DX Engineering DXE-VA-PIVOT-3 User manual
DX Engineering
Heavy Duty Pivot
Base for Three Inch
Base Section
Vertical Antennas
DXE-VA-PIVOT-3
US Patent No. 8,130,168
DXE-VA-PIVOT-3-INS Revision 0b
Shown with optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate and
Optional DXE-VGMT-3CG Mounting Pipe
© DX Engineering 2019
1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA
Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200
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Introduction
Congratulations on obtaining your DX Engineering Three Inch Base Pivot Assembly DXE-VA-
Pivot-3. Now you can have a high-performance pivot base for a vertical antenna with a three inch
base section. This is the same rugged pivot base assembly used on the DXE-8040VA-1 fifty-five
foot tall dual-band vertical antenna.
Features
High Strength Pivoting Fixture - US Patent No. 8,130,168
Ultra-rugged construction for vertical antennas starting with a 3 inch OD heavy wall tubing
Massive Extren® channel insulator
Laser-cut high strength Stainless Steel brackets
All Stainless Steel Hardware
The optional DXE-VRW-1 Manual Winch for easy one-person raising and lowering of your
vertical antenna is available from DX Engineering. You can move the DXE-VRW-1 winch
between similar antennas in a multi-antenna installation.
This heavy duty pivot base system requires the installation of a heavy duty mounting pipe set in
concrete. Specifically, 3" OD (max) high strength galvanized steel tubing with 0.250” minimum
wall thickness and 7’ minimum length, which is available from DX Engineering; part number DXE-
VGMT-3CG. A customer supplied 2-1/2" Schedule 80 pipe that has an outside diameter of 2.875"
is also suitable. Thirty six inches of the mounting pipe should extend above ground level. Depth of
the mounting hole and amount of concrete is dependent on local soil type, condition and
antenna guying.
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. Keep your distance! Remember the 10-foot rule: When carrying and using ladders and other
long tools, keep them at least 10 feet away from all overhead lines - including any lines from the
power pole to your home.
- 2 -
Tools Required
Two 9/16" wrenches, (one of them should be open-end)
One 7/16" open end wrench
Two 3/4" wrenches
Manual Updates and Information
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.
Please - Take the time to read the entire manual before you start assembly. There are plenty of
pictures and drawings to see, and if you read the entire manual first, you'll get a better feel for the
overall construction methods described. Assembly is not difficult, but there are a number of parts
that must go together in a certain sequence to make assembly easier.
Installation Sequence
1. Site Selection
2. Mounting Pipe
3. Coaxial Cable to Mounting Pipe
4. Radial System Suggestions
5. Pivot Base Assembly (US Patent No. 8,130,168)
6. Mounting Pivot Base to Mounting Pipe
7. Optional DXE-VRW-1 Manual Winch installation and use
Site Selection
Select a mounting location clear from power lines, structures and other antennas by a minimum of
your antenna height plus 10 feet (10 ft. safety rule). Consider overhead power lines, utility cables
and wires. The further away your vertical antenna is mounted from local noise sources or other
metallic objects, which can re-radiate noise and affect the tuning, radiation pattern and SWR, the
better. Determine the direction you want the antenna to pivot and make sure there is adequate
clearance.
- 3 -
Mounting Pipe
DX Engineering has a 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. Wall, 7 ft. Length,
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. Make the hole deep enough to
accommodate at least 4 feet of pipe and 4 to 6 inches of
gravel at the bottom for drainage. Set the mounting pipe on
the gravel, use the concrete to fill around the pipe per the
concrete instructions. Fill the hole until the concrete is
level with the ground around it. Use a level on the
mounting pipe as you fill the hole to be sure the mounting
pipe is vertically straight.
Your location, landscape and ground conditions may
require different mounting solutions in order to have the
steel mounting pipe and the vertical antenna in a secure
position.
Note: Galvanized steel, rather than aluminum, is
much more suitable for mounting in concrete.
Aluminum will quickly corrode due to
incompatibility with the materials used to make
concrete.
Coaxial Cable to Mounting Pipe
The coaxial cable should be routed to the base of the antenna system and be buried below the radial
system. PVC Conduit pipe may be used to house the coaxial cable. Bury the cable 6" to 12" below
ground level.
- 4 -
Radial System Suggestions
The use of a radial system is a key requirement for a high performance quarter wave vertical
antenna systems. With a vertical antenna system, the radials are the
second half of the antenna. The radials contribute to the radiation
efficiency of the entire vertical antenna system.
