POTA PERformer antenna mount for M10 whip

POTA PERformer is an antenna designed by KJ6ER around telescopic whips. 

This is a design that encapsulates an M10 50mm tall insulator and allows mounting on a tripod.

BOM

• 4 pcs, M3 x 16
• 4 pcs, m3 nut DIN557 square
• M10 50mm insulator
• M10 screw (cut to size)
• M10 nut and washer
• radials, cut to size and with M10 ring connectors
• ¼-20 UNC threaded insert
• UHF connector with two leads and M10 ring connectors

Assembly

1. insert the red insulator between the two slices
2. add nuts and screws
3. tighten
4. add the threaded insert, heat press
5. mount the assy on a tripod
6. cut an M10 screw to 20-25mm length
7. on the M10 screw add the radial connectors, M10 nut, M10 washer
8. screw the M10 assy from step 7 on the bottom of the insulator for a few threads
9. add two short leads on an UHF connector, solder one to the hot (central) pin, screw another one on the flange
10. crimp a ring connector to the hot lead, connect it between the antenna and the red insulator.
11. add a ring connector to the flange/ground lead, add it to the bulk of the radials
12. use the M10 nut to lock the M10 screw, radials and UHF connector flange
13. this setup has now connected the radials to the UHF ground, and the antenna to the UHF central pin
14. mount the setup on a tripod

Warnings

• the threaded insert will melt plastic from both slices, so disassembly will require setting the threaded insert again. This can likely be done only a few times. 
• I've chosen this feature/antifeature for safety, since that part will take the bulk of the load
• if you need regular nuts over DIN557, drop me a DM. 
• the antenna is mildly directional and sort of works on 40m
• you will need a sturdy tripod
• don't print it face down, wind load will cause delamination
• I strongly suggest using ring lugs on radials and UHF connector. Don't solder wires into a makeshift ring connector like in my example pictures.

Personal opinion

• the antenna is interesting and it has some directivity
• you need to haul a wrench and a sturdy tripod - a photography one might not cut it in moderate wind
• using it on 40m with a single radial isn't great and I had better results over WSPR using multiple radials on ground
• my setup is a marconi style (radials on ground) ground spike using 16-24 radials cut for 20m. Using split, tuned radials for the PERformer in bands shorter than 20m will offer a definite advantage over a marconi setup with fixed radials
• this setup has some use in city parks, to blank out QRM in specific locations, but I wouldn't carry this antenna as my workhorse.