Guying
This vertical is freestanding so no guys are normally needed in most areas. If the antenna is
subjected to constant high winds you should consider guying it however. At least two sets of guys
are appropriate in areas where the winds are consistently above 30 miles per hour or under
conditions of repeated ice loading. It is recommended when very high winds and storms threaten
the vertical be folded down for safety if no guys are used.
We have guy collars in different sizes to use with this vertical. Please call us for price and
size. Our contact information is available on our web site at
http://www.zerofiveantennas.com/.
Radials are required
Your ground radial system is the most important part of vertical antenna performance. When
installing ground-mounted radials use radial lengths between 20 and 43 feet, with 43 foot being
the choice for best performance. If you have to use shorter length radials, put more down. A good
place to start is a minimum of 32 with 120 being the best. When choosing radial wire, #14
insulated stranded wire should be used. You can buy it at Home Depot or most local hardware
stores. When installing radials on a ground-mounted vertical, they do not have to be cut to
resonance. Only when using elevated radials isolated from ground do the radials need to be cut
to length for the various bands. A radial plate should be used and all connections soldered and
coated with liquid electrical tape. These are just some guidelines. Just get as many radials down
as you can, each as long as you can make it.
NOTE: When using a radial plate with a bulkhead connector,
do not use the bulkhead
connector!
Run the coax directly to the matching transformer. Experience has shown that the
bulkhead connector is a potential failure point in installations that use power levels near the full
legal amateur limit especially when exposed to outside weather conditions. If you feel you must
use a bulkhead connector on the radial plate then take extra precautions to properly weatherproof
the joints. If you experience a problem with the antenna and you are using a bulkhead connector
on the radial plate please be sure to check it BEFORE you call us with questions. Bad or
corroded bulkhead connectors are our leading cause of problems in high power situations.
RADIAL PLATE
We stock radial plates and related hardware to make your installation as effective as possible.
Please call us for pricing
.
COAX CHOICE
A good low loss coax should be used with this vertical. For runs up to 150 feet, Bury flex or LMR
400 works great. For longer runs or near-legal-limit operation use LMR 600 or ½ inch heliax.
Please remember that this antenna system is NOT resonant on any of the amateur bands. As a
result, the feed line is operating at a slightly higher than normal SWR most of the time.
If you have to bury the coax cable, make sure the jacket material is rated for direct burial.
Otherwise, you might be able to use an old garden hose to burry the coax. Simply run the coax
cable inside the hose then bury the hose.
A remote tuner or a matching transformer, what should I use?
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