Also known as: roof tripod, antenna tripod, tripod base
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An antenna tripod mount is a three-legged metal base that anchors a short mast to a roof or deck. When there is no wall, eave, or chimney in a good spot, the tripod is the standard way to stand a scanner antenna up in the clear. Its three spread legs turn a single pipe — which would otherwise need deep footing — into a stable base you can lag-bolt to the structure, and its central clamp accepts the same mast pipe a wall bracket or chimney mount would.
What it is
A rooftop tripod is three braced legs meeting at a top hub that clamps around a vertical mast. Typical units are about 3 ft tall with a leg spread wide enough to resist tipping, made of galvanised or powder-coated steel, and sized for masts up to roughly 1.75 in outer diameter. The height and spread matter: a taller tripod with a wider footprint supports a longer pole before the load on any one leg gets excessive.
The tripod does not extend your antenna very far by itself — a 3 ft tripod plus a 5 ft mast puts the antenna about 8 ft above the roof surface. Its job is to give a short mast a solid, tip-resistant base on a surface that is otherwise hard to attach a single pole to. For real height you either pick a high point on the roof to set the tripod, or move to a guyed push-up mast.
How it mounts
Each leg gets lag-bolted through the roofing into a rafter or solid decking below — biting into shingle alone is not enough, since wind on the mast levers hard on the legs. Every penetration is then sealed with roofing sealant or a butyl pad under the foot. On a flat deck you can bolt into joists, or use a non-penetrating ballasted base weighted with pavers where you cannot or will not drill.
Because the whole assembly is metal and up high, a rooftop tripod is a natural bonding point for a grounding kit: a heavy ground conductor from the mast down to a ground rod protects against static build-up and gives lightning a path to earth that does not run through your receiver. That, plus a coax lightning arrestor where the feedline enters the building, is the safe way to have metal on your roof.
Relevance to GopherTrunk
The tripod is invisible to GopherTrunk — it decodes whatever the antenna delivers — but it is what lets you get a discone or vertical up where the control channel is strong. A steady base also keeps the antenna from swaying in wind, which matters for a stable pattern and for not fatiguing the coax connection at the top. As always, height and a clear horizon help every decode; nothing on the roof, however, will recover an encrypted talkgroup.
Where to buy
For a rooftop or deck install, a 3-foot steel antenna tripod like the Channel Master (around $40) is the reliable choice: three legs to lag-bolt and seal, a central clamp for a short mast, and enough spread to hold a discone in the wind. Confirm the clamp fits your mast’s outer diameter (most take up to about 1.75 in).
See the full mast and mounting guide for how the tripod, mast, grounding, and arrestor fit together, and the outdoor base build for a complete parts list.
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Frequently asked questions
Which tripod mount should I buy for a scanner antenna?
A 3-foot steel roof tripod like the Channel Master (around $40) is the standard pick. Its three legs spread the load and, once lag-bolted through the roof into rafters and sealed, it steadies a short 5–10 ft mast carrying a discone or scanner antenna. Match the tripod’s mast clamp to your pole’s outer diameter — most take up to about 1.75 in.
How tall a mast can a tripod support?
A 3 ft rooftop tripod comfortably holds a short unguyed mast — figure 5 ft of pole above the tripod’s top clamp, up to about 10 ft in a sheltered spot. Beyond that the leverage on the legs and roof grows fast; add a guy wire kit, or switch to a guyed mast or tower. The taller the pole, the more the tripod’s own height and leg spread matter.
How do I mount a tripod without leaking the roof?
Lag-bolt each leg through the shingles into a rafter or solid decking, then seal every penetration with roofing sealant or butyl pads under the feet. A tripod that only bites into shingle will pull out. On a flat deck you can bolt into joists or use a non-penetrating ballasted base instead. Always seal — a leak is far more expensive than the mount.
Tripod, eave mount, or chimney mount?
Use a tripod when you have roof or deck area but no convenient wall or chimney. An eave/wall bracket is simpler and does not penetrate the roof if you have a suitable vertical surface. A chimney strap mount avoids drilling entirely but needs a sound chimney. All three carry the same short mast; pick by what your structure offers.