DX Engineering EZ-Build DXE-UWA-KIT User manual

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EZ-Build®Universal Wire

Antenna Hardware Kits

DXE-UWA-KIT

DXE-UWA8X-KIT

DXE-UWA213-KIT

DXE-UWA-KIT-INS Rev 6

No Soldering

Required

DXE-UWA-KIT DXE-UWA8X-KIT

Shown with optional parts Shown with optional parts

1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA

Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200

Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: [email protected]

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Introduction

EZ-BUILD®Universal Wire Antenna Kits offer an easy, high quality route to building your own

design wire antennas.

The kits are lightweight yet rugged in design that will allow construction of single band resonant

dipoles, folded dipoles or any center or off-center fed wire antenna you select. If fed with ladder

line, it is usable with a tuner for multi-band operation on all the HF bands. It’s ideal for portable or

tactical use, and permits you to build antennas which can be easily installed in attics, small lots or

Covenant Condition Restricted (CCR) locations.

The Universal Wire Antenna Center Support and End Insulators are made of light weight, high

strength UV-protected material. The Center-T is designed to serve as a feedpoint and strain relief

for antennas made with either wire or ladder line, which may be fed with either ladder line or

coaxial cable. They feature an exclusive serpentine wire grip for insulated DX Engineering Antenna

Wire and high strength, high power 300 Ω Ladder Line. The serpentine connection’s grip is strong

enough to permanently support the antenna wires without the need for looping or wrapping the wire

ends. This allows fast and easy field adjustments of antenna length without soldering. Each kit also

includes crimp-on ring terminals for ladder line and antenna wire and connection hardware. The DX

Engineering DXE-UWA8X and DXE-UWA213 kits include a strain relief bracket and P-Clamps

with neoprene cushions that grip the coaxial cable without deforming it, taking the weight of the

hanging cable off of the connector.

The ladder line feed configuration can be used successfully with the balun incorporated in most

high quality antenna tuners to obtain a low SWR across the entire frequency range. Using a DX

Engineering external current balun may provide better performance and permits converting to

coaxial cable prior to entering the operating position which will reduce RFI. DX Engineering

Baluns, Antenna Wire, 300 Ω Ladder Line and Support Rope are optional items that are available to

make a complete antenna package.

Refer to the end of this assembly manual for information on construction of a few simple dipole

antennas using these kits. For more complete antenna theory and for construction of the many

different types of wire antennas possible with the DX Engineering EZ-BUILD®Universal

Wire Antenna Kits, refer to textbook materials such as the "ARRL Antenna Book" which is also

available from DX Engineering.

Optional Parts Shown

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You have purchased one of the following DX Engineering Universal Wire Antenna Kits:

DXE-UWA-KIT: EZ-BUILD®Center-T and End Insulators and hardware for wire and

ladder line antennas or for feedpoint-mounted DX Engineering Baluns.

Qty

Description

Center-T

End Insulator

10-24 x 3/4” Stainless Steel Carriage Bolt

#10 Stainless Steel Flat Washer

#10 Stainless Steel Split Washer

#10 Star Washer

10-24 Stainless Steel Hex Nut

10-24 x 5/8 “ Stainless Steel Hex Head Bolt

Ring Terminal 18-22

Ring Terminal 14-16

DXE-UWA8X-KIT: EZ-BUILD®Center-T and End Insulators, Medium/Low Power

connector assembly with SO-239 for PL-259 feedline, plus coaxial cable strain relief bracket,

clamps and hardware. The DXE-UWA8X-KIT will handle low and medium power levels

and tolerate medium SWR levels.

DXE-UWA213-KIT: This is a special high power model of DX Engineering’s EZ-BUILD®

versatile insulator kit for building a wire antenna of almost any design. It includes a

completely unique coaxial cable connector and feedline strain relief system. When using a

high power amplifier or high duty cycle modes of operation such as AM, RTTY or FM, this

kit should be used. It will handle higher power levels and tolerate higher SWR levels than

the DXE-UWA8X-KIT.

Qty

Description

Cable Strain Relief Bracket

#10 Star Washer

10-24 Stainless Steel Nyloc Nut

10-24 x 1” Hex Head Stainless Steel Bolt

10-24 x 5/8” Stainless Steel Carriage Bolt

Aluminum Spacer

UHF Female to Female Adapter, 1”

2 *

Cushioned Loop P-Clamp 1 Large, 1 Small

1 **

Pigtail with Ring Terminals installed

Plus all the parts listed in the DXE-UWA-KIT

* P-Clamp size is smaller for the 8X-KIT than the 213-KIT

** The pigtail for the DXE-UWA8X-KIT uses RG-8X coaxial cable

The pigtail for the DXE-UWA213-KIT uses RG-213 coaxial cable

Tools Required

3/8” Wrench, Pliers, 3/8” Socket and Drive or 3/8” Nut Driver, and Wire Stripper

11/32" Wrench and Phillips Head Screwdriver - Used for mounting a balun to the Center-T

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Note: JTL-12555 Jet-Lube SS-30 Anti-Seize is recommended to be used on all clamps, bolts and

stainless steel threaded hardware to prevent galling and to ensure proper tightening.

