Technical Questions

Recommendation

A balun or choke should NOT be used on a G5RV wire dipole. The classic G5RV 102 ft. wire dipole consists of 51 ft. legs with a center feed of twin lead or ladder line that is about 34 ft. long. That section is also part of the radiating antenna, an...

Connecting the RPA-1 to a Transceiver

Connecting the DX Engineering Receive Preamplifier RPA-1 for optimizing weak signal reception on your main (transmitting) antenna is very easy. The RPA-1 is superior in specifications and performance to other outboard HF preamps and most that are bu...

Mounting a POLYPHASER IS-RCT Surge Suppressor to a DX Engineering DXE-UE-2P Enclosure

The part you require for mounting the rotor controller protector onto our universal enclosure plate is this DX Engineering Flange Mounting Bracket. ...

ROHN Products, LLC, the manufacturer of the 9H50, H20, H30, H40 and H50, does not provide a weight limit or wind load capability for these Telescopic Masts. They are intended to be used for TV or FM antennas or small VHF/UHF verticals. Their catalo...

Our Policy on MARS Modifications

Due to FCC regulations and manufacturer's warranty requirements, NO Amateur Radio dealer may legally open and modify the transmitting frequency range of a new Amateur transceiver. The modification of an Amateur Radio transceiver that you own must be...

2 Meter Egg Beater and Hexx Beam Antenna

The HEXX Beam may physically support the Egg Beater antenna with a non-metallic extension of the fiberglass Center Post. However, the proximity of that antenna and the supplied ground plane that comes with, it will probably adversely affect both ant...

One Band is Intermittent

On some trapped antennas, there is a rare case that occurs that causes an intermittent high SWR only on a high frequency band, such as 15 meters, while the antenna has good SWR and is functioning normally on all other frequency bands, such as 10 and...

Recommendations

Rocky, sandy soil has poor conductivity. For a radial system to perform well under these conditions, you need many radials; 1/4 wavelength or longer at the lowest operating frequency. ...

Guidance

The extra long pipe in a well doesn't make a good radial system, but it could provide extra lightning protection. Chain link fences have a significant amount of metal surface area, but sections are often corroded or poorly bonded. This makes&n...

Stealth Installation

Avoid paints with metallic content. Otherwise, painting won't affect the performance of your antenna. You might also consider camouflage tape, which can be purchased at outdoor and sporting goods stores. ...

Advice for Needed Repairs, Testing

We do not supply schematics for our products. Instead, we suggest sending your unit for complete service and testing to assure that you will enjoy complete functionality up to or beyond original specifications. Follow this link for more information...

COMTEK Replacement Parts

We do not offer replacement parts. In our experience, many self-repair attempts have resulted in dissatisfied customers. However, we do offer service for all COMTEK products. Please follow this link for more information about Our Service, Testing, ...

Alternative Mounting Methods

Many amateur radio operators have purchased the DXE Hexxagonal beam and used telescopic masts for mounting it. (They do require guying per the manufacturer's instruction recommendations.) Follow the links below for some antenna mounting option...

Impedance and Tuning

The function of the 150 ft. of RG-213 is to accomplish the appropriate impedance rotation that will allow the antenna to be tuned with your wide range tuner on all bands, 160 through 10 meters. For example, if the system is installed with only 75 ft...

DX Engineering Verticals 150 ft. Feedline Requirement

The coax run can be straight or curved. However, it cannot be bunched together or coiled. ...

Hexx Beam Mounting

The short answer is "no." Our Hexx Beam is designed for mounting at the top of a mast. Other mounting configurations may cause undesirable interaction with the Hexx Beam's elements. ...

Recommendation

For best results, dipoles should be at least 1/2 wavelength above ground level. For the lower bands, especially 160-40 meters, this can become impractical--place your dipole as high as your situation allows. ...

Lightning Protection and Grounding

We offer reprints of lightning protection articles originally published in QST at the following links: Lightning Protection P1 Lightning Protection P2 Lightning Protection P3 ...

Recommendation

We recommend a 4:1 UNUN mounted at the antenna, in conjunction with a wide-range external tuner in your shack. Most internal radio tuners don't have sufficient range to properly tune these antennas. If you plan to tune your antenna for 80 and 160 m...

The DX Engineering Vertical Antenna Matching Network

Assuming you have completed the trap calibration as detailed in the DX Engineering New Assembly and High Performance Installation Instructions (pg. 39), the DXE-VMN-1 would be your next step. The DXE-VMN-1 Vertical Antenna Matching Network is ...

Recommendations

Since the broadcast industry has always used bare solid copper wire, it has become the standard for radial systems. However, it doesn't make any practical difference whether the copper wire is stranded or solid, bare or insulated. Some hams find th...

Locate the Source of RFI Noise

To start, follow the steps suggested by RFI Services: " How to" Locate Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) or Television Interference (TVI) in a Home. If you are still experiencing a noise problem, take a walk around your neighborhood with that same...

We recommend 30 radials, each wire about 1/4 wavelength long on the lowest frequency of operation. Adding more radials, up to 60 total, will produce a noticeable improvement. ...

Hy-Gain Replacement Parts

We are a Hy-Gain dealer, but we do not stock replacement parts. You will need to contact Hy-Gain directly: Phone: 1-800-973-6572 or 1-662-323-9538 Website: www.hy-gain.com ...

Recommended Antenna Location

Locating the antenna that close to your garage, even using standoffs, will cause the antenna to detune and not work properly. It should mounted away from structures, local noise sources, or other metallic objects that can affect the tuning, radiatio...

W8JI, who is one of our antenna consulting engineers, has developed a "Choosing the Correct Balun" Guide. Please follow this link: Choosing the Correct Balun. ...

