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While a large number of Amateurs use variations of a trailer hitch mounts, it is the least advantageous location. 
If you drive a pickup truck there are many mounting locations that will work quite well if the bed of the truck is 
properly bonded using tinned plated braid (strapped) from the frame to the body.  
 
If you drive a van or a motor home, front mounting is preferred. This assures that the loading coil will not be 
shielded by the body of the van which improves performance. Mounting the antenna with the coil exposed next 
to any type of metal will not only detune the antenna, it will kill the signal because of the coupling effect to the 
metal surface. We have experienced that mounting the base of the antenna in the bed of a truck with the 
Stainless tube of the antenna within a few inches of the side rail was not an issue. If the antenna was mounted in 
the bed of the truck and 

the 

exposed coil was within a few inches of the truck’s cab, then there 

would be a coupling issue to avoid.

 

With the antenna in the down position, be sure to have the black cap 

on top of the antenna 12 inches above the cab or metal surface to insure the coil will not be next to a metal 
surface. 

Contrary to popular belief, this mounting location does not increase the level of ignition noise.

 

 

Make sure the top of the antenna is at least 12 inch above the roof line with the antenna in its 
down position so coil coupling is at a minimum!  If you park in a garage try to get the antenna 
as high as possible for door clearance and use a quick disconnect fitting to remove the whip.  

 
Install the Shunt Coil only after you have installed the Antenna on your vehicle. This will keep the coil from 
being damaged when mounting the antenna. If you forget to install the shunt coil you will see a high SWR when 
trying to tune the antenna for a low SWR, especially on the 40 or 80 meter bands. 
  
A ground strap will have to installed between the base of the antenna (using one of the 8 button head bolts at the 
base of the antenna), and the body/frame structure. At a minimum, this should be tinned copper braid, 3/4 
inches wide. The use of solid copper flat stock that is .010 to .030 inch thick and 1 inch wide will actually work 
better due to RF skin effects. 

Remember, an ohm meter continuity check is not a guarantee that you have a good 

RF GROUND! 

 
One of the best things you can do is bond all of the body parts, doors, hood, and trunk to the main body and 
increase the size of the bonding strap from the engine to the frame or body. Bond the muffler system in three 
places by using muffler clamps and bonding straps to the frame. Bond at the “Exhaust pipe next to engine, next 
to the muffler and the tail pipe”! The exhaust system is insulated from the frame because it is hanging on rubber 
grommets. The engine and transmission are insulated from the frame by rubber mounts. Bonding of the vehicle 
parts and muffler system will help to get rid of engine noise, and other types of interference. 
  
DX Engineering carries bonding straps and muffler clamps! If you still have bad radio interference from your 
vehicle, check with your dealer, as they have vehicle interference information for communication radio installs. 
 
It isn’t necessary to sand off all paint and primer when installing bonding straps. Doing so may damage the zinc 
undercoat which can cause connections to rust. The best way to assure a good connection is the liberal use of 
stainless steel star washers and the use NOALOX by IDEAL available at Home Depot or a similar anti-
oxidizing agent. Coat the star washer, end of strap and the bolt with NOALOX to help stop corrosion on all 
bonding  joints. The NOALOX works really well, wait until you try to remove it from your hands! 
 
 

Please remember our SA-680 shorty antenna weighs in at 13 pounds. 

Our SA-680 and our 160 meter antenna weighs in at 18 pounds. 

Our antennas need to have a RIGID MOUNT!

 

Содержание SA- 680

Страница 1: ...Scorpion Installation Manual ...

Страница 2: ...s dense and heavy Our finger stock and coil support housing is polished 6061 T6 Aluminum It houses the tin plated finger stock and a one inch wide phenolic coil support The housing also works as a heat sink during high power operation The finger stock is very expensive special order tin plated Beryllium Copper that maintains 37 pounds of combined pressure on the coil at all times Our antenna coil ...

Страница 3: ... covered under warranty 1 Remove the packing tape from both ends of the shipping tube 2 There are 15 Phillips head wood screws safely holding the antenna in the shipping tube Eight at the bottom of the tube 3 in the middle of the tube and 4 at the top of the tube All were located under the packing tape that you just removed Please remove all of these screws 3 Using two of the removed screws partly...

Страница 4: ...ctions Antenna Installing Tips Your Scorpion antenna is manufactured to an exacting standard utilizing top quality components Its inherent high Q means you ll get the best performance money can buy However any HF mobile antenna is only as good as its installation What follows are a few things to keep in mind when choosing where and how to mount your Scorpion antenna Please go to Breedlove mounts J...

Страница 5: ...ecially on the 40 or 80 meter bands A ground strap will have to installed between the base of the antenna using one of the 8 button head bolts at the base of the antenna and the body frame structure At a minimum this should be tinned copper braid 3 4 inches wide The use of solid copper flat stock that is 010 to 030 inch thick and 1 inch wide will actually work better due to RF skin effects Remembe...

Страница 6: ...radiating part of the antenna By doing so we also help to stop common mode from migrating into the cab of the vehicle This is accomplished by installing the two supplied 31 type clamp on chokes These chokes are ample for 100 watts of power Additional chokes will be needed if higher RF power is used Install one of the two supplied 3 4 inch ID 31 type material clamp type chokes on the coax and one o...

Страница 7: ...e proximity of the RF HOT Stainless tube is not an issue Connection of these wires to the RF HOT Stainless tube or antenna body will transmit either 100 watts or 500 watts if an amp is used into the reed switch with severe RF CURRENT coupling to the Motor IF YOU CONNECT THE BROWN WHITE WIRES TO THE BODY OF THE ANTENNA YOU WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY Installing and Tuning the Antenna Matching Coil Your...

Страница 8: ...ual shunt coil relay is located at the bottom of the enclosure There are two locations on the antenna that you can mount the dual shunt enclosure As seen in the photos the small button head screw above the white Delrin insulator is a 10 32 thread and the button head below the white Delrin insulator is a 20 There are three locations for 10 32 button head screws they are 120 degrees apart from each ...

Страница 9: ... for permanent installations this 1 amp fused connection is required by the customer to be made to a power source other than the accessory socket On the top of the 160 meter antenna control box is the 80 160 meter switch When operating on 80 meters the switch must be switched to the 80 meter position When operating on 160 meters the switch must be switched to the 160 meter position WARNING Do not ...

Страница 10: ...nd Any band higher will require a 6 ft whip Any screwdriver antenna will perform better on the 40 80 or on the 160 meter band with a 102 inch whip Most people do not like a long whip that tall so we recommend using a capacitance hat of at least 36 inches in diameter The capacitance hat has to be installed a minimum of 24 inches above these large coils 36 inches is better still The antennas efficie...

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