Like to operate portable? Do you have trouble finding help for antenna raising at your QTH? This may just be the answer for you.

You can drive a vehicle on the base for portable operations or mount permanently at your QTH by bolting base to concrete inserts. Slip the mast in the base of OPAR (short pipe section tilts), mount your antenna and hoist up all alone. Mast easily secures in place with moveable locking bolt and large spanner nut. Guying methods should also be employed for heavier antennas. I've used OPAR to lift small beams, verticals, rigid dipoles and various wire antennas to heights of 20-30 feet with minimal effort all by myself!

OPAR shown above set up ready to accept antenna mast.
Simply insert mast end in to OPAR pipe stub, install antenna and raise.


OPAR shown above with antenna raised and mast locked in place.

Although OPAR is designed for "one-person operation" using small to medium sized antennas, it's always good safety practice to have help on hand. OPAR as pictured is considered "medium-duty" use. Several variations (use your imagination for your own particular use!) exist (ie-length of vertical or horizontal members, etc.) depending on your specific use. A flexible design is what makes OPAR more "user friendly" compared to the commercially made models. For larger antennas or operating in the Arctic, I'd recommend adding a second vertical brace higher up on the vertical section and adding at least another 12 inches or more to the overall height (36 to 48 inches plus). If you are not an experienced welder, it's best to have a professional welder do the welding (the number of "good welds" is directly proportional to the length of time the antenna and mast stays in the air!). My OPAR cost about $340 to make locally. Raising a tri-bander alone is not easy especially for the inexperienced Ham, but it is possible if done correctly. Remember to have help on hand if at all possible. I wished I had OPAR many years ago! Good luck with your antenna projects.

MATERIALS LIST (medium duty OPAR)

- vertical support 36 inches tall by 9 inches wide w/support braces every 6 to 8 inches.

- horizontal support (drive-on) same as above.

- 1 inch OD square tube steel used (approx. 20 feet total required) for strength vs. round stock.

- 1/2 inch x 3 inch long bolt with welded spanner nut

- mast hinge is ½" pipe by 6 inches long inside two ¾' pipe sections.

- 3/8 inch by 2" wide plate used to secure mast to top of vertical support.

Some economical mast materials used by KL7JR:
1. Light-duty use: Chain link fence "top rail" pipe or EMTconduit for smaller light weight antennas.

2. Medium to Heavy-duty use: IMC threaded conduit or galvanized threaded water pipe (1 ¼" size works great).