DX Engineering DXE-60VA-1P, Instructions Manual

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for drainage. Set the pipe on the gravel, use the pre-mix concrete to fill around the pipe, adding
water and mixing as you fill or mix the concrete first, then pour in the hole. Fill the hole until the
concrete is level with the ground around it. Use a level as you fill the hole to be sure the pipe is
straight. Allow to set overnight. 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.
Radial System
The use of a radial system is a key requirement for a high performance quarter wave vertical
antenna system. 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, 20 radials, each 32 feet long, should be used with this antenna. Using 32 radials at
32 feet long is preferred and highly recommended. The extra radials help overcome unknown poor-
soil conditions, improve bandwidth, and ensure the best performance possible from the vertical
antenna.
DXE-RADW Radial Wire, a 14 gauge stranded copper with black relaxed PVC insulation
wire is suggested for the best results.
The wire radials should placed as symmetrically as possible 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.
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 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.
Assembly
Carefully un-box the antenna and separate the various parts. All of the upper element sections are
72" long. The 2" OD x 36" long base element section is drilled for the feedpoint connection and
does not have a slit end. The 2-1/8" OD section and one of the 1-1/2" OD sections are slit on both
ends. All the other sections are slit on one end. The vinyl cap for the top element section should be
installed after assembly of the vertical is complete.