DX Engineering DXE-BFS-1, Manual

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Performance Factors
For an effective Beverage antenna, you will need at least 3/8 wavelength of wire. Acceptable wire
types include galvanized or cadmium-plated steel electric fence wiring, stranded or solid copper
wire, and steel-core wires like copperweld. Avoid wire designed for welding applications. The line
with the best mechanical and electrical characteristics is generally #16 gauge copper clad steel
(copperweld) wire. Aluminum wires will work, but connections and splices are problematic due to
the formation of aluminum oxide.
Critical Installation Information
Transmitting
The DXE-BFS-1 is designed for use in receiving antennas: do not transmit
through the DXE-BFS-1 with more power than the rating of the termination resistor (a 2-watt
resistor is included with the unit). This system will not be damaged by transmissions from
other antennas as long as the
DXE-BFS-1 is more than one half wavelength from the
transmitting antenna and the power is less than 1500 watts.
Grounding To ground the antenna, run a wire from the – terminal of the DXE-BFS-1 to the
ground rod or rods. The antenna system is NOT grounded through the metal case. Feedline
terminals are engineered to be ground independent of the metal housing and whatever that
housing is mounted on.
DO NOT ground the case to the antenna ground, since that will
connect the feedline shield to the antenna system and possibly increase noise or reduce
directivity of the antenna.
Termination
The far end of the antenna must be properly terminated, or the antenna will not
have the best F/B ratio. Failure to terminate the antenna will generally result in a reduction of
S/N ratio as high as 20 dB, depending on noise arrival direction. For best results, use the
termination resistor included in this package.
Antenna Length
The chart below shows relative performance of Beverage antennas based on wire length:
Antenna Performance Based on Length
Antenna Length 160 Meter Band 80 Meter Band 40 Meter Band 20 Meter Band
120 Feet Too Short Marginal Good Good
240 Feet Marginal Good Best Good
360 Feet Fair Best Best Good
480 Feet Good Best Good Good
600 Feet Better Good Good Good - Marginal
720 Feet Best Good Good Marginal