Shively Labs 6810 Instruction Manual Installation, Operation, & Maintenance

Circularly polarized fm broadcast antenna
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Circularly Polarized FM
Broadcast Antenna
6810
Model
Instruction Manual
Installation, Operation, &
Maintenance

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Summary of Contents for Shively Labs 6810

  • Page 1 Circularly Polarized FM Broadcast Antenna 6810 Model Instruction Manual Installation, Operation, & Maintenance...
  • Page 2 Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing one of the finest FM broadcast antennas on the market today. The Shively Labs Model 6810 is widely recognized as the top-of- the-line in its class for its superior performance and durability. Your purchase is backed by the best technical support in the industry. Shively is a leading manufacturer in the broadcast industry, providing an extensive range of antennas, transmission line and components.
  • Page 3 IMPORTANT Please read this manual in its entirety before beginning installation of your antenna! Failure to follow the installation and operation instructions in this manual could lead to failure of your equipment and might even void your warranty!
  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Chapter 1 Precautions and Preparation ..........1 Precautions................... 1 Receiving....................1 Unpacking .................... 1 Checking the system ................2 Chapter 2 Antenna Installation............3 Precautions................... 3 Study your antenna................3 Install the back support mounts ............4 Figure 1 Attach the back support mount ..........
  • Page 6 Table 6 Factory control rod settings ..........30 System sweep (recommended) ............31 Checkout .................... 31 Antenna operation................32 De-icer system operation ..............32 Shively Labs de-icer control system ..........32 Chapter 5 Maintenance ..............33 Precautions..................33 Maintenance log.................. 33 Physical inspection ................33 De-Icer check ..................
  • Page 7: Chapter 1 Precautions And Preparation

    If all the boxes are present and in good condition but material seems to be missing, please contact Shively Labs immediately, using the telephone or Fax number on the inside cover of this manual. For the best service, have our shop order number (S/O) handy;...
  • Page 8: Checking The System

    If design problems are found, contact Shively Labs immediately. Pay particu- lar attention to: • Frequency of the antenna. • Fit of the mounts to the tower members.
  • Page 9: Chapter 2 Antenna Installation

    Antenna Installation Antenna Installation Precautions WARNING Don't expose personnel to the medical hazards of intense radio fre- quency (RF) radiation. Whenever working on the tower in the area of the antenna, turn off all transmitters and lock them out so that they can- not be turned on accidentally.
  • Page 10: Install The Back Support Mounts

    Antenna Installation Install the back a. Pair up the feedline sections and the radiator assemblies, using the bay number stenciled on each piece. support mounts Important This back support mount is NOT used with XXL radomes! b. Attach the back support mount to the feedline: (1) Lay a feedline section horizontally, supported off the ground, with its baymount flange pointing downward.
  • Page 11: Install The Bay Radiators

    Antenna Installation (4) Using a hardware mounting kit (four bolts with nuts and washers), secure the back support mount to the upper feedline mount flange and lower feedline mount flange. NOTE Use shims or washers as necessary to fit the back support mount to the mount flanges.
  • Page 12: Figure 2 Attach Bay Radiator

    Antenna Installation Figure 2. Attach bay radiator NOTE The bay saddle is only used on radiators with partial radomes, as shown in Fig- 2. See Figure 4 Fig- ure 6 for installation of radiators with standard or XXL radomes. b. Clamp the mounting saddle to the feedline, using a band clamp.
  • Page 13: Install Standard Radomes (If Applicable)

    Antenna Installation c. The partial radome closure plates are shipped separately. Install them over the end seal, using the hardware provided. d. Repeat the above steps for the remaining feedline sections. Figure 3. Flange hardware tightening sequence Table 1. Torque specifications, flange bolts Transmission Line Size Bolt Size Torque...
  • Page 14: Figure 4 Standard Radome Installation

    Antenna Installation Figure 4. Standard radome installation Top radome half Bracket mounting hardware Bottom radome half Feedline mount flange Top radome bracket Top radome bracket Bottom radome bracket Bottom radome bracket Radome flange hardware Bay radiator Radome bracket hardware Baymount...
  • Page 15: Install Xxl Radomes

