Reddit mentions: The best flagpole hardware

My list for mobile/portable operating would look something like this...

For a man portable setup I could carry in a pack, the highest capacity LiFePO4 battery I could afford.

Otherwise, if I'm driving out to a fixed operating site, then the biggest AGM deep cycle battery I would care to lug from the car a short distance to the operating site.

A lightweight computer with good battery life so I don't have to worry about external power for it out in the field. I'm not really a Mac guy, but I'd probably bring my Macbook Pro for this task.

The TS-480 doesn't require a Signalink/Rigblaster type interface for digital operation, but you will need the following items to interface to your computer...

• USB to serial converter. Don't buy the Prolific chipset garbage, save yourself the frustration and spend the few bucks for something with an FTDI chipset.
  
  
• Kenwood PG-5H data cable set. You can also make this if you want, Your TS-480 should have shipped with a plastic baggie with the connectors in it to make this (pinouts are detailed towards the back of the manual). Or, you can get them on ebay. I bought mine mainly because hate soldering stuff to DIN connector pins.
  
  
• Serial cable, straight through, female ends. Cheap and readily avaialble.
  
  
• If the laptop you're using doesn't have separate speaker out/mic in jacks, then a cheap USB audio adapter.
  
  The filters aren't truly necessary and the unit is pretty frequency stable without the TCXO, but they sure are nice to have. If you were going to put a filter in it, I would recommend the 500Hz CW filter. It comes in handy when you're trying to zero in on a particular signal or block adjacent strong signals. The DSP filtering is generally adequate, but a strong enough signal is going to swamp the AGC and that's when the crystal filters come in handy to notch that out.
  
  If you do get the TCXO, don't waste $110 on the Kenwood SO-3. The cheap Chinese TCXO's work just as well and can be had for much cheaper. I got mine from ebay for 20 bucks or so, but now you can even get them on Amazon with Prime shipping and everything.
  
  Antenna choice is highly variable. Out here in the deserts of New Mexico, you don't find much in the way of trees, so a wire antenna deployed up into a tree is out and a self supporting vertical is in. I generally pack an MFJ 1979 telescoping vertical whip with a clamping antenna mount or a collapsable fiberglass pole that I can hoist up a length of wire with. Your own situation, available terrain, bands you want to work are going to be the determining factors here.
  
  This page has some useful notice on power draw of the TS-480 with some operating scenarios and battery sizing options. A lightweight, power sipping QRP rig the TS-480 is not, but it's still very usable for portable operations.
  
  

I just picked up this one from amazon and it's perfect. Not too heavy, durable, collapses down pretty good, and super easy to attach a flag or two

https://www.amazon.com/Valley-Forge-Flag-Telescoping-Flagpole/dp/B0026JOLHQ This one worked great for me last year. Pretty much any telescoping flag pole is good for travel and I like the drive-over base so it's nice and secure.

Ha, I so spaced on your username/who OP was, that I took a double take when the yt started playing. I had a good laugh about it. Thank you much for the YT link.

As /u/ontothenextusername said, I watched your flagpole vid specifically for EDCO2019 too. First time taking a flag to EDCO.

I ended up getting this one inside on day one and just left it in the locker for the rest of the weekend. It worked out well for what I intended https://imgur.com/x6za7Xa

Hammer, a multibit screwdriver set like this one is amazing because you don't need to buy a ton of different screwdrivers, a tape measurer, a wrench, a level (for hanging pictures and stuff), a set of pliers, and a flashlight. A small drill will come in handy as well. Also, it's helpful to have a toolbox and some basic things like nails, duct tape, and a utility knife.

I'm trying to figure out how to support our camp site flag pole (25') this year. In the past, we've secured it to the leg of our shade tent. This year we have a different tent that we can't attach it to, so I'm trying to figure out a different solution.

Seems to me there are three options;
-a pipe in the ground (ground is probably too hard for this, based on past experience)
-a trailer hitch attachment (prevents me from accessing truck bed to get stuff)
-a stand that goes under your tire

But $30 seems steep for that. I was going to buy some 1/2" square steel tubing and a piece of pipe and weld one up myself. Has anyone built anything like this, or does anyone have any other ideas?

It's an option. It's not a great option. It's very hard to say whether it will tune up with the 7300's internal tuner, because the SWR you get on an end-fed is very much dependent on "luck" (the length and loss of your feedline, height above ground, presence of nearby metal objects, etc.) The configuration I imagine you using, with the antenna transformer right outside the window, and a short feedline that's almost entirely inside, is pretty much the worst case situation in terms of getting the antenna to match, received noise, and RFI in the shack when you transmit.

My first HF antenna was exactly that, a 60' end-fed running from a second story window out into the back yard. It worked and I could make contacts on it, but it was the worst antenna I ever used for received noise and RFI, and the second-worst antenna I ever used for actually getting signals out (the worst was a coax magloop). Anything that gets you started is perfectly fine, but if you get into it and want to enjoy then I strongly suggest that you figure out how to put up something better. My current setup still has the feedline going out the second-story window, but now the antenna is a ladder-line-fed doublet with one end secured to a flag pole mounted to the front of the house near the roof, and the other end going over that tree in the back yard. It's still a compromise, but it works a lot better. I also have a trap vertical in the back yard, which is less efficient (especially since I don't have enough backyard for decent radials) but since the antenna is further away from the house it has fewer RFI issues.

I got one of these this year: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BIEBERK/ref=psd_mlt_nbc_B00BIEBERA_bi

Had the 16' version last year. It worked great at two fests. Friends broke it at TamaleStock while it was holding up the piñata. Got this one to replace it. I just duct tape it to the corner of two ez up tents and tie a flag or two to the top.

