‰ NOW 35 WPM ‰ TEXT IS FROM MAY 2015 QST PAGE 58‰ INSTALLATION THE STOUTNESS OF THIS MAST DOESNT MEAN THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ERECT. W1AW STATION MANAGER JOE CARCIA, NJ1Q, AND I ERECTED THE MAST ON A PLEASANT FALL DAY IN THE SIDE YARD AT ARRL HQ SEE FIGURE 10. ALTHOUGH BOTH OF US WORKED ON THE MAST, THE STAINLESS STEEL CLAMPS WITH EACH TELESCOPING SECTION ALLOW FOR RELATIVELY EASY INSTALLATION BY A SINGLE PERSON. SPIDERBEAMS WEBSITE OFFERS DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ERECT THE MAST, WHICH IT SAYS WAS DESIGNED FOR ONE MAN DXPEDITIONS. INDEED, IT WOULD BE EASY TO TRANSPORT A SPIDERBEAM MAST, A SMALL HEX STYLE BEAM, FEED LINE, AND VARIOUS SUPPORT HARDWARE WITH A GOLF CLUB TRAVEL BAG. KEEP IT UNDER 50 POUNDS THE STANDARD WEIGHT LIMIT OF CHECKED BAGGAGE ON MANY AIRLINES, PUT YOUR TRANSCEIVER IN A CARRY ON, AND VOILA, YOU HAVE A DXPEDITION IN A BAG. MANY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE MAST EVEN EASIER TO USE. THERE ARE TRIPODS TO ASSIST IN STABILIZATION, BUT WE USED THE BASE PLATE OPTION FOR GROUND MOUNTED, FLAT SURFACE INSTALLATION. THE BASE PLATE IS ABOUT 8 INCHES SQUARE WITH SMALL TEETH TO GRIP INTO SOIL. SIMPLY PLACE THE PLATE WHERE YOU WANT THE MAST, STEP ON IT, AND YOU HAVE A SECURE RESTING PAD FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE MAST. THE OPTIONAL GUY HARDWARE ALLOWS THE ENTIRE MAST TO ROTATE, EASY ENOUGH TO DO BY HAND. STANDARD ANTENNA ROTATORS ARE EASILY ACCOMMODATED, AND THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT ADAPTERS AVAILABLE TO INSTALL A ‰ END OF 35 WPM TEXT ‰ QST DE W1AW ƒ