    Antenna Installation c. Identify the top radome half (1) by its wide, overlapping mating flange and the bottom radome half (2) by its narrow mating flange and drain holes. d. Install the top radome half: NOTE Each radome half has a double notch under the mount; the larger outer notch fits over the feedline and the smaller inner notch fits against the baymount.
  • Page 16 Antenna Installation (1) Each radome is shipped partially assembled on its own pallet. Disassemble the radome halves and the radome mounts. (2) Identify the top radome half (1) by its wide mating flange and the bottom radome half (2) by its narrow mating flange and drain holes. (3) Separate the radome halves, keeping the 1/4"...
  • Page 17 Antenna Installation Figure 5. XXL radome installation (radome, closure plates and ground straps) Top radome half Backplate Bottom radome half Feedline Radome flange hardware Bay radiator Closure plate hardware Radome-backplate hardware Closure plate hardware Top ground strap Top closure plate Band clamp (2) Bottom closure plate Bottom ground strap...
  • Page 18: Figure 6 Xxl Radome Installation (Backplate And Bay Radiator)

    Antenna Installation Figure 6. XXL radome installation (backplate and bay radiator) Radome backplate Backplate hardware Feedline O-ring Baymount flange Bay radiator Shims or washers as needed Baymount hardware e. Install the closure plates and ground straps: (1) Install the top closure plate hardware (4) through the the top ground strap (17), closure plate (6), and into the threaded hole in the top of the radome (1).
  • Page 19: Figure 7 Xxl Radome Installation (Tower Mounts)

    Antenna Installation Figure 7. XXL radome installation (tower mounts) Top radome half Band clamp (2) Bottom radome half Bottom ground strap Backplate Tower mounts (2) Feedline Box bolts or 1/2" hardware (8) Top ground strap (2) Secure the ground strap to the feedline (9) - see detail in Figure 7 using the band clamp (18).
  • Page 20: Installing The Feedline Assemblies On The Tower

    Important Be very careful to seal the radome completely. If water enters the radome, the antenna will not perform as expected, and may cause dam- age to your entire system. g. Seal the closure plates and the joints where the radome meets the backplate with the silicone sealant supplied with the antenna.
  • Page 21: Figure 8 Common Feedline Mount Configurations

    Antenna Installation Figure 8. Common feedline mount configurations Mounts may vary from bay to bay, especially on tapered towers or where tower obstructions exist. See your installation drawing for your mount configuration and special requirements, if any.
  • Page 22: Figure 9 Feedline Flange Detail

    Antenna Installation Figure 9. Feedline flange detail CAUTION The feedline inner conductors include "bullet guides" (see Figure 9) to help prevent split bullets. Be sure the bullet guides are in place before assembly. CAUTION Do not overtighten the feedline flange hardware (see Table 1 page 7).
  • Page 23: Installing The Transformer

    Antenna Installation If any problems appear during this process, please call Shively Labs and dis- cuss them with the installation designer. Installing the One of the unique features of Shively Labs antenna systems is the adjustable impedance-matching transformer provided with the antenna. It allows the...
  • Page 25: Chapter 3 De-Icer Installation (If Applicable)

    Remember that conditions may be favorable for icing on the tower, even if they are not on the ground. Shively Labs deicers are designed to prevent ice from forming on antenna ele- ments and are not designed to melt ice that has already formed. For this rea-...
  • Page 26: Installation Procedure

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) CAUTION To prevent electrical short-circuiting, secure all cables to minimize wind- induced motion and chafing against edges of system or tower compo- nents. CAUTION both It is important that you ground the tower junction box and the con- trol box, as shown in Figure 11 on page 21.
  • Page 27: Figure 11 De-Icer System Schematic Diagram, Overall

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) Figure 11. De-icer system schematic diagram, overall NOTE Customer-supplied items are shown in broken lines. NOTE A liquid-tight conduit con- nector (3/8" conduit size by 1/2" hub size) for the harness entry tower junction box, is packed loose with the de- icer harness.
  • Page 28: Figure 12 Bay Junction Box Installation

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) Figure 12. Bay junction box installation g. Take initial readings: (1) After installation is complete, measure the resistance from each heater leg to ground to ensure that there are no short-circuits. Resistance should be infinite. (2) Turn the de-icer on by switching it to Manual, and measure its current draw with an ammeter.
  • Page 29: Thermostat Installation (If Applicable)

