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DX Engineering DXE-160VA-1 Instructions Manual

160 meter thunderbolt vertical antenna
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160 Meter
Thunderbolt
®
Vertical
Antenna
DXE-160VA-1
DXE-160VA-1-INS Revision 2d
US Patent No. 8,130,168
[Wires and ropes were enhanced in this photograph so they would show up]
© DX Engineering 2019
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-160VA-1

  • Page 1 Thunderbolt ® Vertical Antenna DXE-160VA-1 DXE-160VA-1-INS Revision 2d US Patent No. 8,130,168 [Wires and ropes were enhanced in this photograph so they would show up] © DX Engineering 2019 1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200 Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Capacity Hat Bottom Wires No Slip Knots Guy Rope Installation Tuning Locking the Pivot Base DXE-160VA-1 Base Exploded View with Parts Numbered DXE-160VA-1 Part Lists Additional Material Required, Not Supplied Suggested Parts Not Included Optional Accessory Items Technical Support and Warranty...

  • Page 3: Introduction & Features

    55 feet tall. The DX Engineering DXE-160VA-1 is a slow taper 55-foot high Monoband Vertical Antenna system. The vertical antenna is specifically designed to operate on 160 meters. Included with this antenna system is a patented rugged stainless steel pivot fixture (US Patent No.

  • 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

    (at least 65 feet). Mounting Pipe DX Engineering has a galvanized Chromoly Steel mounting mast available - Part Number DXE- VGMT-3CG is 3 inches OD, Chrome-Moly 4130 Steel Tubing, 100K PSI Min. Yield, 3 in. OD, 0.250 in.

  • Page 6: Coaxial Cable To Mounting Pipe

    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). The antenna system requires this type of mounting to help withstand the lateral forces present on the antenna during wind conditions and when operating the pivot function.

  • Page 7: Radial System

    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: Radial Plate To Mounting Pipe

    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 Drawing

    Radial Wire Hardware Installation Radial Wire Pattern Overall Pivot Base (US Patent No. 8,130,168) Assembly Drawing The exploded view drawing is for reference and shows the overall Pivot Base Assembly. (See Parts List for detailed drawing with numbered parts) Pivot Base and Lower Antenna Assembly ®...
  • Page 10 3. Locate the stainless steel pivot base locking plate, backing plate, four carriage bolts, four 3/8" flat washers, four 3/8" split lock washers and four 3/8" hex nuts. Assemble the pivot base locking plate to the top of the heavy duty insulated channel as shown below. 4.
  • Page 11 5. 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 base side bottom hinge as shown below.
  • Page 12 Note: These four bolts are removed when using the pivoting function as described later on in this manual. 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 13 The two Thick Backing Plates (3/8”) are located next to the U-Bolt Saddles on the inside of the insulated channel. The two Thin Backing Plates (1/4”) are used on the rear side of the insulated channel. Top of Insulated Channel Rear and Front views showing the U-Bolt located Showing U-Bolt installed at the Bottom of the Insulated Channel...
  • Page 14 11. Locate the 3" OD x 72", 0.120” wall thickness antenna bottom element section. There are 5 holes drilled in this element section. One drilled hole at the bottom is for the feedpoint hardware. Four drilled holes at the top are used for mating to the next antenna element section.
  • Page 15 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 16: 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 1.25" long stainless steel hex bolt, two 1/4" stainless steel external tooth lock washers, one 1/4"...
  • Page 17 4. The hardware does not have to be removed from the manual winch to either install or remove the manual winch from the winch mounting plate. 5. There are three holes with slots in the mounting bracket. The flat washers will fit through the large holes.
  • Page 18 7. To lower the antenna, ensure the winch hook is in the Antenna Hook Mount and the winch is wound up snug so the antenna will not move. 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 19: General Information About Aluminum Tubing

