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- 10  - 

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. 
 
Included with the 

DXE-ATSA-1

 is one 500 foot roll of radial wire, a 14 gauge stranded copper with 

a black relaxed PVC insulation wire. At a minimum, 20 radials, each 25 feet long, should be used 
with this antenna. Using extra radials may 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 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 

DXE-ATSA-1

 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. 
Refer to

 Figure 11

.  

 
Radial wires can be laid on the roots of the grass using the 
included

 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                                     

 Figure 11

 

overgrow the radials and it will be virtually impossible to see them.  
 
An article describing this process is available on 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.  

 
 
Attaching Ground Radial Wires to the DXE-ATSA-1 Shelf 

 
Using the included 500 foot spool of radial wire, cut 20 wires at 25 feet each. Strip off insulation at 
one end of each wire and install and crimp one #10 Ring Terminal as shown in 

Figure 12

. As an 

option, the ring terminals may also be soldered to help ensure positive electrical connection and 
long life. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Figure 12 

Summary of Contents for DXE-ATSA-1

Page 1: ...SA 1 DXE ATSA 1 INS Revision 0d DXE ATSA 1 shown with optional DXE SA80 AOK DX Engineering 2017 1200 Southeast Ave Tallmadge OH 44278 USA Phone 800 777 0703 Tech Support and International 330 572 3200 Fax 330 572 3279 E mail DXEngineering DXEngineering com ...

Page 2: ... your shack is on the main floor basement or any other location as long as you can run any size coax to the RTU located outside There are no extra control lines necessary since the RTU is completely self contained and even the power necessary to run it is carried by the coax There is no coax loss due to high SWR since the RTU will automatically match your coax to the antenna at any HF frequency wi...

Page 3: ...sion 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 Assembly Steps The DXE ATSA 1 Auto Tuned Multi Band HF Stealth Antenna System is assembled in the following steps Installing Ground Spikes and Antenna Insulator on S...

Page 4: ...1 10 24 Stainless Steel Nyloc Hex Nut 1 MatchBoxx mounting to shelf 4 10 24 Stainless Steel Nyloc Hex Nut 4 10 24 Stainless Steel Hex Nut 12 10 Stainless Steel Thin Flat Washer 1 10 Stainless Steel External Tooth Star Washer for GND wire attachment External Connections to MatchBoxx Installed on MatchBoxx 3 10 24 Stainless Steel Wing Nut 3 10 Stainless Steel Split Washer 9 10 Stainless Steel Flat W...

Page 5: ... TES 2155 3M Temflex 2155 Rubber Splicing Tape 1 TES 06132 Scotch Super 33 Vinyl Electrical Tape Shelf The shelf is the mounting platform for all of the parts Figure 1 is the top view of the DX Engineering custom laser cut stainless steel mounting shelf with integral radial wire connection points and shows all the holes with a reference for what will be installed in them Figure 1 Shelf Top View ...

Page 6: ...ver The spikes point downward The external tooth washer is installed between the bottom of the shelf and the top of the spike to ensure a good RF connection Figure 2 Spike Mounting Mount the patented wire antenna serpentine insulator to the shelf using one hex bolt flat washer and Nyloc hex nut using a 5 16 and 3 8 nut driver as shown in Figure 3 The other 2 insulators in this hardware pack are us...

Page 7: ...Boxx as shown in Figure 4 Tighten securely but do not over tighten Figure 4 Install the MatchBoxx through the bottom of the shelf and install the flat washer and Nyloc nut using a 3 8 nut driver as shown in Figure 5 Figure 5 Installing MFJ 927 Tuner to Shelf Install the included right angle UHF adapter firmly onto the SO 239 connector labeled TRANSMITTER in the direction as shown in Figure 6 Figur...

Page 8: ... GND connector on the MatchBoxx to the hex bolt used on the MatchBoxx This wire connects the MatchBoxx to the shelf ground as shown in Figure 8 Remove the existing Nyloc hex nut and flat washer Install an external tooth washer then one end of the 3 1 2 wire the flat washer and Nyloc hex nut Do not tighten If the ring terminal is allowed to move it will make connecting the other end of the 3 1 2 wi...