Proper Tuning Method

The following instructions were provided by the developer of the Broadband Hexbeam, Steve Hunt, G3TXQ. Try to get the antenna up to it at least 13 ft. (4m) high for testing so there will not be a large frequency shift when you lift it to its fina...

Recommendation

Good results have been obtained with as few as 20 radials, 1/8-wavelength long at the lowest frequency. Put down as many radials as you can within the space you have available. Be sure not to cross them, bend them around buildings, or zigzag them. M...

Recommendation

A minimum of two radials cut to resonant length are needed for each band of operation - more is better. They should be spread evenly around the antenna and drooped slightly downward if possible. ...

The suggested balun is a 4:1 ratio current balun for long wire antennas. The DX Engineering part number of the correct balun is either the DXE-BAL200-H10-AT or the DXE-BAL200-H11-CT current balun designed to work with an antenna tuner. ...

Instructions

The power transformer of the Ameritron AL-80B has fourteen different voltages available on the primary, and is rated at full power on both frequencies (50 Hz and 60 Hz). Please review "JUMPER CONNECTIONS" on Page 12 of the AL-80B Manual. ...

The DXE-UT-8213 Coax Stripping Tool

There are several cable types on the market which use a jacket material which is soft and spongy, claiming ultra flexibility. The DXE-UT-8213 cutter blades are designed to cut through the more rigid materials encountered with quality RG-213/U, LMR-4...

Vertical Antenna Mounted 10 ft. Above Ground

Shorter vertical antennas, such as Hustler's BTV series, Hy-Gain's AV-14AVQ, AV-18AVQ, and similar antennas with trap or coil loading under 30 ft. in height are good candidates for above-ground mounting. We don't recommend elevating the popular 43 f...

Link to Instructions

Please follow this link to the Tigertronics SignaLink Instructions. ...

DXE-BAL050 Baluns

The wing nuts are 10-32 Stainless Steel for this and similar DXE Baluns that have ceramic insulators. ...

Recommendation

Over the years, many Amateur Radio operators have successfully used a metal roof as the ground plane or radial system for their HF vertical antenna. This is possible with a metal roof on a home, barn, garage, carport, RV, porch and metal sheds or aw...

Tuning Instructions

The DX-EE is a parallel dipole antenna, similar to a fan dipole. It has a wire tuned for each band. However, the "top" wire combines 20 and 40 meters. Any adjustments you make to the 20m band (the first leg of this top wire before the coil) will als...

Modification Guidance

Solid state Ameritron amps, such as the ALS 500/600/1300 require the AMR-Mod-10 which easily installs in the amplifier. There are several versions available for use based on the model and serial number. Please Contact Us to make sure you choose the ...

DXE-WA Series Multi-Band Dipoles

The feedline must be in odd multiple lengths of 1/8 wavelength on the lowest operating frequency to optimize the impedance presented to the balun over the frequency range of the antenna. For additional information and formulas, please see our Anten...

Recommendation

It's best to bury the coaxial cable 6-8 in. below the radial field. The coaxial cable should run parallel to the radials. ...

Explanation

Chicken wire is not a suitable alternative for a radial system. Where the wires intersect, they are simply twisted together. This provides mechanical strength, but the wires are not bonded together properly for electrical conduction at RF frequenci...

Antenna is Getting Harder to Tune

A straightforward way to test a 4:1 balun is as follows: Disconnect the output side of the balun from your antenna or ladder line. Locate a NON INDUCTIVE (Carbon composition, for example) 200 ohm resistor and connect it directly across the outpu...

Effects

The purpose of ground-mounted radials is to improve ground conductivity. The side that doesn't have radials will exhibit less ground conductivity and a small reduction in signal. ...

Explanation

There are several serious caveats that make such a conversion not really viable: The bandwidth would be very narrow. It will almost limit you to a single frequency on 160m without making a physical adjustment to the antenna every time you want to...

Suggestions

Use a permanent marker to mark the parts and locations during disassembly. Clean all antenna aluminum connections with Scotch-Brite. Apply new Penetrox A Lubrication to the aluminum connections. Do a trap tune-up check to make sure th...

Recommendation

Our engineering analysis confirmed the original information from the designer of the broadband hexbeam, Steve Hunt, G3TXQ regarding adding 6 meter elements to the 5-band hexbeam. The addition of 6 meters elements to a hexbeam results in poor perfor...

Recommendation for a Horizontal Full-Wave Loop for 80-10 Meters

If you're using coax to the feedpoint, we'd typically recommend a 4:1 current balun. If you're feeding the antenna with ladder line, use a 1:1 current balun just outside the house and use a short run of coaxial cable to your rig or tuner. ...

2:1 SWR, 32 ft. Long Radials

We have found this alternate procedure usually solves 40m SWR issues for most of our customers: Before starting, mark the starting locations of the tubes and trap covers so that you can restore the lengths if necessary. Shorten the tubing adjust...

Definition and Usage

The UNUN is a "UN balanced to UN balanced" matching transformer. It is used for non-resonant vertical antennas like our 43 foot or 33 foot models. ...

Explanation

Snow and ice build-up can shift the SWR curve of an antenna to a lower frequency. It is relatively rare in most parts of the country, so it isn't something that many of us need to worry about. The snow or ice clinging to the radiator is behavin...

View or Download Instructions Sheets

When instructions are available online, you can find them on the part detail page. On Our Web Site Find the part you want. Click on it to see the part details. Click on the "Documentation" tab Click the blue document title to view the ...

Our Service, Testing, and Repair Program

We offer complete service, testing, and repair of the following brand products: DX Engineering COMTEK Rig Expert Analyzer   How do I get started? Ship your product (prepaid) to: DX Engineering ATTN: Repair Department 3800 Mogadore I...