VE6AB Mobile Ops
The CAL-AV Mark 5 Insurance Plan
This is an update to the review I reported on previously in regards to the CAL-AV Mark 5 military grade all stainless steel spring that I have been using for some time with my HF monobander antenna system.
After close to a year of using one of these military grade springs, I have come to realize the benefits of having this spring mounted on my mobile with my monobander system, and I recently acquired a 2nd Mark 5 spring that I installed on my gearmotor antenna as shown in the photo.
I am extremely pleased with how the Mark 5 spring supports my 6 lb gearmotor antenna mast assembly along with the whip up top without any sway while travelling down the road at highway speeds.
Having the Mark 5 spring as part of my gearmotor antenna assembly is cheap insurance when you think about the consequences of smacking into something with your expensive gearmotor antenna.
Never mind the damage that would result to the antenna, but consider the damage that potentially could be done to your vehicle depending on where and how you have the antenna mounted.
This CAL-AV Mark 5 military grade all stainless spring mounted on my mobile is built in the US, and is no doubt the best quality spring I have ever used with one of my HF antennas.
The spring requires 9 foot-pounds of torque for a 10 degree deflection. The torque is measured with a perpendicular load applied 36 inches above the spring base on my mobile.
The size of this all stainless steel spring is aprox 2” in diameter, and approximately 5” long, and weighs 2 1/4 pounds. The spring has a tinned copper braid strap which internally connects the end caps of the spring.
The spring has flats milled in place on the end caps, allowing for a wrench to be used without marring the finish of the spring, when installing the antenna mast, as well as the mounting of the spring.
When purchasing this spring, there are options available, one option allowing you to pass your run of coax through the spring. Of course the options come with a extra cost.
So if you require a spring to support your mobile HF antenna, I highly recommend the springs made by CAL-AV , as they build the absolute best spring available, you do not need to look elsewhere.
Click on the photo for a closer look.....
Where to aquire one.........
http://www.cal-av.com/springs.html