Page 9: ...k washer and wing nut Tighten the wing nut firmly Do not over tighten Pliers are not needed Loosen the red binding post on the MFJ 927 tuner by turning it counter clockwise There is a small hole in the binding post s center that the TUNER wire gets inserted Insert the wire so it goes completely through the binding post but not far enough to have the wire insulation interfere with the post Once in ...

Page 10: ...upplied ground rod which is installed near the DXE ATSA 1 and connected to the DXE ATSA 1 at one of the radial wire connection points will help provide a good RF ground Refer to Figure 17 for examples of installation sites Coaxial Cable Installation The customer supplied coaxial cable should be run from the operating position radio room to the base of the DXE ATSA 1 Ideally the coaxial cable is bu...

Page 11: ...aced 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 Refer to Figure 11 Radial wires can be laid on the roots of the grass using the included DXE STPL Radial Wire Anchor Pins to hold them down Using enough staples will ensure the wires will not be snagged...

Page 12: ...ers If your installation will not allow a 45 foot length the wire may be cut to 26 feet which will allow you to tune on 40 through 10 meters Weave the soldered terminal on the wire antenna element through the serpentine insulator installed on the DXE ATSA 1 shelf allowing enough slack to connect it to the MatchBoxx wing nut titled ANT as shown in Figure 14 On the MatchBoxx ANT terminal remove the ...

Page 13: ...ugh the end insulator especially the side where the antenna wire is coming from There is a dip or cupped out area to assist in a smooth wire transition point It is not necessary to loop wrap or solder the wire end The serpentine insulator will grip the wire Antenna Element Wire Figure 15 Attaching Support Rope to the End Insulators The included DX Engineering Double braided Polyester Rope SYN DBR ...

Page 14: ... element Connect the antenna element from the DXE ATSA 1 to a tree Connect the antenna element from the DXE ATSA 1 to a tree then to another tree Connect the antenna element from the DXE ATSA 1 to a roof eve then to a tree Patented Serpentine Insulators ...

Page 15: ...dio room is connected to the MFJ tuner SO 239 labeled TRANSMITTER using the right angle UHF adapter included as shown in Figure 19 Figure 19 Using the MFJ 927 Auto Tuner When using the tuner refer to the MFJ 927 manual for details If you try tuning and it seems that the tuner will not tune up as it should try band switching Band switching for this means going up or down one band re tune and then g...

Page 16: ... Bias T There is also troubleshooting information and tuner reset information that may be very helpful Removing the Tuner To access the inside of the MFJ 927 tuner it will have to removed from the shelf Remove your coaxial cable from the right angle UHF adapter and remove the wire going from the tuner s red binding post to the MatchBoxx Remove the four hex head bolts holding the tuner on the shelf...

Page 17: ...ting hole used to mount the DXE SA80 AOK Remove the existing radial wire and hardware Move the removed radial wire to the next radial mounting hole and connect it there double up on one radial mounting hole Mount the insulated coil mounting bracket to the L bracket on the coil assembly using the hex head bolt two flat washers star washer and Nyloc nut as shown in Figure 21 Figure 21 Install the co...

Page 18: ...ing Optional Items DXE SA80 AOK 80 Meter Coil Add On Kit The 80 meter coil add on kit is custom designed for use with the DXE ATSA antenna system In some ATSA antenna installations with excellent radial systems achieving the best SWR on a vertical element for 80 or 40 meters may be difficult without some means of adjusting feedpoint impedance The DXE SA80 AOK allows easy adjustment for lowest SWR ...

Page 19: ... recommended for softer aluminum tubing or pipe Ideal for clamping to a steel pipe or ground rod Used to clamp 1 2 to 3 4 OD steel tubing pipe or rod Designed for attachments that don t require resistance to torque U bolt and V saddle made from high strength 18 8 stainless steel The use of an anti seize compound is HIGHLY recommended to achieve proper torque and prevent galling DXE TCB05 RT01 Brai...

Page 20: ...anties shall not extend to any products or parts thereof which have been subjected to any misuse or neglect damaged by accident rendered defective by reason of improper installation damaged from severe weather including floods or abnormal environmental conditions such as prolonged exposure to corrosives or power surges or by the performance of repairs or alterations outside of our plant and shall ...

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