Basic Assembly

Assembling the Center-T Support

This initial assembly is common to all models.

Holding the Center-T, insert a 3/4” Carriage Bolt through the hole shown in Figure 1. The head of

the carriage bolt will be on the same side as the “DXENGINEERING.COM”. This is done so the

element wires (dipole legs) will be routed though the wire restraining holes correctly.

Figure 1 - Carriage Bolt Installation

Holding the carriage bolt in place, turn the Center-T over and install a flat washer, hand tighten the

10-24 hex nut in place. Using a 3/8” wrench tighten the hex nut. As you tighten the nut, the

carriage bolt will draw itself into the support. Tighten the nut until the carriage bolt head is flush to

the support as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 -

First Carriage Bolt Flush

Install the second 3/4” carriage bolt, washer and nut using the same sequence as above.

Figure 3 –Second Carriage

Bolt Installed

If you are feeding your antenna with Ladder Line, skip the Coaxial Strain Relief Assembly,

Pigtail Installation, Weatherproofing and P-Clamp Strain Relief instructions and go to page 8.

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If you purchased the DXE-UWA-KIT and would like to add the coax strain relief, order DXE-

CSR8X-1 for RG-8X, or DXE-CSR213-1 for RG-213 from DX Engineering.

Coaxial Cable Strain Relief Bracket Assembly

Both the DXE-UWA8X-KIT and DXE-UWA213-KIT contain the parts found in the DXE-UWA-

KIT, (minus the #8 hardware) plus a cable/connector pigtail and cable strain relief. The pigtail for

the 8X-KIT uses RG-8X coaxial cable. The pigtail for the 213-KIT uses RG-213 coaxial cable.

Place the 5/8” carriage bolt through the hole in the bottom of the Center-T assembly as shown in

Figure 4. To fully seat the carriage bolt, use a flat washer and hex nut. Hand tighten the nut in

place and then use a 3/8” wrench tighten the hex nut. As you tighten the nut, the carriage bolt will

draw itself into the support. Tighten the nut until the carriage bolt head is flush to the Center-T.

Figure 4 - Bottom Hole - Carriage Bolt Installed

Remove the nut and washer that were used to fully seat the carriage bolt. Install the star washer

followed by the Cable Strain Relief Bracket, then a Nyloc nut onto the carriage bolt (Figure 5).

Securely tighten the Nyloc nut using a 3/8” wrench or 3/8” nut driver.

Figure 5 - Strain Relief

Bracket Installation

Pigtail Installation

Firmly attach the UHF Female to Female Adapter to the Coaxial Cable Pigtail. Place the pigtail

terminal lugs over the bolts in the Center-T (Figure 6). Use hex nuts to temporarily hold the pigtail

in place on the carriage bolts. Later, when you add the antenna wire, additional hardware will be

added as needed and then tightened.

Figure 6 - Pigtail Installed

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Weatherproofing the Connectors

Firmly attach your coaxial cable to the other end of the UHF Female to Female Adapter. If you

choose to connect your cable after complete assembly, it will be more difficult to wrap the

connectors. The PL-259s & UHF Female to Female Adapter should be weatherproofed using

Temflex Rubber Splicing Tape which is a conformable self-fusing rubber electrical insulating tape.

For outdoor use, the Rubber Splicing Tape should be protected from UV deterioration with an

overwrap of Scotch 33+, a highly conformable super stretchy tape for all weather applications.

Peel back the protective covering.

Tightly wrap the Temflex.

When wrapping, stretch the rubber

splicing tape up to twice its normal length.

Wrap tightly around the coaxial cable and

connectors - overlap each wind of the

tape by about 50%.

Use the Scotch 33+ as an

overwrap to give the assembly

UV protection. Cover the

Temflex Splicing

Tape completely.

P-Clamp Strain Relief Assembly

Loop the cable through the P-clamps and form approximately a 6” diameter loop

of cable. Mount the P-clamps on both sides of the bracket (larger on left, smaller

on right) using the hardware (1” bolt, 1/4” spacer, 3 star washers, and Nyloc nut)

as shown in Figure 7. The larger P-clamp acts as a guide and the smaller P-

clamp which is tight around the coaxial cable is the strain relief. Using pliers will

help hold the clamps and parts together while you get the Nyloc nut started.

Figure 7 –P Clamps

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Ensure the coaxial cable going through the P-clamps is properly aligned and has the coaxial cable

loop as shown in Figure 8.

Tighten all the parts holding the P-clamps and coaxial cable in place.

