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DX Engineering DXE-7580FS-VA-2 Instruction Manual

75/80 meter full size quarter-wave vertical antenna
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75/80 Meter
Full Size
Quarter-Wave
Vertical Antenna
DXE-7580FS-VA-2
US Patent No. 8,130,168
DXE-7580FS-VA-2-INS Revision 6a
© DX Engineering 2017
1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA
Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200
Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: DXEngineering@DXEngineering.com

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Summary of Contents for DX Engineering DXE-7580FS-VA-2

  • Page 1 Full Size Quarter-Wave Vertical Antenna DXE-7580FS-VA-2 US Patent No. 8,130,168 DXE-7580FS-VA-2-INS Revision 6a © DX Engineering 2017 1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200 Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: DXEngineering@DXEngineering.com...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Feedline Connection Optional Guy Rope and Anchor Installation Tuning the Vertical Optional DXE-VMN-1 Vertical Antenna Matching Network Locking the Pivot Base DXE-7580FS-VA-2 Part Lists Pivot Base Assembly Optional DXE-VRW-1 Manual Winch Assembly Feedpoint Hardware Vertical Elements Assembly Additional Material Required but not Supplied...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    SWR down to 1:1 on any DXing Frequency for maximum power transfer. The DX Engineering DXE-7580FS-VA-2 is a slow taper 68 foot high vertical antenna system. The vertical antenna is specifically designed to operate on 75/80 meters. Included with this antenna system is a rugged heavy duty stainless steel pivot fixture for ease of assembly and adjustments.

  • Page 4: Warning

    Every effort is made to supply the latest manual revision with each product. Occasionally a manual will be updated between the time your DX Engineering product is shipped and when you receive it. Please check the DX Engineering web site (www.dxengineering.com) for the latest revision manual.

  • Page 5: Installation Sequence

    Please - Take the time to read the entire manual before you start assembly. There are plenty of pictures and drawings to see, and if you read the entire manual first, you'll get a better feel for the overall construction methods described. Assembly is not difficult, but there are a number of parts that must go together in a certain sequence to make assembly easier.

  • Page 6: Coaxial Cable To Mounting Pipe

    Metals Depot: www.metalsdepot.com Note: DX Engineering does not recommend or endorse any specific vendor. This mounting pipe must be permanently mounted in the ground, preferably in a concrete base 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet deep (with gravel below for drainage).

  • Page 7: Assembly Notes

    Grass will quickly overgrow the radials and it will be virtually impossible to see them. An article describing this process is available on the DX Engineering website in the Tech Info section. Radials can also be buried just under the surface by using a power edger to make a slit in the soil.

  • Page 8: Attaching Ground Radial Wires To The Radial Plate

    Additional hardware kits are available (DXE-RADP-1HWK) that contain 20 sets of Radial Plate Hardware. There are optional DX Engineering Radial Wire Kits available. DXE-RADW-500K/BD contains a 500 foot spool of 14 gauge copper stranded wire with black PVC insulation, 20 Terminal Lugs and 100 Steel or Biodegradable Lawn Staples.

  • Page 9: Overall Pivot And Antenna Base Assembly Reference Drawing

    Overall Heavy Duty Pivot Base (US Patent No. 8,130,168) Assembly Reference Drawing The exploded view drawing is for reference and shows the overall Pivot Base Assembly. - 8 -...

