Antenna Booms & Masts

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Chinhda Products Update
August 9, 2010

Chinhda is changing the way his products are marketed. Although Production Recording had been the exclusive source for Chinhda products, he now plans to make his work available from other sources and Production Recording will no longer handle these items. Click HERE for more information.

Antenna Booms & Masts

In response to requests from clients, Chinhda has directed his skills to taming the clutter of antennas needed in today's production environment.

Key elements are two folding booms with a maximum spread of 52 inches, easily enough for any diversity application.

Clamps are provided at each end to securely attach antenna mounting pins. The fitting need not be vertical; it can be clamped at any angle for optimum control of phase or polarity.

The arms are drilled for weight reduction. The cut-outs are 3/8-inch to provide additional attachment points for other antennas along the bar. Multiple Lectro SNA 600 antennas could easily be affixed along with a Comtek Phase Right for IFB transmission.

The boom itself folds in the middle to permit passing the whole contraption through doors and other obstacles. Whether it folds up, as seen here, or down simply depends on how the arm is mounted to the mast.

Typically, of course, the boom would fold up. To pass through doors, one would fold the boom, remove it from the mast (quick release) and hang it from a hook or in reverse position on the mast.

The central fitting is designed for a standard 5/8-inch stud commonly found on Century or Matthews stands. It can also clamp to any 5/8-inch pipe or bar.

Antennas are held securely by the lightweight fittings. Note that the plate holding the clamps is relieved so they do not twist as they are tightened.

The large knob permits orienting the antenna at any angle desired.

The photos above show a prototype boom prior to anodizing. The completed product has a proper finish as well as clips to dress cables.

At right is an anodized example. The presence of the SNA600 dipole also shows how easily additional antennas can be mounted to the slots.

Weight: 2.4 pounds
(complete with all hardware but without antennas, of course)

Cost for this boom, complete, is $350

A variation on this design, using dual arms in a parallelogram design, is also available @ $450. That is a heavier product (four pounds) suitable for large antenna farms or configurations with heavier, helical antennas like the Sennheiser 5000 CP.

Like the single arm design, it provides additional attachment points so antennas (SNA600, Comtek Phase Right, etc.) may be fastened to interim points on the arm.

The close view shows the robust construction and attention to detail. The spring clips are the right size for routing RG8 cable. Thinner RG58 and RG59 can be routed through the channels behind. (The RG8 clip piece is removable for easy access to the smaller channels.)

The double arm design uses a machined block to hold the antenna as seen at left.

The view at right shows a bit of RG8 cable held by the clip.

An alternate mounting point is provided on the double arm boom. But any of the holes drilled to keep the weight down may be used as an attachment point for additional antennas.

Note that the arm has also been relieved to minimize weight.

Like the single arm design, the double arm has a span of 52 inches when fully open.

Basic Specifications

Span	52 inches (both units)
Weight (single arm)	2.4 pounds
Weight (double arm)	4 pounds
Mounting	5/8" to fit Century, Mathews stands
Price (single arm)	$350
Price (double arm)	$450

Ordering

It's best to inquire about availability before sending a check.

Click HERE to send an e-mail inquiry.