I did exactly that, Lance. It just seemed like the logical way to tripod mount the thing to me.
Using cheap tripods from BestBuy, I just did a finger-balance on the assembled Arrow & used a couple of small screws to mount the base plate that comes with the tripod (so it's easily removable from the tripod). After seeing that it worked so well, I added a little JB Weld (2-part epoxy type of product) to reinforce the connection.
It's plastic, so leaving it on there for hand-held use has not been an issue.
Here's a pic:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/10509shc38j9ywn/arrows.jpg?dl=0
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message ----- From: Lance Homer To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 01:56 Subject: [amsat-bb] Mounting Arrow Antennas
I'm an amateur radio operator who is thinking about getting into communicating via satellites. As I've been looking into the Elk vs the Arrow antennas and trying to decide which to buy....all of the videos and the pictures I see of the Arrow on a a tripod always have it mounted on the far end at the handle. Many use a counterweight but some do not. I was wondering if mounting in the middle of the beam where it is more balanced weight-wise is possible or if there is some reason people do not do this? (As I try to imagine the motion needed it still seems possible to me to have the elements not hit the tripod legs if you can extend the head of the tripod up a bit.) If it can be done I assume it would need to be a non-metal tri-pod?? I'm also thinking of mounting the antenna I choose (Elk or Arrow) to a tall fiberglass mast. If I can't mount the arrow in the middle then I would worry about the leverage that it would create which is one reason the Elk seems appealing....but at the same time I assume the Alaskan has the most gain which interests me for non-satellite uses.
Thanks, Lance / K7LQH