  • Page 10: Pivot Base And Lower Antenna Assembly

    Pivot Base and Lower Antenna Assembly ® 1. Locate the heavy duty Extren insulated channel. There are 12 holes drilled in the insulated channel. The top of the insulated channel is identified by two holes located very near the top side. 2.
  • Page 11 4. Locate the stainless steel base side bottom hinge, two 1/2-13 x 1-1/4" long stainless steel hex head bolts, two pivot bushings, four 1/2" x 1/4" stainless steel flat washers, two 1/2" stainless steel split lock washers, and two 1/2-13 stainless steel hex nuts. Assemble the base side hinge plate to the bottom hinge plate as shown below.
  • Page 12 6. Locate the stainless steel Pivot Base Winch Mount, two stainless steel Pivot Base Plate Brackets, four 3/8-16 x 1-1/4" long stainless steel hex bolts, eight stainless steel 3/8" flat washers, four stainless steel 3/8" split lock washers and four stainless steel 3/8-16 hex nuts. Assemble the Pivot Base Plate Brackets to the Pivot Base Winch Mount as shown below.
  • Page 13 8. Locate two V-Saddle blocks, two stainless steel V-Bolts, four stainless steel 3/8" flat washers, four stainless steel 3/8" split lock washers and four stainless steel 3/8-16 hex head nuts. Loosely assemble (one or two threads beyond the end of the hex nuts) the two V-Bolts to the stainless steel Pivot Base Winch Mount as shown below.
  • Page 14 10. Move the four V-Bolts out as far as they will go (these were put on loosely in steps 2 and 8). Slide the entire assembly onto your mounting pipe. You want approximately 1 inch clearance from the top of your mounting pipe to the bottom side of the winch mounting plate. Position the base fixture in the position you pre-selected for the pivoting direction.
  • Page 15 11. Locate the 3" OD x 72", 0.120” wall thickness antenna bottom element section. There are 4 holes drilled in this element section. Four drilled holes at the top are used for mating to the next antenna element section. Loosen the previously installed U-Bolts (Step 9). Insert the 72" Antenna Bottom Element Section into the antenna base section through the upper and lower U-Bolts.
  • Page 16 12. Locate the stainless steel Antenna Hook Mounting Plate, two U-Bolt Saddle blocks, two stainless steel U-Bolts, four stainless steel 3/8" flat washers, four stainless steel 3/8" split lock washers and four stainless steel 3/8-16 hex head nuts. Loosely assemble (one or two threads beyond the end of the hex nuts) the two U-Bolts and associated hardware to the antenna hook mounting plate as shown below.

  • Page 17: Mounting And Using The Optional Dxe-Vrw-1 Manual Winch

    14. Tighten the two U-Bolt clamps hardware evenly so the length of the exposed threads is approximately equal. Any clamp should be tightened evenly from side-to-side with an equal amount of thread above each nut. 15. Locate the 1/4-20 x 1" long stainless steel hex bolt, three 1/4" stainless steel external tooth lock washers, two 1/4"...
  • Page 18 There are three holes with slots in the mounting bracket. The flat washers will fit through the large holes. Once in place, push the winch inward (toward the antenna elements) allowing the three bolts to go into the three slots. Tighten the hardware to hold the winch in place. Connect the Hook from the manual winch strap to the Antenna Hook Mount as shown below.
  • Page 19 3. To lower the antenna, ensure the winch hook is in the Antenna Hook Mount. Remove the four bolts and hardware that hold the Pivot Lock Plate to the Pivot Base Winch Mount Plate. You can now use the winch to pivot the antenna downward. Four Bolts to be removed to allow for pivoting 4.

  • Page 20: General Information About Aluminum Tubing

    Deburring is a finishing method used in manufacturing. DX Engineering aluminum tubing is machine cut on both ends and machine slit on one end and you should further assure that there are no ragged edges or protrusions.

  • Page 21: Assembling The Vertical Sections

    Assembling the Vertical Sections ™ Note: JTL-12555 Jet-Lube SS-30 Anti-Oxidant should be used between all antenna element ™ sections. Jet-Lube SS-30 is an electrical joint compound to affect a substantial electrical connection between metal parts such as telescoping aluminum tubing or other antenna pieces.
  • Page 22 Note: The 3" OD x 72" long, 0.120" wall thickness base antenna section has already been installed on the Pivot Base Assembly. - 21 -...
  • Page 23 Figure A-1 below is an overall layout of all the vertical elements with hardware shown for reference. The 3" OD element which is already mounted on the base pivot assembly is shown for reference. - 24- Figure A-1 - 22 -...
  • Page 24 Assemble the 2.5" OD element to the 2.75" OD element using the two stainless steel 3-1/4" long 1/4" bolts, four stainless steel flat washers and two 1/4" stainless steel Nyloc nuts as shown in Figure A-2. Make sure you insert the 2.75” OD tube into the correct end of the 2.5” OD section - the holes at each end are drilled differently.
  • Page 25 Using a tape measure and felt tip pen all of the slit tubing elements need to be marked as follows for a 3” overlap as shown in Figure A-4. Figure A-4 - 24 -...
  • Page 26 Using Figure A-1, place the element clamps over the appropriate tubing. When tightening the element clamps, install them approximately 1/4" to 1/2" below the end of the slit tube with the worm tightening drive as shown in Figure A-5, located between two of the four slits.

  • Page 27: Mating The Vertical Elements To The Pivot Base Assembly

    Mating the Vertical Element to the Pivot Base Assembly 1. To lower the antenna, ensure the winch hook is in the Antenna Hook Mount. Remove the four bolts and hardware that hold the Pivot Lock Plate to the Pivot Base Winch Mount Plate. You can now use the winch to pivot the antenna downward.

  • Page 28: Feedline Connection

    3. Assemble the 2.75" OD element to the 3" OD element using the two stainless steel 3-1/4" long 1/4" bolts, four stainless steel flat washers and two 1/4" stainless steel Nyloc nuts as shown below. When tightening the bolt and Nyloc nut, tighten them enough to hold, but not tight enough to deform the aluminum elements.

  • Page 29: Optional Guy Rope And Anchor Installation

    This provides a 45-degree guy angle. The guy ropes should be fastened just above an element clamp using a DX Engineering Guy Ring or non-slip knot as shown below. The set of four earth anchors (DXE-EA15-4P) may be augured into the ground approximately 35 to 50 feet from the antenna base to fasten the guy ropes.

  • Page 30: Tuning The Vertical

    The DXE-7580FS-VA-2 should resonate at approximately 3.5 MHz with the recommended ground radial system installed and the vertical dimensions described in this manual. Resonance is adjusted by the length of the vertical element sections.

  • Page 31: Locking The Pivot Base

    Locking the Pivot Base To help prevent accidental pivoting, ensure the four pivot locking bolts are in place and properly secured. Additionally, you may replace one of the bolts with a padlock to further prevent tampering or accidental pivoting as shown below. Ensure all four Pivot Locking Bolts are in place Padlock used in place of one Pivot Locking Bolt DXE-7580-VA-2 Parts List...

  • Page 32: Optional Dxe-Vrw-1 Manual Winch Assembly

    Optional DXE-VRW-1 Manual Winch Assembly Description 1500 Pound Exposed Gear Hand Winch with Brake Custom Polyester web strap with Hook, 2" x 15 Ft 3/8-16 x 3-1/2" long Grade 8 Hex Head Bolt 3/8-16 Stainless Steel Nyloc Nut 3/8-16 x 1" long Stainless Steel Hex Bolt 3/8-16 Stainless Steel Flat Washer Feedpoint Hardware Description...

  • Page 33: Additional Material Required But Not Supplied

    18-8 stainless steel DXE-RADP-1HWK - Radial Plate Wire Attachment Hardware Kit Additional 20 Sets of ALL Stainless Steel Radial Hardware for use with the DX Engineering Stainless Steel Radial Plate. (20) 1/4'' Bolts - (20) 1/4'' Nuts - (20) 1/4'' Flat Washers (20) 1/4'' Split Washers - (20) 1/4'' Star Washers DXE-225RT-20 - Ring terminal 16-14 Wire Gauge, 1/4"...

  • Page 34: Optional Accessory Items

    DXE-STPL-100BD - Radial Wire Staple, Biodegradable, 3", 100 pack DX Engineering DXE-STPL-100BD is a 100-pack of 3” biodegradable anchors that are produced from recycled PLA (Polylactide Resin). Depending on the weather conditions, they will degrade in about a year. They are easily installed and will hold radial wires in place until lawn roots overtake them - and then disappear.
  • Page 35 SUM-900031 - Automatic Wire Stripper/Crimper/Cutter, 24-10 Ga. Our DX Engineering wire stripper uses a spring-loaded design to make quick work of wires ranging from 24 to 10 gauge. Just insert the wire, squeeze the handle, and listen for the click. That’s the sound of another perfect wire stripping job performed in about 2 seconds- a fraction of the time it takes your pocket knife to do the same job.

  • Page 36: Technical Support

    Warranty All products manufactured by DX Engineering are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment. DX Engineering’s sole obligation under these warranties shall be to issue credit, repair or replace any item or part thereof which is proved to be other than as warranted;...

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