TOOL REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY: screwdriver, 11/32 nut driver or wrench, 7/16” and 1/2” socket or end
wrenches, measuring tape.
1. Assemble the boom using 8-32 screws and locknuts to join sections. ( SEE BOOM LAYOUT PAGE).
ASSEMBLING THE HORIZONTAL ELEMENTS
2. Lay out the elements by “Horizontal” length and position as shown the DIMENSION SHEET. Start with the
reflector (longest) element. Balance it on your finger to find rough center and push on a black button insulator
to about 1/2” off center. Push the element through the hole on the boom and install the second button,
snugging it up into boom. DO NOT BOTHER CENTERING the element at this time and DO NOT INSTALL
the stainless steel shaft retainers yet. It is easier to do it after all the horizontal elements are installed in the
boom.
3. Install the 3/16” rod DRIVEN ELEMENT as you did the reflector. Then continue with the installation of the
DIRECTORS.
Note: the Director Elements do not consistently diminish in length from rear to front, so pay
close attention to length and position.
4. Now begin centering the elements. Use a tape measure to EQUALIZE the amount the element sticking out
on each side of the boom. Once you have all the elements centered, sight down the element tips from the
rear comparing each side. Look for any obvious discrepancies and correct if found.
5. Stainless steel SHAFT RETAINERS lock the elements in place. They should always be used for permanent
and long term antenna installations. For portable or temporary use, the button insulators are adequate for
holding the elements and the retainers may be left off.
To install the stainless steel SHAFT RETAINERS, use thumb and forefinger to hold the retainer over the end
of the PUSH TUBE ( 3/8" x 3" tube, supplied in the kit), internal fingers on retainer dished into tube. HOLD
THE ELEMENT FIRMLY TO PREVENT IT FROM SLIDING OFF CENTER and press the retainer onto the
element end and continue until retainer butts on insulator button. Locking pliers,
lightly
clamped up against
opposite button insulator will help maintain center reference (if you push the first retainer too far, remove
element from boom, push retainer completely off
the element, and start over). Install another
retainer to the opposite side of the element.
Continue installing retainers until all elements
are secured.
6. Mount the
HORIZONTAL
DRIVEN ELEMENT
ROD ASSEMBLY to the
TOP
of the boom using
a single 8-32 X 1-1/4" screw (SEE PICTURE).
7. Install the 8-32 x 1/4” set screws (internal Allen
head - tool supplied) into the SHORTING BARS.
Slide the bars onto the Driven Element Block
Rods and the 3/16" driven element rods.
Position the Shorting Bars as shown on
dimension sheet.
ASSEMBLING THE VERTICAL ELEMENTS
Note: The vertical element set is shifted forward on the boom by 1/4 wave lengths. This increases isolation
between element planes, improving circularity and ease of phasing / matching the two element sets.
8. Repeat steps #2 through #5 for the Vertical elements, using the Dimension Sheet as your guide to lengths
and spacing.
INSTALLATION OF THE VERTICAL DRIVEN ELEMENT BLOCK DETERMINES THE CIRCULARITY OF
THIS ANTENNA. THE ORIENTATION OF THE BLOCK FOR RHC - RIGHT HAND CIRCULARITY, IS
SHOWN ON THE DIMENSION SHEET.
9. Viewed from the rear of the boom (rearmost Reflector HORIZONTAL), the VERTICAL Driven Element Block
mounts to the LEFT hand side of the boom with the two Balun connectors oriented to the REAR. Secure with
8-32 x 1-1/4” screw. Install the Shorting Bars as in step #7.
370CP38 ASSEMBLY MANUAL
