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Related Manuals for DX Engineering THUNDERBOLT DXE-MBVA-1UP
Summary of Contents for DX Engineering THUNDERBOLT DXE-MBVA-1UP
- Page 1 DX Engineering THUNDERBOLT™ 160-10 Meter Vertical Antenna DXE-MBVA-1UP DXE-MBVA-1UP-INS Revision 3 © DX Engineering 2012 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 Supplied Installation Items Additional Material Needed, Not Supplied DXE-MBVA-1UP Parts List Manual Updates Suggested Parts Not Included Tools Required Warning Installation Site Selection Radial System Mounting Pipe Assembly Radial Plate to Mounting Pipe Attaching Ground Radial Wires to the Radial Plate Tilt Base to Mounting Pipe Vertical Base Section Base Section to Tilt Base... -
Page 3: Introduction
Introduction The DX Engineering THUNDERBOLT™ MBVA-1UP is a high performance 160-10 meter vertical multi-band antenna that is tunable to operate with an SWR of 1.5:1 or less. Designed with 6063 corrosion-resistant aluminum tubing and stainless steel hardware, this antenna is very durable, attractive, and is an optimized height of only 43 feet! DX Engineering THUNDERBOLT™... -
Page 4: Additional Material Needed, Not Supplied
DXE-UN-43 Features Full band coverage on 160-10 meters with an SWR under 1.5:1* *Customer supplied wide band tuner required. Impedance: 200 ohms to 50 ohms - optimized for 43 ft. verticals Ratio: 4:1 Power Handling: 2 KW/5 KW Peak - Handles rated power with minimal energy loss so there is no thermal related failure. -
Page 5: Dxe-Mbva-1Up Parts List
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 6: Tools Required
A four point guying system is recommended for use with the DX Engineering Tilt Base, because just one of the guy ropes has to be loosened when you tilt the vertical down. The remaining guys help stabilize the vertical in three directions when being raised. -
Page 7: Installation
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. Radials can also be buried just under the surface by using a power edger to make a slit in the soil. -
Page 8: Mounting Pipe
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 20 inches above ground. A thick-walled steel pipe 1-3/4" OD to 2" OD maximum is recommended with a minimum thickness of 1/8" (1/4"... -
Page 9: Radial Plate To Mounting Pipe
Note: The following assembly instructions are based on using a 2" OD Mounting Pipe, with the optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate. Radial Plate to Mounting Pipe Install the optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate on the 2" customer supplied mounting pipe using an optional DXE-SSVC-2P Stainless Steel V-Clamp as shown in Figure 1. -
Page 10: Attaching Ground Radial Wires To The Radial Plate
Figure 2. 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 11: Tilt Base To Mounting Pipe
Tilt Base to Mounting Pipe Install the Tilt Base to the 2" mounting pipe using two DXE-SSVC-2P Stainless Steel V-Clamps allowing approximately 4-1/2" clearance between the bottom of the tilt base plate, to the top surface of the DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate as shown in Figure 3. Make sure the Tilt Base and optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate are oriented correctly for the direction you wish to tilt the antenna. -
Page 12: Vertical Base Section
Vertical Base Section ® The base section is made up of an insulated Extren mounting channel, a mounting plate with hardware, two 2" x 3/8" U-Bolt assemblies and the base antenna section which is 2" OD thick wall, 36" long with a hole drilled at bottom end for the feedpoint hardware. Using Figure 4, attach the aluminum backing plate to the back of the insulated channel. - Page 13 Install the lower section to the insulated channel using the two 2" x 3/8" U-Bolts, two saddle clamps, four 3/8" flat washers, four 3/8" split washers, and four 3/8" hex nuts as shown in Figure 6. The base section tube should extend 1-3/4" beyond the bottom of the U-bolt clamp. The feedpoint hardware should be coming out on the left side as you look at the lower section as shown in Figure 6.
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Page 14: Base Section To Tilt Base
Base Section to Tilt Base Place the Lower Base Section into the holes of the mounted Tilt Base and loosely install the Tilt Base mounting hardware shown in Figure 7. Leave the flange nuts and Nyloc nuts slightly loose. Figure - 7 Using a wrench or nut driver, securely tighten the two Nyloc nuts at the bottom of the Tilt Base. -
Page 15: Assembling The Vertical Sections
Test the tilt function to ensure proper clearances. Standing in front of the Tilt Base, lift the antenna base section, slide it to the right, and let it down slightly until the lower outside bolt is resting in the pivot point. Then slowly tilt as shown in Figure 8. Make sure when you are tilting the antenna to lift, slide to the right, and then tilt. - Page 16 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 17 Each tubing section is inserted 4" into the next larger tube with the exception of the bottom 2-1/8" OD tube. Assembly is easier if the overlaps in the tubing sections are pre-marked. A dark color felt- tip marker works well. Measure and mark 4" from the end of each tube without the slit using a marker so it will be clearly visible.
