Mounting Antennas on Brick

[blak111]

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to mount a metal post to a brick wall? It needs to be pretty sturdy to hold up 2 powerstations in the weather.

[jp498]

A hammer drill and concrete anchors from redhead.

[WHT]

For starters...you need a masonry bit and an impact drill. You can use a regular drill in the grout, but its just not going to work on hard brick.

Generally speaking, you're better off drilling into the grout. Brick chips too easy. On the other hand, here has been a lot of Mexican brick over the past two years that wasn't fired properly and is worse than sun cured adobe brick.

Use a two or three metal brackets or wood back braces with about three masonry screws on each side of each bracket.

Don't use full metal clips with two hole like in the picture, use the two opposite half metal clips with one hole. Any hardware store has them in the electrical department for EMT or metal electrical conduit.

Expansion bolts work better than the special high-temper concrete screws for heavy stuff...I've pulled out too many of them screws in the past.

http://www.telecomanddata.com/wood_brace.jpg

[blak111]

Thanks for the help. That should do the trick. I'll let you know if we do anything different.

[emetesh]

What s the ideal pipe diameter for mounting a couple of powerstations? thx

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

Hello Emetesh,

The PowerStations can accommodate many size diameter poles. There is no one "ideal" size.

Thanks,

Mike

[WHT]

Just don't use the supplied wing nuts...heh heh heh

[bobcopro]

Maybe too late on this, but the smaller diameter pipe 1 to 1 1/4" allow you to use the little black "stepped" adapters which bite well into the pipe and resist twisting on the pole better than using just the u-bolts with the larger 1 3/4" pipe. However, the smaller pipe isn't as stiff vertically, so if it's more than 3' you'll want a heavier pipe (like galvanized from a plumber supply) or guy it with stainless cable.

I've done a lot of installations over the years here and we are right on the Atlantic ocean. Usually with radio equipment we've allowed for a little "flex", but with directional panels the stiffer the better. I could really run with that last line, but it's a family forum!

[WHT]

I could really run with that last line, but it's a family forum!
Ya mean like referring to the Bullet HP (High Power) as the Bullet Magnum.

[installer]

We always just grab some 1 1/4 fence pipe from home depot, its cheap and the mount fits perfect. Home depot also has a masonary kit for your mount for under 10 bucks that comes with a bit, plugs, and screws.

[Moorsweb]

Thanks for your comment above Mike, but could you be specific on the max pole diameter that the Powerstation is designed for, please?

The context of my question is that I've mounted lots of kit on poles over the last couple of years and realise that a rigid pole is essential for successfuly using something like a PS2 at 5Ghz over a long distance as it is highly directional and susceptible to wind. I plan to use a 50mm (2") dia aluminium pole if possible as I'm sure that smaller diamters will be too flexible when over 2m long.

Thanks

[WHT]

If I had to rate the pull strength of different fasteners:

Plastic or composite material (Rawlplug) can usually be pulled out with a pair of pliers (Why is it caller a pair? Is the broken one piece called a pliarette?).

Nailgun nails can be pulled out with pliers if you wiggle them (refer to one of the Friday the 13th movies for a non-approved use of those things).

Concrete screws are pretty strong, but its too easy to over-torque them and they break off with the stud stuck in the hole. You'll have to drill a new hole.

Epoxy augmented plugs, lead expansion bolts, and expansion sleeve bolts are very strong. The native materiel will fail before the bolts slips out.