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) Figure 13. Shively de-icer control box layout Thermostat installation (if You may locate the thermostat, if applicable, at your discretion. We recom- mend mounting it as close as practical to the antenna. applicable) a. Mount the thermostat and connect the thermostat leads to points S1 and S2 in the control box as shown in the schematic diagram, Figure 11 on page 21.
  • Page 30: Table 2 De-Icer Specifications

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) Table 2. De-icer specifications NOTE High-Band Low-Band (98.0-108.0 MHz (88.0-97.9 MHz) Measurements between Heater Heater Leg Heater Leg Heater Leg neutral and ei- (T1 or T2) Resis- (T1 or T2) ther "hot" wire. Resis- Current tance, Current Resistance hot- ...
  • Page 31: Table 4 Tandem Thermostat Readings

    De-Icer Installation (if applicable) Table 4. Tandem thermostat readings Reading Ambient Resistance = Resistance = Location Temperature 0 ohms infinite ohms (short circuit) (open circuit) Leg-to-Ground Defective thermo- stat or shorted leads Leg-to-Leg Above about 38° Defective thermo- F (3.3° C) stat or shorted leads Between about...
  • Page 33: Chapter 4 Startup And Operation

    Purge the system All pressurized Shively Labs antennas have a pressure relief valve at the top of the feedline (center-fed feedlines have a relief valve at each end). This valve is set to open at about 10 psig. So, to purge the system, it is not necessary to send a worker to the top of the antenna to open a valve or loosen a flange.
  • Page 34: Figure 14 Pressurized Gas Schematic

    Startup and Operation Figure 14. Pressurized gas schematic CAUTION If all moisture is not removed from the inte- rior of the system, it will condense when Purge your system as follows: weather cools. The result- ing water will cause arc- a.
  • Page 35: Leave The System Pressurized

    Startup and Operation c. Determine the volume of dry gas to use for the purge. Table 5 shows approximate volumes inside various coax sizes. Add the length of the antenna to the length of the transmission line to determine the overall length of the system.
  • Page 36: Impedance Trimming

    Startup and Operation Impedance trimming Figure 15. Impedance-matching transformer The transformer has been factory-adjusted to 50 ohms at your frequency. You will find a scribed line on each control rod shaft. It can be operated at that setting, but it will give optimal performance on your tower if you readjust it after installation.
  • Page 37: System Sweep (Recommended)

    Startup and Operation f. VSWR at this point should be below 1.10 : 1. If it is not, call Shively Labs to help identify the problem. g. When you have set the transformer, use a sharp point to scribe the shaft where it leaves the flange collar.
  • Page 38: Antenna Operation

    It is much easier to prevent ice formation than to remove a heavy coating. Shively Labs de-icer control If you have the Shively Labs de-icer control box and dual-setting thermostat, you have the choice of manual or automatic operation. There are three switch system settings: AUTOMATIC, OFF, and MANUAL.
  • Page 39: Chapter 5 Maintenance

    Physical inspection The antenna system should operate for years if properly installed and main- tained. Shively Labs recommends that as a minimum, the antenna should be at least once a year physically inspected In addition, inspect the antenna after severe weather events, and after climb- ers have been on the tower working on equipment above the antenna.
  • Page 40: De-Icer Check

    It will expedite repair or replacement and prevent loss of your material. Troubleshooting Cantact Shively Labs if necessary to help find the cause of your problem. Out- side of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, call (207) 329-5118. Internal arcing The following may cause internal arcing: •...
  • Page 41: High Vswr At Startup Or During Operation

    27. b. Try again to trim impedance. c. If VSWR is still erratic, Your transformer is probably damaged. Contact Shively Labs. Change in coverage Changes in broadcast coverage may be caused by the same factors that pro- duce VSWR changes. If coverage seems to have changed, look for VSWR...
  • Page 42: Pressure Loss Or Excessive Gas Usage

    Maintenance Pressure loss or excessive Failure to hold pressure may be caused by the following: gas usage • O-ring missing or poorly installed in transmission line, feedline, or baymount flange. • Leaky end seal (see Figure 1 on page 4). •...
  • Page 43: Sample Maintenance Log

    Maintenance Sample maintenance DATE DE-ICER CURRENT VSWR OBSERVATIONS (or resistance) PRESS Visual Inspection of Antenna, Obstruction Lighting; Hardware Checked; Tower Repairs BLACK NEUT Accomplished; etc. (b-neut) (red-bl) (r-neut)

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