A common question I receive is how is the best way to put an antenna up in a tree. Trees may not seem to be an obvious choice for supporting a vertical antenna, but offer a few advantages, like being readily available and they give you the ability to hide your antenna if you live in an area with prohibitive home owners association rules. Or maybe you’re operating in the field and need a temporary antenna support. As long the antenna is clear of tree branches, it will work fine in the tree.

So how to we get the antenna up there? Most vertical antennas are smooth and don’t have any hooks or loops for tying off a rope. The answer is with a simple knot called the Pipe Hitch. The Pipe Hitch is a variation on the timber hitch and is very useful for rigging antennas and other long, slender objects.

So, to tie the Pipe Hitch, take a length of rope and wrap it about four or five times around the object. Now take the traveling end of the rope, bring it back across the wraps, make another wrap at the top and finish with a clove hitch. For extra security you can finish with a couple of half hitches.

As you lift the antenna, this knot will constrict, holding the object securely, even if the surface is smooth. Yet when you release the pressure the knot can also be easily untied. So let’s put our antenna in the air.

Ok, to finish off the install I’ll need to attach the feed line to the connector and finish hoisting the antenna. Since the coax is unsupported, its weight is going to pull on the connection, possibly causing premature failure. So create a drip loop with your coax and zip tie it to the base of the antenna. do whatever you need to take that stress off the antenna.

So the pipe hitch is a great rigging knot, since it can be easily untied, you can also use it for tower work, hauling mast pipes and antennas up a tower. As long as you don’t overload the working weight of the rope, the knot will hold your object.

Want to know more about common knots for ham radio? Check out my other blog post: knots for antennas and support structures.

Ham-Radio-QandA-Pipe-Hitch-Pin

Receive My Weekly Message

Subscribe to the KB9VBR antennas newsletters, the best amateur radio value in town. Receive notifications when new videos are posted, Find out what Michael is working on, sales & promotions, and get news about the amateur radio community. All coming to you about once a week. 

You have Successfully Subscribed!