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

  • Page 20: Assembling The Vertical Sections

    Assembling the Vertical Sections The vertical sections of the DXE-160VA-1 is made of custom engineered 6061-T8 and 6063-T832 corrosion-resistant aluminum tubing ranging in size from 3" OD to 1" OD. The 3" OD section has already been mounted in the Pivot Base Assembly in an earlier assembly step.
  • Page 21 1. Locate the following hardware: Description 1/4" x 2-34" long Stainless Steel Hex Head Bolt 1/4" x 3" long Stainless Steel Hex Head Bolt 1/4" x 3-1/4" long Stainless Steel Hex Head Bolt 1/4" Stainless Steel Flat Washer 1/4" Stainless Steel Nyloc Hex Nut 2.
  • Page 22 3. 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 below. Make sure you insert the 2.5” OD tube into the correct end of the 2.75” OD section - the holes at each end are drilled differently.
  • Page 23 6. Using a tape measure and felt tip pen, mark a line 4” (on the end opposite the slits) on the 72” long tubes (1.125”, 1.25”, 1.5” and 1.75” OD tubes) and 12” on the 1” OD Tube. Note the 1.5” OD tube has slits on both ends so it does not matter which end you mark.
  • Page 24 The reference drawing below shows the hardware used for joining the element tubes. - 23 -...
  • Page 25 8. Locate two DXE-ECL-2000 Stainless Steel Element Clamps, one DXE-ECL-1750 Stainless Steel Element Clamp and the 1.75" OD x 72" element tube that was marked in step 7. Slide the two DXE-ECL-2000 element clamps over the 2" OD element. Slide the one DXE- ECL-1750 element clamp over the 1.75"...
  • Page 26 10. Locate two DXE-ECL-1500 Stainless Steel Element Clamps, one DXE-ECL-1250 Stainless Steel Element Clamp and the 1.25" OD x 72" element tube that was marked in step 7. Slide the two DXE-ECL-1500 element clamps over the 1.5" OD element tube. Slide the one DXE-ECL-1250 element clamp over the 1.25"...

  • 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 ® 3. Assemble the 2.75" OD element tube to the 3" OD element tube (installed on the Extren insulated channel) using the two stainless steel 3-1/2" 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: Base Series And Shunt Coil Assembly And Installation

    Base Series and Shunt Coil Assembly and Installation Two coils are used at the base of the antenna. One coil is in series with the antenna feed point; the other coil is shunt coil and is connected to the Radial Plate. Attach the series coil with the straight bracket on the antenna feedpoint using the hardware as shown.
  • Page 30 Series Coil Mounting Hardware Installed and shown for reference Shunt Coil and Mounting Hardware For mounting to the optional Radial Plate ™ Mounting the optional SecureMount Bulkhead Connector to the optional Radial Plate - 29 -...

  • Page 31: Capacity Hat Information

    Capacity Hat Information The capacity hat is made up of special mounting hardware at the top of the antenna. The capacity hat uses four 39 foot 14 gauge wires coming from the top of the antenna in a four sided pyramid shape connected to four 24 foot 14 gauge wires at the base of the pyramid.

  • Page 32: Capacity Hat Assembly

    Capacity Hat Assembly Locate the eight wires for the capacity hat. Four wires are 39 feet in length. Four wires are 24 feet in length. Ring Terminals are installed on the ends of the wires. Gather the other parts required for the Capacity Hat assembly. If not already done, insert the fiberglass tube into the aluminum tube making sure the drilled holes are aligned.
  • Page 33 Notes on the capacity hat assembly:  Two threaded rods are installed (centered) in the drilled holes.  Each side of the threaded rod will get one of the 39 foot wires with ring terminal and be held in place using an external tooth washer and a stainless steel hex nut as shown. ...
  • Page 34 Note the cupped area Insert the aluminum spacers Note the routing of the 39 foot wire/ring terminal end through the insulator - 33 -...
  • Page 35 Once the ring terminals are in place, tighten the hex nuts evenly on both sides. Note the way the ring terminals are placed and direction of the wires. Install a flat washer, insulator, flat washer and Nyloc hex nut on the threaded rod and tighten in place.
  • Page 36 Completed Capacity Hat Assembly - Note how the wires are routed - 35 -...

  • Page 37: Installing The Capacity Hat On The Antenna

    Installing the Capacity Hat on the Antenna 1. Mark the bottom of the Capacity Hat Assembly 3-1/4” from the bottom end. 2. Slide a DXE-ECL-1000 element clamp over the 1” OD element tube at the top of the antenna. Slide the completed capacity hat assembly into the 1” OD element tube to the 3-1/4” mark. Tighten the DXE-ECL-1000 clamp in place.

