Built a PVC Antenna Mast for my 17" Dual Band Antenna.

[TNFrank]

Like the title says, I got some PVC and built an antenna mast for my 17" Dual Band Antenna. I wanted to keep it portable so I made it in 3 sections. 2 of them are 1.25" and the final section at the top with the antenna is 1". I used M6x1.0 bolts with wing nuts to hold it together and got 3 eyelets with clips to attack the 550 cord for support. All in all it worked out well and I hooked up my RT95 to it and made a couple contacts on a local repeater.  I did have to do some modifications after the fact moving the pole with the eyelets to the bottom pole to make it easier to set up but I think it turned out pretty well. Seems to be about  15 feet although I didn't measure it(guess I should, LOL) and it gets the antenna up in the air nicely. Here's a couple picks. Just thought I'd share. Talk to ya'll later. 73.

 

 

[WRYZ926]

The main downside to using PVC is that it won't hold up to long exposure to UV light. PVC is fine for temporary setups but it is not very good for a more permanent setup.

[TNFrank]

That's why it's made to be taken apart and stored inside. If I was going to make something that would be permanently outside I'd use aluminium. I Aldo made it in 3 parts so it's portable and can be easily transported. 

[Lscott]

15 hours ago, TNFrank said:

Like the title says, I got some PVC and built an antenna mast for my 17" Dual Band Antenna. I wanted to keep it portable so I made it in 3 sections. 2 of them are 1.25" and the final section at the top with the antenna is 1". I used M6x1.0 bolts with wing nuts to hold it together and got 3 eyelets with clips to attack the 550 cord for support. All in all it worked out well and I hooked up my RT95 to it and made a couple contacts on a local repeater.  I did have to do some modifications after the fact moving the pole with the eyelets to the bottom pole to make it easier to set up but I think it turned out pretty well. Seems to be about  15 feet although I didn't measure it(guess I should, LOL) and it gets the antenna up in the air nicely. Here's a couple picks. Just thought I'd share. Talk to ya'll later. 73.

 

 

Did you consider using some "Painter's Poles" for a mast? They are in about the range you have for the PVC and they telescope too.  

[TNFrank]

Never heard of a Painter's Pole. Guess I need to look into them.

[WSEZ864]

I need a new mast myself. I'm using PVC up on the chimney because I have two ground planes (2m/GMRS) mounted on it, one above the other. The PVC is starting to lean a little after several years and should be replaced with something more rigid, but not conductive.

[WRYZ926]

3 hours ago, WSEZ864 said:

I need a new mast myself. I'm using PVC up on the chimney because I have two ground planes (2m/GMRS) mounted on it, one above the other. The PVC is starting to lean a little after several years and should be replaced with something more rigid, but not conductive.

Look into heavy duty fiberglass poles.

Here is one place to buy them. https://mgs4u.com/telescoping-fiberglass-tube-and-rod-price-list-2/#round

[TNFrank]

I was trying to do this on a budget. Since I've got a Lowe's card it's easy to just buy stuff from them and this is what they had that worked with my budget. It's only going to be outside when I'm using my RT95 as a mobile base station, all the rest of the time it'll be inside so it should last for quite a while. 

[SteveShannon]

14 hours ago, TNFrank said:

Like the title says, I got some PVC and built an antenna mast for my 17" Dual Band Antenna. I wanted to keep it portable so I made it in 3 sections. 2 of them are 1.25" and the final section at the top with the antenna is 1". I used M6x1.0 bolts with wing nuts to hold it together and got 3 eyelets with clips to attack the 550 cord for support. All in all it worked out well and I hooked up my RT95 to it and made a couple contacts on a local repeater.  I did have to do some modifications after the fact moving the pole with the eyelets to the bottom pole to make it easier to set up but I think it turned out pretty well. Seems to be about  15 feet although I didn't measure it(guess I should, LOL) and it gets the antenna up in the air nicely. Here's a couple picks. Just thought I'd share. Talk to ya'll later. 73.

 

 

Nice Frank.  

[SteveShannon]

6 hours ago, TNFrank said:

I was trying to do this on a budget. Since I've got a Lowe's card it's easy to just buy stuff from them and this is what they had that worked with my budget. It's only going to be outside when I'm using my RT95 as a mobile base station, all the rest of the time it'll be inside so it should last for quite a while. 

If you do worry about UV, paint it with a UV resistant paint. Use it until you want something different or forever.

 

[WRXL702]

14 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

The main downside to using PVC is that it won't hold up to long exposure to UV light. PVC is fine for temporary setups but it is not very good for a more permanent setup.

Unless that PVC pole is subjected to a wind storm & it falls over - It will outlast anyone on this forum. It is not necessary to coat PVC with anything for protection against UV outside direct sunlight.

If coating was a concern for any outside PVC, I'm sure it would be a Code requirement for electrical & plumbing outside installations.

Here is a link for every Building Code for all 50 states. No PVC protective coating required on any outside installations.

https://up.codes/codes/general

[WRYZ926]

13 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

Unless that PVC pole is subjected to a wind storm & it falls over - It will outlast anyone on this forum. It is not necessary to coat PVC with anything for protection against UV outside direct sunlight.