Bottom View Top View

Figure 8 –Center-T with Strain Relief Assembly& Coaxial Cable Attached

Figure 9 –Dipole Wire Leg Installed on Center-T

Attaching Dipole Wire to the End Insulators

The end of each dipole leg wire is woven through an end insulator as shown in Figure 10 Note the

way the wire is woven through the End Insulator, especially the side where the antenna wire (dipole

leg) is coming from. There is a dip or cupped out area to assist in a smooth wire transition point.

Both of the dipole leg ends should be measured and cut longer than necessary so final length

adjustments may be made by sliding the wire and then pulling it tight again. Excess can be wrapped

back toward the Center-T. Once tuning is completed at low power, and the dipole leg wires are cut

to the length you want them, the dipole leg wires should look like the bottom picture in Figure 10.

Wrapping and soldering is not required.

Dipole Wire to Center-T

Figure 10 - Dipole Wire & End Insulator

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Attaching Rope to the End Insulators

UV protected rope should be secured to the Center-T and/or the End Insulators (depending on your

installation) using a non-slip knot. The rope hole (diameter) on the Center-T is 0.371" and the end

insulators are 0.34". One suggestion for attaching the rope is shown in Figure 11. The ends of the

rope should be cauterized with a small flame to prevent the rope braid from fraying.

Figure 11 –Non-Slip Knot using UV protected Rope

Ladder Line Fed Antennas

Attaching the Ladder Line Feedline to the Center-T

The Ladder Line Feedline is woven through the two slots on the Center-T. Once inserted, strip the

ends of the wires to allow installation of the Ring Terminals and attach to the Center-T bolts as

shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12 –Ladder Line Attached to the Center-T

Attaching the Dipole Wire Legs to the Center-T

Strip the center ends of your antenna wires, and crimp the Ring Terminals to each. The ring

terminals may be soldered for longer lasting electrical connection, but soldering is not required for

normal operations. This center end of your dipole wire is then woven through the three slots on the

Center-T. The three slots are designed to grip the DX Engineering DXE-ANTW antenna wire

firmly when pulled tight. There is a small cupped out area in the first (outside) slot that allows a

smooth transition for the wire as it enters the Center-T (Figure 13). Once inserted, attach the ring

terminals to the Center-T bolts as shown in Figure 12 leaving a bit of slack for strain relief. Once

all the terminals and hardware are installed, firmly tighten using the 3/8" wrench or nut driver.

Figure 13 –Cupped Area on Center-T for Dipole Wire Leg

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Antenna Installation

Safety Considerations

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.

Overhead Power Line Safety

Before you begin working, check carefully for overhead power lines in the area you will be

working. Don't assume that wires are telephone or cable lines: check with your electric utility

for advice.

Although overhead power lines may appear to be insulated, often these coverings are intended only

to protect metal wires from weather conditions and may not protect you from electric shock

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.

Mounting Considerations

When planning the location of your antenna, consideration should be given to the height, location of

suitable support structures and feedline positioning and length.

Generally speaking, dipole antennas should be mounted as high as possible for best performance.

Antenna height will affect the exact resonance point, radiation pattern, and takeoff angle. The

higher the antenna, the lower the takeoff angle to the horizon, which increases the effective range of

the antenna.

For DX, the minimum height above ground should be 1/2 to 1-wavelength at the lowest operating

frequency. On the low bands, this height becomes impractical for most hams. For example, an 80m

dipole at 70 feet is about 1/4-wavelength above the ground. This antenna would be good for local

and short distance communications, but not optimal for DX, due to the high takeoff angle and

ground absorption. A 40 Meter dipole at 70 feet is approximately 1/2-wavelength high and is likely

to be good for DX and less optimal for local or short range communications. For more information

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on antenna design, feedline and radiation angles, consult a reliable text such as the "ARRL Antenna

Book" which is available from DX Engineering.

Support Line

The Center-T’s top hole is used for the attachment of a UV protected messenger rope line that is

used to provide support for the antenna wire and feedline. The use of the messenger line, which is

strongly recommended when a DX Engineering balun is attached, will reduce the stress on the

element wires and keep the antenna from stretching over time, which will change its resonant

frequency.

When using trees for support, you may want to use counter weights that will allow the rope to move

when the trees sway in the breeze to avoid stretching or breaking your dipole. For more hints,

consult a reliable text such as the "ARRL Antenna Book" which is available from DX Engineering.

Ideally, the messenger line should attach to the same structure used for the dipole, only above it,

forming at least a 30 degree angle between the dipole and the messenger line to support the antenna.

See Figure 14.

Figure 14 –Flat Dipole Installation using a Messenger Line

UV protected rope is used for the messenger line by forming a loop at the mid-point of the rope.

Push the loop through the Center-T top hole, and pull the rest of the rope through the loop. See

Figure 15.

Figure 15 –UV protected Rope Loop for Messenger Line

The excess rope can be used to attach the antenna end insulators to the support structures. Use the

same structures used by the messenger line if possible. The ends of the rope should be cauterized

with a small flame to prevent the rope braid from fraying.

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