Colin,
Picture it as an upside down umbrella. The support cords that go from
the tip of each spreader to the top of the center post, pull the
spreaders up like the ribs of an umbrella. Again upside down.
The wire elements are one piece units: Half the driven element for a
particular band, followed by a Kevlar cord spacer, followed by the full
length reflector, followed by another piece of cord, followed by the
second half of the driven element. Each element wire attaches to the
center post, comes out spreader 1 to it's first clip, then circles the
remaining spreaders to spreader 6, where it returns back to the other
lug on the center post for that band. Since there is a third dimension
(height) to this antenna, each lower frequency band element circles the
spreaders not only further out from the center, but also slightly higher
on the bowed up spreaders. The highest band (6 meters in this case)
circles the center just a couple of feet from the center and attaches to
the lowest lugs on the post. The lowest band (20 meters) circles the
spreaders near their bowed up tips, and attaches to the highest lugs on
the center post (maybe 3 feet higher than the 6 meter lugs.
I'm no engineer, and can't swear this is true, but supposedly the fact
that the thing is symmetrical helps in the wind. Also 27 pounds isn't
light when standing on a step ladder with it balanced on your shoulder
and trying to feel for the top of the rotor.
73, Steve KW3A
On 8/23/2014 4:15 AM, Colin McDonald wrote:
> yeah, I just read the instructions in about 5 mins and it was one of the
> best written instruction sheets I've ever read.
> No engineer speak or electro/mecho garble lol.
> Still don't have a full picture in my mind of how the thing looks when fully
> assembled...but like anything else, not too hard to figure out once you have
> all the parts in front of you...it helps that they're all properly cut and
> fitted.
> I'm thinking of a hex beam at my QTH due to very limited lot width and the
> turning radius seems like it would be perfect.
> It can also go at the top of a mast and wouldn't require a tower
> necesarily...though it's quite heavy and does have a pretty significant wind
> load even compared to some 3 or 4 element beams.
> I think my a4s is only rated at 7 square feet of wind load and it's a large
> antenna.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 3:40 PM
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: I've been Hexed
>
>> No witchcraft involved, but just put up a Hex beam to replace the short
>> boom 2 element tri bander. I put it together yesterday and got it up on
>> the mast this morning. Just under 15 feet right now. I don't think I'm
>> going to extend the other section until I have some sighted help to
>> help me get the thing guyed while keeping it vertical.
>>
>> SWR is super on the 5 HF bands, but resonant point is a bit high in the
>> band on 6 meters.
>>
>> This one came from NA4RR, one of the many purveyors of this type of
>> antenna. Parts seem to be good quality and with everything pre
>> measured and pre cut, it's easy enough to put together with your eyes
>> closed (so to speak).
>>
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>
>
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