Personal experience with different types of PVC conduit tells me otherwise. The grey electrical PVC will stand up to UV light. The typical white PVC pipe meant for water and sewer will not hold up to UV light.

There are different grades of PVC pipes. Some are meant for outdoor use and some are not. It's typical for the DYI'r to buy what ever is the cheapest and in this case the cheapest is not designed for outdoor use with direct sunlight exposure.

@TNFrank your setup is fine since you are not planning on leaving the PCV mast up in a permanent install.

[SteveShannon]

23 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

Unless that PVC pole is subjected to a wind storm & it falls over - It will outlast anyone on this forum. It is not necessary to coat PVC with anything for protection against UV outside direct sunlight.

If coating was a concern for any outside PVC, I'm sure it would be a Code requirement for electrical & plumbing outside installations.

Here is a link for every Building Code for all 50 states. No PVC protective coating required on any outside installations.

https://up.codes/codes/general

PVC electrical conduit intended for outdoor use has additives for UV protection which is marked right on the conduit.

It is a code requirement. For example here’s a link to a requirement for Idaho: https://up.codes/s/exposed-pvc-piping 

[Lscott]

11 hours ago, TNFrank said:

Never heard of a Painter's Pole. Guess I need to look into them.

https://www.lowes.com/pl/paint-supplies/paint-tools/extension-poles-accessories/telescoping/4294729359-4294706739

[WRXL702]

1 hour ago, SteveShannon said:

PVC electrical conduit intended for outdoor use has additives for UV protection which is marked right on the conduit.

It is a code requirement. For example here’s a link to a requirement for Idaho: https://up.codes/s/exposed-pvc-piping 

So does all schedule 40 PVC. Titanium Oxide (TiO)2 Is added for UV protection.

That is done during the manufacturing process of the pipe. It is not paint, nor is painting required.  
 

https://www.nsf.org/water-systems/plastic-materials-ingredients

[SteveShannon]

15 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

So does all schedule 40 PVC. Titanium Oxide (TiO)2 Is added for UV protection.

That is done during the manufacturing process of the pipe. It is not paint, nor is painting required.  
 

https://www.nsf.org/water-systems/plastic-materials-ingredients

Maybe this will help you: https://pvcpipesupplies.com/pvc-cpvc-pipe-sunlight-resistance?srsltid=AfmBOopmSj_ErLGWVtKd29luZJq9bsNLOqgIs0uSRQRY9UVOATdbXewU

This document discusses the additives but still recommends external protection for permanently exposed pvc pipes. Specifically it says: 

Quote

Beyond additives, many pipes are treated or can be treated with protective coatings or surface treatments designed to enhance their UV resistance. These external layers act as a barrier that minimizes direct exposure to sunlight and prolongs the pipe’s lifespan in outdoor installations. Such coatings are especially useful in applications where the pipes are being exposed to sunlight.

But none of this should matter to Frank.  His application is not subject to permanent exposure to sunlight.  

[TNFrank]

9 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

But none of this should matter to Frank.  His application is not subject to permanent exposure to sunlight.  

Ditto, this is a temporary, portable set-up that I can put up in the back yard or take with me for those times where I want a better antenna set-up than what's on my HT's or to connect to my RT95 mobile/base station.

[WRXL702]

21 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Maybe this will help you: https://pvcpipesupplies.com/pvc-cpvc-pipe-sunlight-resistance?srsltid=AfmBOopmSj_ErLGWVtKd29luZJq9bsNLOqgIs0uSRQRY9UVOATdbXewU

This document discusses the additives but still recommends external protection for permanently exposed pvc pipes. Specifically it says: 

But none of this should matter to Frank.  His application is not subject to permanent exposure to sunlight.  

Electrical, plumbing & mechanical Codes recognize ASTM Standards for the manufacturing of PVC for outdoor installations. 
Painting is not required. Titanium Dioxide is a sufficient additive for protection.

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, WRXL702 said:

If coating was a concern for any outside PVC, I'm sure it would be a Code requirement for electrical & plumbing outside installations.

Here is a link for every Building Code for all 50 states. No PVC protective coating required on any outside installations.

Here’s what at least one state says:  

 

Quote

 

312.14 Exposed PVC Piping

Idaho Plumbing Code 2015 > 3 General Regulations > 312.0 Protection of Piping, Materials, and Structures > 312.14 Exposed PVC Piping

PVC piping shall not be exposed to direct sunlight. 

Exceptions:

1. PVC piping exposed to sunlight that is protected by water based synthetic latex paints.
2. PVC piping wrapped with not less than 0.04 inch (1.02 mm) thick tape or otherwise protected from UV degradation.

 

Other states have similar rules, perhaps not all.

42 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

Electrical, plumbing & mechanical Codes recognize ASTM Standards for the manufacturing of PVC for outdoor installations. 
Painting is not required. Titanium Dioxide is a sufficient additive for protection.

There are different levels of protection, resulting in differing rules.  The standard level of protection protects against storage of pipes outside for up to two year, not installations that are permanently exposed.  That’s why conduit that is approved for outdoor use has that rating imprinted on the exterior.

