware is stainless. This set-up uses four (4) 16'
radials, laying on the ground. Two radials are in one
direction and two are the opposite direction, as the lawn
is narrow. The span between the ends of each pair in a
particular direction is 10'. Each radial end is secured
to a small tent stake (making it easy to locate and mow
the lawn). The radials are #12 insulated wire and are all
attached to the base post. More radials can be added, of
course, but the goal in this set-up was to determine
performance using a simple system. The 50 ohm coax feed line is attached through a coax barrel connector to a short piece of 50 ohm coax that has been split to connect to the flag pole (radiator) and to the base post (ground - radials). The coax feed line on this system is 80' long and its length is not critical. You will notice there is no balun at the feed point. As the coax is ready to enter the house (about 20'), it is coiled into an 10-turn RF choke that lays on the ground. Placing the RF choke away from the antenna allows the coax feed line between the choke and the flag pole antenna to be utilized as part of the antenna system. This combination enables the system to be tuned on 40-10 meters. The VSWR ahead of the tuner on 40 is very high (>10:1); however, the station's TS-850S and TS-870S internal tuners match the antenna system easily. These transceivers match the flag pole antenna as shown on all bands, 40-10 meters. There is no indication of RFI on any device running the transceivers at 100-120 watts. How well does it work? Remember that everything works (see my article in July, 2000 QST) and the key is always efficiency - the flag pole antenna has a large diameter conductor in the clear, so it turns out to be pretty good, all things considered. The low bands are the best test, because the flag pole is shortest on these bands. A 1/4 wavelength vertical on 40 would be about 33', so this is less than half-size. Reports on 40 meters of 599 (and 599+) from Asia are not uncommon and these are from JA stations using wire antennas. In this direction, the path is through the house about 15' away. The next band up is 30 meters and the results are equally impressive: breaking the pile-up on TI9M with 3 calls was nice. The higher bands are more efficient and the antenna as set-up has a VSWR of 1.2:1 across 20 meters. Receiving 59+ reports on 12 meter SSB from Europe almost makes one walk outside and see what is going on! For improved performance on the low bands, additional sections are available. If your location is such that the Force 12 flag pole antenna would be a welcome addition, please contact us. It is easy to install and the installation kit provides a four (4) radials and feed point pigtail for you. The flag pole in the photos was installed in about an hour using a post hole digger, small garden trowel and quick-setting cement: a) went down 18-20" with the post hole digger; b) cut out a 12" circle of sod around the hole; c) placed some small rock at the bottom of the hole for drainage; d) set the supplied sleeve in the hole with the bottom section of the flagpole antenna; e) guyed the bottom section and used a level to be sure it was vertical; f) mixed the cement and trowled it into the hole, including the 12" circle; g) washed a few smooth rocks and set them in the circle for a nice look; h) waited until the cement was set. Added the radials and coax in about 30 minutes. The radials can be on top of the ground, or 1" below the surface - enough not to trip on them. This is a great way to have an effective antenna in restricted locations, look good for your neighbors and be patriotic at the same time! Contact Force 12, Inc. at or send an e-mail to force12info@fix.net . |
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Any questions or comments, please zip off an e-mail to us at force12info@fix.net.
73, Tom, N6BT
