Installation; Mounting Pipe; Radial System - DX Engineering DXE-40VA-1 Manual

Installation

Mounting Pipe

Use a customer supplied thick-walled galvanized steel mounting pipe at least 4
feet long. This will allow approximately 2 feet or more to be below ground and
approximately 2 feet above ground. A thick-walled steel pipe 1-3/4" OD is
recommended with a minimum thickness of 1/8" (1/4" preferred) should be
used. The standard 1-1/4" galvanized water pipe (with its approximate 1.7"
OD) is just fine for this application and can usually be found at your local home
building supply store. When using the optional DXE-TB-4P Tilt base a
mounting pipe of up to 2" OD may be used. For permanent mounting, use a
post-hole digger to make the hole deep enough to accommodate 2 feet of pipe
and a couple inches of gravel at the bottom for drainage. Set the pipe on the
gravel, use the pre-mix concrete to fill around the pipe, adding water and mixing
as you fill or mix the concrete first, then pour in the hole. Fill the hole until the concrete is level
with the ground around it. Use a level as you fill the hole to be sure the pipe is straight. Allow to set
overnight. Your location, landscape and ground conditions may require different mounting solutions
in order to have the steel mounting pipe and the vertical antenna in a secure position.
Note: Galvanized steel, rather than aluminum, is much more suitable for mounting in concrete.
Aluminum will quickly corrode due to incompatibility with the materials used to make concrete.

Radial System

The use of a radial system is a key requirement for a high performance quarter wave vertical
antenna system. With a vertical antenna system, the radials are the second half of the antenna. The
radials contribute to the radiation efficiency of the entire vertical antenna system.
At a minimum, 20 radials, each 32 feet long, should be used with this antenna. Using 32 radials at
32 feet long is preferred and highly recommended. The extra radials may help overcome unknown
poor-soil conditions, improve efficiency, and ensure the best performance possible from the vertical
antenna. Longer radials should be used for improved performance on the lowest frequency to be
used if your plans call for 60 or more radials. DXE-RADW Radial Wire, a stranded 14 gauge
relaxed PVC insulated copper wire is suggested for the best results.
The wire radials should placed as symmetrically as possible around the vertical
antenna and spaced evenly, regardless of how many radials are used. Do not cross
or bunch any radial wires as this nullifies their effectiveness. If you have limited
space, put in as many straight radials as you can. The radial wires can be attached to
the vertical using the lower left V-Bolt Saddle nut. The radials must be connected to
the shield of your feedline which then connect to the other U-bolt. The DXE-
RADP-3 Stainless Steel Radial Plate is an ideal optional item which provides an
excellent system for attaching radial wires to your vertical antenna system.
Radial wires can be laid on the roots of the grass using DXE-STPL Radial Wire Anchor Pins, or
Lawn Staples to hold them down. Using enough of the staples will ensure the wires will not be
snagged by mowers, people, or animals. 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.
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