Hello everyone,
Sorry if this seems to be a mundane question. I just want to do things the right way. I am using a Leica 1200 setup (GX1230 Base+SmartRover ATX1230) and I just recently bought my first external radio. It is a Pac Crest PDL4535 450-470Mhz and it was programmed by Steve Watson from Carpow GPS Repair Australia. Below is the pictures of my "new ???? " used/refurbished PDL4535 radios when the package just arrived a few days ago.
Now, from several illustrations on the internet, I noticed that many surveyors use the special aluminum tripod+embedded radio antenna mast.Something like the picture below (generic vector photo).
I have managed to find these tripod models from Leica, SECO and Pacific Crest. Although I really love these designs, these are all pricey at $500+. Also, it is going to be cost-prohibitive for a student like me to buy them, pay for the hefty FedEx shipping for such a heavy item, then get slammed by import taxes (I live in Madagascar).
So, I wonder if there are more viable methods for setting up a UHF external radio antenna. The one I am thinking about putting the UHF antenna on top of a 5section-5m pole and attach it to a thumb-release tripod like the illustration below. There are cheap ones that cost around $60 from Alibaba and I can buy with sea shipping from China to Madagascar which is much cheaper even though it's super slow (I can wait).
Do you think this is an appropriate way to set up an UHF antenna or is there any other method that I should be aware of? Is the thumb-release tripod sturdy enough for this purpose or is it too unstable/inadequate for such a task? Thanks a lot for your answers and I wish you all a great week ahead.
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If I need that sort of height I just put the 5m pole though the centre of a standard tripod and weight the legs or tie the pole to a fence post. Not sure the bipod style option would keep the pole up in wind so well.
I often just put a regular range pole on a tribrach and used one or two sections of range poke depending on how high I wanted it.
I have a tow hook on the front of my truck, a 15 foot rod set in the hook, the battery hangs of another tow hook and so does the radio. Or I move it away from the base (sometimes miles) and weave the rod into a fence line with the battery hanging over a post and the radio hanging somewhere convenient. There is no reason to set up a tripod just for a radio pole. Waste of money, you'd be better off buying a metal fence post, beat it in the ground and lean it against it, or two posts and wrap the pole high with flagging between the two posts. Use some cheap 4' pole sections. I would never use a bipod.
I use an old tripod with a 25' level rod setting in the middle of it with the antenna threaded on top. I set the battery right next to it and strap the bottom of the rod to the battery for stability.
Best way = stable setup and high enough to get you the range you need. How you get there is really up to you.
I've used the antenna-specific tripods and really don't like 'em - they take up space and serve a single purpose. I much prefer to have another tripod that I can use for surveying, and either use @lukenz 's method, or use one of the lightweight fiberglass mast poles (~2m/6ft extension) sold under many different brands.
I also much prefer to run my radio as a repeater, which means that it's often easier to position it such that I don't need to boost that antenna up super high...
Often, you will see tripods used as a base radio setup in ads. Usually surveyors carry more than one tripod for reasons that have nothing to do with a radio setup, so why not use it. But, buying a tripod simply to put up an antenna pole is overkill. I use it sometimes cause it's sitting in the truck box and it's quick. Also with some of the setups shown you need a big washer to make it work, probably $150 from one of the vendors (JK).
Old and worn out instrument tripods get a second life as a radio tripod.
I also much prefer to run my radio as a repeater, which means that it's often easier to position it such that I don't need to boost that antenna up super high...
That also means you can put the base in a more convenient (easier to walk to location) and only have to lug the repeater up a hill to get into the next valley.
I don't use UHF much, as most of my work area has good cell coverage. But I do carry an 8' piece of 3/4" gas pipe that has a pole point on one end and an antenna adapter on the other. When I need UHF I jam the point into the ground and use a homemade Hold-A-Pole with a regular tripod to keep the pipe in place. It doesn't get the antenna above any trees, but it's been good enough for the places I've used it, and doesn't take up much space in the truck.
Thank you very much for everyone that took some time to respond to my thread! Your input is very much appreciated!
@james-vianna Hello James, is that an Emlid RS2 that you are using? If yes, I never knew that it is possible to link them with an external antenna like that.
How do you keep the antenna pole to stick on the second tripod like that? Very curious about it. Nice setup by the way!
Yes it is. I have a plastic claw that screws on the tripod head and holds the fiberglass rod. Maybe from lo-ink
If I need that sort of height I just put the 5m pole though the centre of a standard tripod and weight the legs or tie the pole to a fence post. Not sure the bipod style option would keep the pole up in wind so well.
@lukenz Hi Luke! This is nearly the setup I have been planning. Using a 5m pole with a tripod. If you look at the original picture closely, it's a pole-tripod and not the bipod one. I was also thinking about wind disturbances and maybe a bipod won't be strong enough.
By the way, how do you hold the 5m pole with the standard tripod? (from my understanding, you are using the regular tripod for total stations etc,...) Normally, these things have a huge hole in the center and how do you make it such that the pole gets to stay in place without any wiggling around.