  • Page 38: Capacity Hat Bottom Wires

    Capacity Hat Bottom Wires 1. The four 39 foot wires coming from the Capacity Hat Assembly at the top of the antenna are joined with the horizontal 24 foot wires using four insulators and associated hardware. 2. Install the capacity hat wires as shown in the following diagrams and photographs. - 37 -...
  • Page 39 3. Using the four patented insulators, 10-24 x 3/4” hex bolts, #10 external star washers, #10 flat washers and the 10-24 Nyloc hex nuts, join the 39 foot wires coming from the capacity hat assembly with the 24 foot wires together as shown below. Note how the three wires are woven through the insulator in the following photographs.

  • Page 40: No Slip Knots

    It is suggested that these ropes be anchored in the ground 55 feet away from the base of the antenna using the optional DXE-EA15-4P Earth Anchors available from DX Engineering. Your soil conditions may require different guying scheme. The DX Engineering anchors may not be suitable for real loose sandy soil or rock.
  • Page 41 DXE-EA15-4P Earth Anchors work very well for most installations and are available from DX Engineering. Tie the loose ends of the four 46 foot ropes at four points 55 feet from the antenna. See the diagram on the next page for details.
  • Page 42 Overall side view showing the capacity hat and guy ropes - 41 -...

  • Page 43: Tuning

    Staying at least fifty feet from the base of the antenna (using at least a 50’ piece of low loss coax such as RG-213U) set up to use either an antenna analyzer or an HF radio as an SWR indicator. A fifty foot RG-213U with PL-259 connectors installed is available from DX Engineering as part number DXE-213UDX050.
  • Page 44 Look for the lowest SWR on the Radio or Analyzer. A typical reading would be: Approximately 1.4:1 SWR at approximately 1.885 MHz. If you don’t see an SWR dip look higher or lower in frequency and adjust the top hat and length of the vertical to get the SWR dip approximately as shown in the SWR graph.

  • Page 45: Locking The Pivot Base

    The adjustment of the Series Coil and the top-hat will allow wide excursions inside and slightly above and below the 160 meter band, if desired. DX Engineering will not be able to supply detailed instructions for this but basic antenna principles will apply: A larger top-hat or use of more of the Series Coil will lower the frequency whereas a smaller top-hat or using less of the Series Coil will raise the frequency.

  • Page 46: Dxe-160Va-1 Base Exploded View With Parts Numbered

    DXE-160VA-1 Parts Lists Detailed patented Pivot Base Drawing with numbered parts 1 Base Side Bottom Hinge 2 Antenna Side Bottom Hinge 3 Bottom Hinge Bushing ® 4 Extren Insulated Channel 5 Saddle Backing Plate 1/4” Thick 6 Antenna Hook Mount...
  • Page 47 DXE-160VA-1 Parts Lists Pivot Base Assembly - US Patent No. 8,130,168 Vertical Elements Assembly Description Description Base Side Bottom Hinge 3" OD x 72" long, .120" wall, 5 drilled holes Antenna Side Bottom Hinge 2.75" OD x 48" long, .120” wall, 8 drilled holes Bottom Hinge Bushing 2.5"...

  • Page 48: Additional Material Required, Not Supplied

    3/8"-16 x 1.75". V-bolt and saddle made from high-strength 18-8 stainless steel DXE-RADP-1HWK - Radial Plate Wire Attachment Hardware Kit - Stainless Steel Additional 20 Sets of ALL Stainless Steel Radial Hardware for use with the DX Engineering Stainless Steel Radial Plate.

  • Page 49: Optional Accessory Items

    DXE-T001 - DX Engineering SO-239 Connector Installation Tool Kit This DX Engineering SO-239 connector installation tool kit offers an easier installation of chassis or bulkhead mount SO-239 coaxial connectors. Having the right tools can make all of the difference in your shack, and this handy DXE tool provides you with a special dual-use stainless steel wrench, plus a multipurpose 6-in-1 screwdriver/nut driver tool.
  • Page 50 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 51 Highly conformable super stretchy tape for all weather applications. This tape provides flexibility and easy handling for all around performance. It also combines PVC backing with excellent electrical insulating properties to provide primary electrical insulation for splices up to 600V and protective jacketing. Both tape products are available from DX Engineering. ®...

  • Page 52: Technical Support And 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; no allowance shall be made for any labor charges of Buyer for replacement of parts, adjustment or repairs, or any other work, unless such charges are authorized in advance by DX Engineering.

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