(c) 2020 DX Commander Limited - Page 6
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– and back down the inside of all this tubing and you can then slide the tubing back down the pole for a
tight fit.
I'm assuming you now have all the elements connected to the Radiating Plate which now have temporary
loops held in place with electrical tape to the shock-cord, again with a temporary knot - but with the
carabiners permanently secured to the end of the shock-cord, clipped to the plastic Spreaders.
Connect the SO239 flying lead from the Ground Plate to the Radiating Plate.
Raise the whole pole vertically and check you have moderate tension on the wires to keep them from
blowing about too much, you can guy off the vertical and connect the rest of the radials.
Check SWR. You can now make as many adjustments as you like before finally making the knot between
the paracord and the shock-cord permanent and finally connecting the paracord to a carabiner.
This nifty SWR adjustment calculator may assist:
https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/quick-swr-calculator-for-vertical-and-dipole-ham-radio-antennas/
Last job will be replacing the electrical tape with permanent glue-lined heat-shrink.
WARNING: Do not rush the build.
A tiny mistake can take a load more time to correct. Take your time,
enjoy the build. Yes, there are some people who have built this inside half a day. But others have taken a
more laid-back approach over a weekend and ended up with a superior build. I am always very fussy when I
build mine. I like to know it all works, connectors are soldered nicely and everything is just "so". You will have
a real sense of achievement when it comes together, particularly when you start hearing DX stations you
have never heard before. It's an amazing design.
I realise this is not an expensive kit. It is what it is, a relatively cheap fibreglass pole and a few connectors -
and as about economical as I can make it. But the end result is really quite remarkable.
Finally, PLEASE check out my YouTube channel. Although I make films on many aspects of the hobby,
there are some gems when it comes to this particular design.
https://www.youtube.com/user/m0mcx
NOTE:
If you are using near salt-water with strong breeze, you may observe ANYTHING can start corroding.
Salt water is VERY corrosive and this kit is not completely
“marine hardened”. To help in this regard,
connectors and other metal parts may be squirted, brushed or have applied a variety of goop: WD40,
Vaseline, silicon grease, WaxOil etc. This will stop oxygen and water getting in.
Your Notes
