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Mounting Pipe
Use a customer supplied thick-walled galvanized steel mounting pipe
at
least
4 feet long. This will allow approximately 2 feet or more to be
below ground and approximately 2 feet above ground. A thick-walled
steel pipe 1-3/4" OD to 2" OD
maximum
is required with a minimum
thickness of 1/8" (1/4" preferred) should be used. The standard 1-1/2"
galvanized water pipe (with its 1.9" OD) is just fine for this application
and can usually be found at your local home building supply store. For
permanent mounting, use a post-hole digger to make the hole deep
enough to accommodate 2 feet of pipe and a couple inches of gravel at
the bottom 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
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 may help overcome unknown
poor-soil conditions, improve efficiency, and ensure the best performance possible
from the vertical antenna. Longer radials should be used for improved performance
on the lowest frequency to be used if your plans call for 60 or more radials.
DXE-
RADW
Radial Wire, a stranded 14 gauge copper wire with a black relaxed PVC
insulation 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.
