I use a 1.25" diameter 8' long solid fiberglass rod from Max-Gain Systems for the crossboom in my G-5500 rotator. I cut a short section of PVC pipe lengthwise into two pieces to go over the fiberglass rod (in addition to self-adhesive safety walk material stuck on the fiberglass rod for friction with the PVC pipe) for the part that is inside the rotator boom housing. I hope that's an understandable description!
I spray-painted the entire fiberglass rod with white epoxy appliance paint before mounting my 2m, 70cm, and 23cm antennas. Seems to be holding up ok so far.
Bob W7OTJ
On Sun, Mar 10, 2019 at 5:46 AM Stephen E. Belter seb@wintek.com wrote:
Mike,
The M2 FGCB60 Heavy Duty Fiberglass Crossboom is well constructed. I own two of them, one of which was on my tower for many years. You won't go wrong by buying one. (I bought the second one as part of a package of used satellite gear.)
Coating the fiberglass isn't a bad idea. After 15-20 years of Indiana weather, mine is showing some surface deterioration.
Here's an alternative: I'm currently using a crossboom that is square, instead of round. That makes it easier for me to keep the antennas pointing in the same direction. When the antennas slip a little on a round crossboom due to wind or ice loading, coax tugging on the end of the antenna, or less than perfect balance, the tendency is for the antennas to point a little above or below each other, or for the whole array to point above or below the horizon when the rotor elevation is zero.
I built my crossboom with an 1-inch square aluminum tube, two-feet long, clamped inside a Yaesu G5500 elevation rotor. I then added two pieces of 1.25-inch square fiberglass booms that slide over the ends of the aluminum tube. You can purchase the square fiberglass tubes from Max-Gain Systems, www.mgs4u.com.
Good luck with the new antenna array.
73, Steve N9IP
P.S. If anyone wants one of my weathered M2 FGCB60 crossbooms at a really good price, I could bring it to the Dayton/Xenia Hamvention for delivery. The purchase price will be donated to AMSAT. -- Steve Belter, seb@wintek.com
On 3/9/19, 10:19 PM, "AMSAT-BB on behalf of radiomb" < amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of radiomb@bellsouth.net> wrote:
Hello, I am redoing my antenna system. I will be putting up a 2MCP14,436CP30, a small camera and some kind of 1.2 beam. Anyone using the M2 FGCB60 Heavy Duty Fiberglass Crossboom Kit. How do you like it? Any other options? When I get it should I coat it with anything to weather proof it. The sun is bad in south Florida. Hi Hi TNX 73 Mike K4MIA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb