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Related Manuals for DX Engineering DXE-40VA-1
Summary of Contents for DX Engineering DXE-40VA-1
- Page 1 40 Meter Vertical Antenna DXE-40VA-1 DXE-40VA-1-INS Revision 16d © DX Engineering 2013 P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491 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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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Introduction Features Additional Material Needed, Not Supplied Optional Equipment Parts List Tools Required Warning Overhead Power Line Safety Installation Mounting Pipe Radial System Site Selection Assembly Radial Plate to Mounting Pipe Attaching Ground Radial Wires to the Radial Plate Base Section Base Section to Mounting Pipe Assembling the Vertical Sections... -
Page 3: Introduction
Introduction The DX Engineering DXE-40VA-1 is a self-supporting vertical antenna system that operates over the entire 40 meter band with an SWR of under 1.5:1, yet is less than 24 feet high. It can easily be configured to operate on the 30 meter band with an equally low SWR by a simply removing the capacity hat. -
Page 4: Optional Equipment
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: Tools Required
Tools Required Two 7/16” wrenches, (one of them should be open-end) 1/2 inch and 7/16 inch socket and drive 3/16" Allen wrench Medium size screwdriver or 5/16” nut driver for the element clamps 3/16” and 1/4” nut drivers or wrenches Tape measure and Felt-tip marker The use of an antenna analyzer such as the MFJ-259B will facilitate the fine tuning of the vertical. -
Page 6: Installation
Grass will quickly overgrow the radials and they will be virtually impossible to see. An article describing this process is available the DX Engineering website www.dxengineering.com 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 7: Site Selection
Assembly The DXE-40VA-1 shipping box contains vertical element tubing sections, an insulated U-channel, the mounting plate, stainless steel hardware and 6 top-hat rods packaged inside some of the larger element tubing sections. Some of the smaller element tubes may be inside larger ones. -
Page 8: Radial Plate To Mounting Pipe
Radial Plate to Mounting Pipe Install the optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate on the mounting pipe using an optional DXE- SSVC-2P stainless steel V-Clamp as shown in Figure 1. The standard 1-1/4" galvanized water pipe (with its approximate 17" OD) is just fine for this application and can usually be found at your local home building supply store. -
Page 9: Base Section
Depending on the number of radial wires used, space them out evenly around the Radial Plate. The Radial Plate will accommodate up to 60 radial wires (60 laser drilled holes), or up to 120 radials if doubled up. Radial Wire Pattern Figure - 2 - Radial Wire Hardware Installation Base Section... - Page 10 Locate the short 24" triple wall base section element tube. Make sure the drilled feedpoint hardware mounting holes are aligned. Install a star washer on the 1" bolt, and then insert the bolt through the hole in the triple tubes from the inside, so the threads stick out. Put on a star washer, a flat washer, and nut and tighten securely.
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Page 11: Base Section To Mounting Pipe
The feed wire bolt assembly can face either forward or to the rear, depending on how you will connect the feedline. If you are using the optional DXE-8X16-RT pigtail to feed the vertical, orient the feed wire bolt to the rear, facing the backing plate as shown in Figure 6. Base Section to Mounting Pipe Locate the two V-Saddle Clamps. -
Page 12: Assembling The Vertical Sections
Deburring is a finishing method used in manufacturing. Our aluminum tubing is machine cut on both ends and machine slit on one end. Although DX Engineering manufactured aluminum tubing is deburred, you should further assure that there are no ragged edges or protrusions. - Page 13 Assemble the vertical in an area that is flat and has sufficient room for the length of the antenna during assembly. Lay the elements out in descending OD sizes of 2", 1-3/4", 1-1/2" and 1-3/8", with the slits in the tubes toward the top of the antenna. All the element sections are 72" long. The bottom 2"...
- Page 14 Locate the hardware pack containing four element clamps. The DXE-ECL-24SS clamps are for the bottom 2" OD element section. Slide the clamps over each element section before putting them together. You can lightly tighten the clamps on the middle of each element section to hold them until needed.
- Page 15 Figure 8 - 14 -...
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Page 16: Mating The Vertical Sections To The Base Section
This completes the assembly of the vertical section of the antenna. If 30 meters is your intended band of operation, you can do final assembly because no top hat is needed for 30 meter operation. WARNING: Attempting final assembly without proper precaution is dangerous. You should have someone help you steady the vertical section during mating with the base section, especially with the top-hat installed for 40 meter operation. -
Page 17: Top Hat Assembly - 40 Meter Operation
Top Hat Assembly - 40 Meter Operation The top hat (sometimes called a capacity hat) is used to resonate the vertical for use on 40 meters. It will improve efficiency and provide full band coverage with a SWR below 1.2:1. The top hat is comprised of a (patented hub, six 60 inch rods, 3 Allen head bolts, 3 regular hex bolts and associated hardware. -
Page 18: Installing The Top Hat - 40 Meter Operation
Installing the Top Hat – 40 Meter Operation Note: You need to support the vertical section to allow placement of the top hat at the top end of the vertical with out hitting the ground. Each top hat rod is 60" long, so the top of the vertical will need to be at least 60"... -
Page 19: Appendix A - Radial Plate
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 20: Appendix B - Tilt Base
The stainless steel Tilt Base makes raising and lowering the vertical a one-man operation. If you are upgrading your existing DXE-40VA-1 installation, the Tilt Base will use some of the hardware that originally came with your vertical. -
Page 21: Appendix C - Vertical Feedline Current Choke
DXE-TB-4P - Tilt Base Kit for Ground Mounted 1/4 Wave Vertical Antennas The DX Engineering patented Tilt Base mounting plate enables operators to raise or lower an antenna in seconds while leaving the base securely attached to the mounting post. With the Tilt Base, one person can service an antenna—no more climbing ladders, or removing a bracket from the support post. -
Page 22: Optional Accessory Items
DXE-RADP-3 - Radial Plate, Stainless Steel with 20 Sets of SS Radial Attachment Hardware The DX Engineering patented Radial Plate is meant for those of you that have or are building a quarter wave vertical antenna and who want an easy, neat and effective way to connect those essential radial wires and the coax to your vertical antenna for the lowest takeoff angle and strongest signals. - Page 23 DXE-STPL - Radial Wire Anchor Pins, 100/pack - No need to bury your radials! DX Engineering Radial Wire Anchor Pins are perfect for fastening radials below the grass line to eliminate the risk of damaging your radials during lawn maintenance.
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Page 24: Technical Support And Warranty
A four point guying system is recommended for use with a DX Engineering Tilt Base, because just one of the guy ropes has to be loosened when you tilt the vertical down.
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