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Related Manuals for DX Engineering DXE-60VA-1P
Summary of Contents for DX Engineering DXE-60VA-1P
- Page 1 DX Engineering ® THUNDERBOLT 60 Meter Vertical Antenna DXE-60VA-1P DXE-60VA-1P-INS Revision 13d © 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 Parts List Manual Updates Tools Required Warning Installation Site Selection Mounting Pipe Radial System 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 Assembling the Vertical Element Sections... -
Page 3: Introduction
Of course, another key to performance is a good ground radial system. 32 radials, 30 feet long are recommended. Fewer radials will work, but with diminished results. The DXE-60VA-1P 60 meter vertical antenna includes the antenna element, mounting plates and Tilt Base. -
Page 4: 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 5: Warning
WARNING! INSTALLATION OF ANY ANTENNA NEAR POWER LINES IS DANGEROUS Warning: Do not locate the antenna near overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can come into contact with such circuits. When installing the antenna, take extreme care not to come into contact with such circuits, because they may cause serious injury or death. -
Page 6: Radial System
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 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: Radial Plate To Mounting Pipe
Note: DXE-P8A Penetrox™ A Anti-Oxidant should be used between all antenna element sections. Penetrox™ A is an electrical joint compound to affect a substantial electrical connection between metal parts such as telescoping aluminum tubing or other antenna pieces. It ensures high conductivity at all voltage levels by displacing moisture and preventing corrosion or oxidation. -
Page 8: Attaching Ground Radial Wires To The Radial Plate
Attaching Ground Radial Wires to the Radial Plate Using the 20 sets of supplied 1/4" stainless steel hardware (Bolt, Flat Washer, Star Washer, Split Washer, Nut) connect the optional ground radial wires to the DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate as shown in Figure 2. Additional hardware kits are available (DXE-RADP-1HWK) that contain 20 sets of Radial Plate Hardware. -
Page 9: Vertical Base Section
Vertical Base Section The base section is made up of an insulated mounting channel with hardware, a mounting plate, two U-Bolt assemblies and the base antenna element section which is 2" OD and 36" long. Using Figure 4, attach the aluminum backing plate to the back of the insulated channel. The base hardware kit contains four 2"... - Page 10 Install the lower element section to the insulated channel using the two 3/8" x 2" U-Bolts, two saddle clamps, four flat washers, four split washers, and four nuts as shown in Figure 6. The base section element tube should extend approximately 1-1/4" beyond the bottom of the U-bolt clamp. When tightening, observe the split washers.
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Page 11: Base Section To Tilt Base
Base Section to Tilt Base Place the Lower Base Section into the holes of the Tilt Base and loosely install the Tilt Base mounting hardware shown in Figure 7. Figure - 7 - 10 -... - Page 12 Using a wrench or nut driver, securely tighten the two Nyloc nuts at the bottom of the Tilt Base. Then loosen them one-half turn each. This will allow proper movement of the Tilt Base while raising or lowering the antenna. It is not necessary to tighten these nuts more securely unless further tilt operation is no longer required.
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Page 13: Assembling The Vertical Element 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 14 tubes toward the top of the antenna. The bottom 2-1/8" element section has slits at both ends. All the element sections are 72" long. Each element section is inserted 4" into the next larger element. Assembly is easier if the overlaps in the tubing sections are pre-marked.
- Page 15 Figure 10 - 14 -...
- Page 16 Figure 11 - 60VA-1P Section Dimensions - 15 -...
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Page 17: Mating The Vertical Elements To The Tilt Base
Mating the Vertical Elements 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 18: Feedline Connections
The antenna mounting channel must be kept in alignment with the Tilt Base plate to prevent binding until it is positioned in the Tilt Base. Once the antenna is vertical, 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 19 Installing the DXE-VMN-1 Vertical Antenna Matching Network The optional DXE-VMN-1 Vertical Antenna Matching Network is custom designed for use with base-fed quarter wave resonant vertical antenna systems. In some vertical antenna installations with excellent radial systems, achieving the best SWR on a resonant vertical may be difficult without some means of adjusting feedpoint impedance.
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Page 20: Tuning The Vertical
Tuning the Vertical It’s best to use an antenna analyzer for determining antenna resonance. Use the X=0 or +/- j0 readings to determine the resonant frequency. Later, the SWR will be adjusted by the impedance matching assembly mounted at the feed point once the vertical is resonant at the desired frequency. -
Page 21: Optional Upgrade
Optional Upgrade to DX-80VA-3 80 Meter Vertical The DXE-60VA-1P 60 Meter vertical can be upgraded to a DXE-80VA-3 80 Meter monoband vertical by adding the following parts: ®... -
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 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 24 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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