- Page 18 Figure 11 - MBVA-1UP Section Dimensions - 17 -...
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Page 19: Mating The Vertical Sections To The Tilt Base
Mating the Vertical Sections to the Tilt Base CAUTION: Attempting final assembly without proper precaution can be dangerous. You should have someone help you steady the vertical antenna sections during mating with the base section. Note: A pair of sawhorses or ladders should be used to support the vertical sections during assembly with the Tilt Base and whenever the vertical is tilted down. -
Page 20: Assembling The Unun Mounting Bracket
The antenna mounting channel must be kept in parallel alignment with the tilt-base plate to prevent binding until it is positioned in the tilt-base. Once the antenna is vertical, lift and slide the antenna to the left toward the tilt-base mounting pipe to allow the two parts of the tilt-base to line up and drop down into the slots. -
Page 21: Installation Of Unun Assembly To Antenna
Installation of UNUN Assembly to Antenna Lower Section The completed UNUN and UNUN Mounting Bracket assembly are mounted to the antenna lower section. To allow easy installation of the UNUN Bracket to the lower base section, open the upper and lower custom studded element clamps as shown in Figure 13. Figure 13 Position the UNUN Mounting Bracket so the bottom element clamp is located between the feedpoint hardware and the U-Bolt as shown in Figure 14. - Page 22 Once in position, re-insert the clamp ends into the worm drive of the clamps and using a flat blade screwdriver or nut driver, snug them up as shown in Figure 15. Note position of lower clamp is between the feedpoint hardware and the U-Bolt. Figure 15 Position the UNUN so it faces forward.
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Page 23: Feedline Connections
Feedline Connections The DXE-UN-43 UNUN is attached to the feedline using the DXE-TCB-UNFK - UNUN Feed Point Connection Kit which contains two pre-drilled copper tinned braids for connection to the vertical antenna system. Both braids are 1" wide by 9" in length. Connect one braid from the antenna feedpoint located on the base section of the antenna to the terminal on the DXE-UN-43 Red "+"... -
Page 24: Coaxial Cable And 160 Meter Notes
Your coaxial cable from the radio connects direct to the SO-239 connector on the DXE-UN-43 UNUN. Weatherproof this coaxial connection using TRM-06132 - Scotch® Super 33+ and DXE- 3M2155 - 3M Temflex™ 2155 Rubber Splicing Tape. 160 Meter Notes Let's look at 160 meters in more detail. A 43 foot vertical antenna is a short antenna for 160, but it will get you on the air. - Page 25 Figure 17 - Completed Base Assembly for Reference - 24 -...
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Page 26: Tuning The Vertical
Tuning the Vertical Antenna System Antenna length from the top of the antenna to the feedpoint should be 43 feet. The use of a customer supplied, high quality, outboard tuner is required for any multi-band trapless vertical antenna system. The tuner should be capable of tuning the wide range of impedances presented by the antenna and coaxial cable at all the operating frequencies. -
Page 27: Guying A Vertical Antenna System
Guying a Vertical Antenna System Guying of vertical antennas is always recommended for stability. However, if your area encounters severe wind velocities or icing conditions, simple guying will reduce the possibility of failure. Using the DXE-GUY kits, you can install four guy ropes starting approximately 1/2 the way up the vertical antenna system to ground level. -
Page 28: Optional Accessory Items
DXE-RADP-3 - Radial Plate, Stainless Steel with 20 Sets of SS Radial Attachment Hardware The patented DX Engineering 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 29 UMI-81343, DXE-NSBT8 - Anti-Seize & Never-Seez® An Anti-seize compound MUST be used on any Stainless Steel nuts, bolts, clamps or other hardware to prevent galling and thread seizure. Any of these products can be used for this purpose. *UMI-81343 Anti-Seize, 1 oz. Squeeze Tube *UMI-81464 Anti-Seize, 8.5 oz.
- Page 30 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.
- Page 31 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. The remaining guys help stabilize the vertical in three directions when being raised.
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Page 32: 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;...
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