Do you guys think this 5 Feet Telescopic Handheld Flagpoles is acceptable to the festival?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075M95Z54/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A1KXEDX75REZB2&th=1

without a pic, hard to tell, but i think what you are looking for is a "split-ring escutcheon plate". these are typically used for plumbing, so not sure if they make them in the right diameter for your pole. you need the split ring as i assume you dont have access to the top of the pole to slide a non-split one down the pole, you would need to have a 2 piece one (split-ring) that you assemble around the pole.

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edit: or maybe something like this.

It's a [flag pole holder] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HMCBVM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_agUJDbSG40MY2) . Zoomed out it looks like a cat face lol

I searched extendable pole on amazon and I found this mop pole for $12.95 https://www.amazon.com/CleanAide-Adjustable-Extendable-Aluminum-Inches/dp/B01N4X7NA8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1524802941&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=extendable+pole&dpPl=1&dpID=31w47GGg4IL&ref=plSrch
Or I also found a 5 foot extendable hand held flag pole for $7.95 https://www.amazon.com/Telescopic-Handheld-Flagpoles-ANLEY-Portable/dp/B075M95Z54/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1524803078&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=extendable+pole

They have solar-powered lights specifically for flag poles.

We have one station with this kind: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Moonrays-92320-Premium-Output-Solar-Powered-LED-Flagpole-Light-Black-Finish/23038915?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=791c918d-367a-468c-8b01-a7666812d468&config_id=106&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=791c918d-367a-468c-8b01-a7666812d468&item_id=23038915&parent_anchor_item_id=19426991&parent_item_id=19426991&placement_id=irs-106-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=P_Xc7zaE-9bg9EzJWDbcWM

And looking this up I just found out they make them that illuminate from the top down: https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Flag-Flagpole-Light-Deneve/dp/B00D9C796Y

Both are only 30 bucks. Easy fix.

I bought this for my 4 x5c's:

31' Fiberglass Pole - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YPS9HU/

It has saved me numerous times. A slingshot with sinkers and 20lb+ test works well for higher up. I had one x5c get stuck ~100ft up which I could not retrieve. A wind storm 3 weeks later brought it back to earth.

I recommend removing those tree grabbing prop guards when outside. Reduces stuck symas considerably.

Btw: this is my go to pole (Jackite 31ft), not cheap, but works like a rockstar thusfar

31' Fiberglass Pole - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YPS9HU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XHBGAbMGQ6JPW

Believe it or not the flag poles came from amazon. (Link below). The rest of the set up is all harley. Have the harley sissy bar with a mustang back rest and the harley blade luggage rack as well. The bags are the harley travel luggage. They work great as a back rest.

Note on the flag poles. The reviews are questionable but all because the things come lose where ever there are threads. I took them completely apart when I got them and put them back together with lock tight. Never had any problems.


Diamond Plate BKFLAGPL Motorcycle Flagpole Mount and American Flag USA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007FWPZD8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ToJ7AbNQYZX1W

America, Fuck Yeah!

May I suggest that once this one wears out, you replace it with a tangle free flagpole and grommeted flag.

I don't have to constantly untangle my flag and the Annin Tough-Tex flag has stood up for two years so far (albeit a bit faded). Annin flags are also made right here in 'Murica.

I bought this. Connected it and tried to wave it a bit. My flag is a little heavy cause it’s made a bit stronger so we’ll see how it holds up


Telescoping Flagpole

Something like this, my dude.

Look for a wall mount flag pole at your local hardware store. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Online-Stores-Adjustable-Alum-Bracket/dp/B0014SKUN4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1500208329&sr=8-4&keywords=wall+mount+flag+holder

Hook one of these around the top spring pin and attach it to a chain.

It's a Jackite 31' pole that I got from amazon. Here's a link to get you started:

Fiberglass pole

It has to be a lightweight, hollow metal like aluminum. Carbon fiber and fiberglass can pass too, but they’re a bit more costly. I recently got this flag pole and it seems sturdy enough to support extensive flag waving. It’s about 6.5ft. Long fully extended and about 1 foot collapsed. You’ll need to buy some flag clips for it though, it only has the loops to put the clips on, not both.

I shamelessly copycatted this super-easy-to-make drive-on antenna stand from WB3GCK for use with Jackite 31' fiberglass poles. Check out his blog for some good ideas about operating portable.

I used this last year with a 17-ft pole and it worked perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/Anley-Telescopic-Handheld-Flagpoles-Portable/dp/B075M95Z54?ref_=w_bl_hsx_s_lg_web_8403137011

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L6UQJXO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Telescoping Flag Pole

Think they'll let this in Centeroo?

Try this!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L6UQJXO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_G3itDb9YVBGVE

https://www.amazon.com/Telescoping-Flagpole-Stainless-Teachers-Collapsable/dp/B01L6UQJXO

Flagpole bracket. The Cost is Correct!

I've been using a 1/4 wave vertical for beach trips with a 31 foot kit flag pole, a drive-over mount, and 30 feet of wire + 3 radials at 25 feet 120 degrees apart. Fed with coax with a homebrew direct feed box.

Decent for RX down to 80 meters and no need for a tree providing you have a vehicle to sit on the mount or something heavy to hold it down (like a sandbag or bricks)

Wire is THHN stranded from Lowes

Pole: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YPS9HU/

Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G2KMRZ8/

I got mine from amazon. Once you select the green pole the 31' becomes available. I actually leave it up all the time and it's weathered some nasty storms.