Q: Is carbon fiber conductive?

A: Yes. Unlike fiberglass, carbon fiber is mildly to moderately electrically conductive. It's not a good conductor like copper or aluminum, but it's far from an insulator.

Q: Does that matter for a mast that's just holding up my antenna?

A: It can. If a wire antenna runs directly against or taped to the mast, the mast can pick up RF energy from the wire rather than staying electrically separate from your antenna system. At low power, less than 100w, this effect is negligible. At higher power — especially with an amplifier and a tuner — enough energy can couple into the mast to heat it up.

Explorer POTA33B 33ft Portable Telescopic Carbon Fiber Mast

Name: Explorer POTA33B 33ft Portable Telescopic Carbon Fiber Mast
Brand: Explorer
SKU: ZXP-POTA33B
Price: 199.95 USD
Availability: BackOrder

SKU: ZXP-POTA33B

Availability:

Accepting Backorders

$199.95

VIP Price

After Mail-In Rebate

Limited First Production Run Available Late October 2026.

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Description

Features

Specifications

Includes

FAQ

Explorer POTA33B 33ft Portable Telescopic Carbon Fiber Mast

Discover the ultimate upgrade for your portable amateur radio operations with the newly enhanced Explorer POTA33B, a superior evolution of the original POTA33 designed to take your field activations to the next level.

Whether you are hitting the trails for a weekend park activation or building out your emergency communications go kit, this ultra-lightweight carbon fiber mast provides rock-solid support for vertical radiators, inverted L wires, and portable dipoles. What sets this upgraded POTA33B version far apart from the original and fragile market alternatives is the heavily reinforced diameter of its top two sections (.34 in and .40 in OD), which easily prevents bending and keeps your wire antennas secure under demanding field conditions. Featuring an intuitive friction lock retention system across 18 seamless sections, deploying and collapsing your support structure has never been faster or more reliable.

Order your upgraded Explorer POTA33B now from GigaParts.com and experience peak performance on your next activation!

UPC Code: 810106912622

Portable Mast Comparison: Explorer & Intellitron
Model	Explorer POTA20	Explorer POTA33	Explorer POTA33B	Explorer POTA33H	Intellitron AM-2133M
Material	Carbon Fiber	Carbon Fiber	Carbon Fiber	Carbon Fiber	Fiberglass
Extended Height	20 ft	33 ft	33 ft	33 ft	33 ft
Collapsed Length	17.5 in	27 in	27 in	27 in	45 in
Weight	12 oz	1.1 lbs	1.43 lbs	2.1 lbs	5.1 lbs
Number of Sections	18	18	18	18	10
Tip Diameter (OD)	5/32 in	5/32 in	11/32 in	9/16 in	5/8 in
Base Diameter (OD)	1.2 in	1.3 in	1.47 in	1.75 in	2.0 in
Primary Use Case	SOTA / Hiking	Standard POTA	Standard POTA	HD / Windy POTA	General Portable
Portability Rating	Best	Excellent	Excellent	Good (HD)	Standard
Price (MSRP)	$129.95	$179.95	$199.95	$249.95	$149.95