WiMo 10-Meter Hybrid Mast Tested: Tim, DL2DMC, on Flexibility and Stability

The perfect mast?

What characterizes a “good” mast? Or the other way around: Is my current mast possibly anything but optimal for my purposes? I have not (consciously) dealt with these questions so far, but the answers to these questions have become almost obvious in the course of this review.

Mast

Antenna projects between neighboring borders and the XYL index finger

But let's start from the beginning. Unfortunately, my QTH offers only very limited possibilities for the permanent installation of antennas of all kinds. On the one hand, this is due to the rather small size of the property and, on the other hand, our house is quite narrow, which makes the use of directional antennas on the roof almost impossible if you don't want to violate your neighbor's “airspace”. And when it comes to “permanently” installed antennas, there is still the raised index finger of the XYL...

Flexible, stable and portable

In order to be QRV on shortwave at least some of the time at home, I have been using a simple GRP telescopic mast that can be used for weeks in the garden attached to the pergola or for occasional portable operation. I also like to experiment with different antennas and different setups. This brings us to the most important criteria that I apply to a portable mast. Ideally, a mast should:

  • Quick and easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Can remain erected for a period of several weeks
  • Rigid enough to allow the use of simple wire antennas without bracing
  • Have a low transport weight and acceptable transport dimensions

My previous mast frustrations in wind and weather

The mast I am currently using meets these requirements - at least partially - with flying colors. Transport weight and length are ok, but without guy ropes, a maximum of one vertical wire can be used. To realize a dipole or inverted-V with a corresponding center section, my mast bends like beach grass in the sea wind. My G5RV, which has (unfortunately) not been used so far, is also far too heavy. Another disadvantage: if the mast is stationary for a longer period of time, it has happened a few times that some segments have slid down - usually on windy days. This is annoying because I carefully and with great effort extend the individual mast segments as far as possible each time to avoid exactly this. At our local amateur radio club's summer party, I had a similar experience, but the other way around: when taking down the mast, it was almost impossible to push several segments back in. It took the combined manpower of several hams to finally loosen the mast elements. The high temperatures during the day probably also contributed to the material expanding.

Does the new WiMo mast deliver what it promises?

With the experience mentioned above in mind, WiMo's new 10-meter telescopic mast now had to prove whether it could meet my personal requirements.

Technical data
Material fiberglass- and carbon-reinforced plastic
Extended length 10 m
Transport length 1.68 m
Weight 3 kg
Diameter at top 22 mm (inner diameter of the upper segment: 20 mm)
Diameter at bottom 40 mm (or 45 mm including the protective cap)
Number of segments 7

After removing the mast from the cardboard tube and a protective bag, several things immediately stand out:

  • The semi-gloss black surface looks and feels high-quality.
  • The quick-release fasteners make a solid impression.
  • The diameter of the mast is surprisingly small, but the upper mast segment has an amazingly large diameter, which promises stability even (and especially) in the upper area.
  • The mast is longer when retracted than my current mast. Possibly a disadvantage?

Fighting cold, heat and wobbly segments

So far, the setup in my garden typically looked like this:

  • Remove the upper rubber cap and store it so that you can find it again for the next portable use.
  • Extend all mast segments while lying on the ground, applying maximum force and simultaneously turning in the opposite direction (not a pleasure either in midsummer or in the bitter cold)
  • Attach the antenna wire
  • Before erecting, check again that all segments are really secure
  • To be on the safe side, check again whether I really checked everything properly
  • Erect the mast and attach it to the pergola with tensioning straps
  • Put hand cream on my calluses, take a shower

Compared to the assembly process of the WiMo hybrid mast

  • Release the quick release
  • Extend the segments to the desired length, close the quick release
  • Attach the antenna wire
  • Raise the mast and secure it to the pergola with straps

To be honest, I was surprised that it went so quickly and effortlessly; and at the same time it made me wonder whether I had been using the “right” mast up to now.

The red marks at the lower end of each segment have proved to be particularly useful (see picture on the right). These indicate when the maximum permissible extension length has been reached. During my test, I only extended the mast segments so far that these marks were always completely inside the underlying element and therefore not visible.

Mast

Another advantage of the WiMo mast design is that the mast elements can also be only partially extended, for example, to achieve a very specific total length. This is not possible in this form with non-locking masts, where, for example, the upper element is not extended.

Dismantling is also a breeze. When you open the quick-release fasteners, you can gently slide down the individual segments of the mast. In addition to its convenient handling, another highlight is its rigid construction. This is achieved by several design-related features. The tested “Hybrid” mast consists of a material mix of fiberglass and carbon-reinforced plastic and is composed of only 7 segments. The upper segment has an outer diameter of an impressive 22 millimeters, whereas the GRP mast I have used so far has an outer diameter of just 6 millimeters (see picture). This is “bought” by a larger transport length, i.e. the length of the mast when it is pushed in. In my particular application scenario, this is a negligible factor. If you want to use the mast for portable operation on a regular basis, you should take the transport length into account.

Mast

10-meter mast put to the test: versatile, stable and well-thought-out

Incidentally, the 10-meter hybrid version that I tested is just one model in this mast series; fiberglass and carbon-reinforced plastic variants are also available in lengths of 6, 10, and 16 meters.

The plug-in holder, which fits exactly into the upper mast segment, has proven to be a useful add-on. This makes it easy to attach a balun or an antenna wire without having to resort to improvised solutions. For the test, I was able to simply attach the central plate of the G5RV that I have already mentioned and never tested before. The mast supports the G5RV together with the balun, ladder, RG-58 feed line and the dipole arms that are routed downwards at an angle, together with the insulator eggs and element guy ropes, better than expected. Of course, the mast bends slightly, but this is completely within the normal range.

If, like me, you like to work with vertical wire antennas like an end-fed one, you will benefit from the small, inconspicuous notches on the inside of the quick-release levers: these offer the invaluable advantage of being able to “clamp” the antenna wire at the transition of each mast segment when closing the locking levers. Of course, there are limits in terms of wire thickness, but my “Acker-Schnacker” wire with a diameter of 2.1 mm fits pretty well. This saves about half a dozen cable ties per setup and, above all, a lot of time.

Versatile, stable and easy to use

The WiMo Hybrid mast impresses with easy and convenient handling, quick assembly and disassembly, and its rigid construction. Bracing was not necessary for the tested antennas. During the test period of over two weeks, there were no problems with collapsed mast segments or difficulties in pushing them together for transport. So if you are looking for a lightweight, versatile and quick-to-assemble mast that can also be left standing in the garden for a while without any concerns, you should take a closer look at this hybrid mast. Especially for those who do not yet have a telescopic mast, the purchase can save a lot of frustration.

Overview of the pros and cons

Pros Possible cons
Very quick to assemble and disassemble Transport length (168 cm)
No physical effort required to lock or release the mast segments
Rigid design allows the use of different types of antennas
Solid workmanship
Versatile, useful accessories available
Low transport weight (3 kg)

November 24, Tim Rauhut, DL2DMC

Share this post with friends!