At a minimum, 32 radials, each 65 feet long, should be used with
most low band vertical antennas. DXE-RADW Radial Wire, a 14
gauge stranded copper with a black relaxed PVC insulation wire is
suggested for the best results.
The wire radials should placed as symmetrically as possible straight
from the feedpoint around the vertical antenna and spaced evenly,
regardless of how many radials are used. Do not cross or bunch any
radial wires as this nullifies their effectiveness. If you have limited space, put in as many straight
radials as you can. The radials must be connected to the shield of your feedline. The DXE-RADP-3
Stainless Steel Radial Plate is an ideal optional item which provides an excellent system for
attaching radial wires to your vertical antenna system feedpoint.
Radial wires can be laid on the roots of the grass using DXE-STPL Radial Wire Anchor Pins to
hold them down. Using enough staples will ensure the wires will not be snagged by mowers,
people, or animals. 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.
Note: PTX-81343 Never-Seez® or DXE-NSBT8 Anti-Seize must be used on all stainless steel
threaded hardware to prevent galling and to ensure proper tightening.
Note: The following assembly instructions are based on using an optional DXE-
VGMT-3GC Mounting Pipe, with the optional DXE-VRW-1 Manual Winch,
optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate with one optional DXE-SSVC-3P V
Clamp and the optional DXE-363-SST - Bulkhead Fitting.
- 5 -
Radial Plate to Mounting Pipe
Place the optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate over the 2.895" OD mounting pipe. Connections to
the antenna will be made via the optional DXE-363-SST bulkhead fitting SO-239 socket connector.
The DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate comes with 20 sets of stainless steel hardware for mounting the
radial wires. It is suggested that 32 radial each 65 feet long be used, therefore additional DXE-
RADP-1HWK Radial Plate Wire Attachment Hardware Kits will be required.
Optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate Mounted to a 3" OD Mounting Pipe
Attaching Ground Radial Wires to the Optional Radial Plate
Using the 20 sets of supplied 1/4" stainless steel hardware (Bolt, Star Washer, Flat Washer, Split
Washer, Nut) connect the optional ground radial wires to the DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate as shown
below. 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. The DXE-RADW-1000K/BD Radial Wire Kit contains
a 1,000 foot spool of 14 gauge copper stranded wire with black PVC insulation, 40 Terminal Lugs
and 200 Steel or Biodegradable Lawn Staples. RADW-20RT, -32RT or -65RT contain 20 each
radial wires with 1/4" terminal attached. These kits come in 20 Ft, 32 Ft or 65 Ft lengths.
Depending on the number of radial wires used, space them out evenly around the Radial Plate. The
Radial Plate will accommodate up to 60 radial wires (60 laser drilled holes), or up to 120 radials if
doubled up.
- 6 -
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.
The 3” Mounting Pipe
and 3” Antenna Base
Section are Customer
Supplied.
Feedpoint hardware shown for
reference
- 7 -
Pivot Base and Lower Antenna Assembly
1. Locate the heavy duty Extren® insulated channel.
There are 12 holes drilled in the insulated channel.
The top of the insulated channel is identified by two
holes located very near the top side.
2. Locate the stainless steel bottom hinge 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 bottom hinge to the
bottom of the heavy duty insulated channel as shown below.
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.
- 8 -
4. Locate the stainless steel base side bottom hinge, two 1/2-13 x 1-1/4" long stainless steel hex
head bolts, two pivot bushings, four 1/2 x 1-1/4" stainless steel flat washers, two 1/2" stainless
steel split lock washers, and two 1/2-13 stainless steel hex nuts. Assemble the base side hinge
plate to the bottom hinge plate as shown below.
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. The V-Bolts will be tightened in a later assembly
step.
- 9 -
6. Locate the stainless steel Pivot Base Winch Mount, two stainless steel Pivot Base Plate
Brackets, four 3/8-16 x 1-1/4" long stainless steel hex bolts, eight stainless steel 3/8" flat
washers, four stainless steel 3/8" split lock washers and four stainless steel 3/8-16 hex nuts.
Assemble the Pivot Base Plate Brackets to the Pivot Base Winch Mount as shown below.
7. Locate four 3/8-16 x 1-1/4" long stainless steel hex bolts, eight stainless steel 3/8" flat washers,
four stainless steel 3/8" split lock washers and four stainless steel 3/8-16 hex nuts. Mount the
Pivot Base Winch Mount assembly to the stainless steel Pivot Base Locking Plate.
Note: These four bolts are removed when using the pivoting function as described later on in
this manual.
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