Once upon a time, 10 years ago, I used to build VHF beams for high mountain contesting that could be carried in the backpack. My best result was a 5 element Yagi of DK7ZB design whose boom was a telescopic fiberglass fishing pole, elements attached with clothes pegs.
The system could not grow, though: longer poles have larger diameter, while there are no large clothes pegs.
I had built a 4 metre long aluminium square boom cut in two sections, that is OK for backpack transportation where there is no vegetation around. I broke it before the first contest.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEsRygTvnHZRm8bigGo6MNrpbbluMQzf829tTkXNAV76F3jY5Fk4CItjqULdJXSSx6ukzxMaO5yP-E9e04ixKcKXc2LH58ZRi839Ty9evkHsiSsOoIaKQ-iZQHPWsnxNTmGMwyvdNT5-r/s200/cordclip-01.jpg)
Fast forward 6-7 years and I still haven't found a solution to the larger clothes pegs. But while hanging around "special offers" from Chinese online retailers I came across this product:
Adhesive cable ties in packs of 6. I couldn't pass on them at the incredible price of 0.8€/pack, including shipping. Their original purpose is to keep cables (like USB) from falling off (behind) furniture.
But their base size matches my aluminium boom (6 or 8 mm per side) and the cable hole is perpendicular to the longest side: do you see a better, lightweight and cheap alternative to large clothes pegs?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciwJ6JxaKa_9J2I27EZL2JsuWkEk4QSg2EGJnIdakOtrGyyI5TO2jA3BDPlN_x-V_W8KJ7oyUD0PPC89lzwqXpW96wM75n4LG4M5m-lo2U5UQV3WczsgBNGHaZ-z3DtYvsXwM83FNLB9m/s320/cordclip-03.jpg) |
The clip sitting on my old boom. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9-rSuO5p-zDCpMe7Pew772lDhj4HidBNgaTj36SkiPXp2juy7HRYkeOZM_NZZBEGgu180p1VO6DTFGtXANGABcpEbz5I8qZFFBJqOaqTYkJC1DoVE94fxp6ZEBqcDf9pP-ZGK9OG-VQA/s200/cordclip-02.jpg) |
8 mm element into the clip. |
The hole diameter is about 7.5 mm. An 8 mm dia. element fits perfectly with the right friction. A 6 mm dia. element needs to be embossed at the junction point with some rubber pipe.
While I could stick them to the fishing rod once fully extended, I will rebuild the Yagi beam with a square boom and element supports already in place.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5QkTGBOrhmJZ1psbeDpbQjh6pn6sgXq7Ia4YWsAcdRiT8IsOwozyXbZbLr_F-9NiKiwsHfjzkl0WlAyJbMAyNA1BwdoIp2rvb0pZfHZUHwemFMFXJqoCIx_qNf6l8krKf7ebHBbA7HT7/s200/cordclip-04.jpg) |
Side view of the element inserted into the support. |
Too bad I got only one color!