Here’s a technical bulletin from Westlake Pipe: https://www.westlakepipe.com/sites/default/files/2025-04/pi-tb-004-us-en-1224.1_ultraviolet-radiation-exposure.pdf

See page 3 for the full text, but here’s a screenshot:

 

[WRXL702]

On 9/19/2025 at 11:16 AM, SteveShannon said:

Here’s what at least one state says:  

 

 

Other states have similar rules, perhaps not all.

There are different levels of protection, resulting in differing rules.  The standard level of protection protects against storage of pipes outside for up to two year, not installations that are permanently exposed.  That’s why conduit that is approved for outdoor use has that rating imprinted on the exterior.

On 9/19/2025 at 11:16 AM, SteveShannon said:

Here’s a technical bulletin from Westlake Pipe: https://www.westlakepipe.com/sites/default/files/2025-04/pi-tb-004-us-en-1224.1_ultraviolet-radiation-exposure.pdf

See page 3 for the full text, but here’s a screenshot:

 

 

On 9/19/2025 at 11:16 AM, SteveShannon said:

Here’s what at least one state says:  

 

 

Other states have similar rules, perhaps not all.

There are different levels of protection, resulting in differing rules.  The standard level of protection protects against storage of pipes outside for up to two year, not installations that are permanently exposed.  That’s why conduit that is approved for outdoor use has that rating imprinted on the exterior.

Here’s a technical bulletin from Westlake Pipe: https://www.westlakepipe.com/sites/default/files/2025-04/pi-tb-004-us-en-1224.1_ultraviolet-radiation-exposure.pdf

See page 3 for the full text, but here’s a screenshot:

 

See Uni-Bell test results below - Also, a link is provided to enhance your education on this subject:

"A test and study performed by the PVC Pipe Association (formerly known as Uni-Bell) was completed in 1997 called “The Effects of Ultraviolet Aging on PVC Pipe, UNI-TR-5-97”. The report’s findings, after two years of extreme sun exposure in the 12 locations across the US, showed no considerable change to the modulus of tensile elasticity and the tensile strength of the PVC pipe used. It was concluded that this was evidence that the PVC pipe’s ability to resist external soil loads and traffic loads was not adversely altered after the two years of exposure. Further substantiating this was lab testing done for pipe flattening and stiffness. There were small reductions in pipe impact strength, but was not significant enough to warrant concern since the lowest tested values exceeded those of many alternative buried pipe materials. The PVC Pipe Association’s Handbook of PVC Pipe states that the exposure of UV radiation can also result in a change in the pipe’s surface color."

"It is important to remember that PVC pipe materials have achieved widespread acceptance for water, sewer and drainage applications across the country for over 50 years. This is due to PVC pipe’s many inherent benefits in water/sewer applications, but most notably for its high resistance to aggressively corrosive environments. Contech’s PVC pipe products, for example, are manufactured using a PVC compound that incorporates twice the industry standard amount of Titanium Dioxide UV inhibitor to further help protect the pipe from UV exposure."

https://www.conteches.com/knowledge-center/learn/the-pipe-blog/pvc-pipe-and-ultraviolet-uv-protection/

 

[SteveShannon]

15 minutes ago, WRXL702 said:

 

See Uni-Bell test results below - Also, a link is provided to enhance your education on this subject:

"A test and study performed by the PVC Pipe Association (formerly known as Uni-Bell) was completed in 1997 called “The Effects of Ultraviolet Aging on PVC Pipe, UNI-TR-5-97”. The report’s findings, after two years of extreme sun exposure in the 12 locations across the US, showed no considerable change to the modulus of tensile elasticity and the tensile strength of the PVC pipe used. It was concluded that this was evidence that the PVC pipe’s ability to resist external soil loads and traffic loads was not adversely altered after the two years of exposure. Further substantiating this was lab testing done for pipe flattening and stiffness. There were small reductions in pipe impact strength, but was not significant enough to warrant concern since the lowest tested values exceeded those of many alternative buried pipe materials. The PVC Pipe Association’s Handbook of PVC Pipe states that the exposure of UV radiation can also result in a change in the pipe’s surface color."

https://www.conteches.com/knowledge-center/learn/the-pipe-blog/pvc-pipe-and-ultraviolet-uv-protection/

 

That’s right; some pvc is engineered to be safe for sunlight exposure and some isn’t. The pipe that isn’t sunlight resistant can be protected by painting or wrapping. Sunlight safe pipe usually has words imprinted that inform the user. I said that two pages ago. 
I don’t know why you are arguing with that. 

You said none of the 50 states have code requirements to protect pvc pipe and I showed you an example of Idaho code that requires exactly that. 
You said PVC pipe exposed to sunlight would outlast us all and I showed you manufacturer’s documentation that placed a two year limit on some of their pvc pipe. 
I’m done with the subject. 

 

[WRXL702]

Because All State Approved PVC materials require the ASTM number stamped on the pipe!
The ASTM number(s) reflect the properties & manufacturing standards of the pipe.

What part of this do you not understand?