Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Disassemble the existing antenna array. Drill out or unscrew any pop rivets holding antenna elements to the mast. Organize the elements by length in separate piles. Discard the smaller, crisscrossed elements from the original antenna assembly.
Organize the elements matched by length with one element on each side, perpendicular to the center mast. Place the longest pairing at the top and work down the mast using progressively shorter pairings.
Locate the insulated clamps pulled from the old assembly. Arrange them evenly down the mast, starting with the middle clamp slightly off-center.
Slide the metal elements into the receiving clip ends of the insulated clamps. Cut two 2-inch sections of wire for each pairing except the one at the center of the new array. Strip 1/2 inch from each end of both wires. Crimp a ring terminal to all four ends. Repeat the process for each element pairing as you work down the mast.
Arrange the metal jumpers by centering one ring terminal over the mast ends of each element. The other ring terminals overlap at the center of the insulated clamp, joining the elements. Drive a Phillips self-tapping screw through each ring terminal. Make sure one of these screws is long enough to penetrate into the mast through each clamp.
Screw the coaxial connector from the old assembly directly adjacent to the center array using the self-tapping screws. The coaxial nub should be facing down the mast for later access.
Cut two 3-inch lengths of coaxial cable.
Solder the solid center conductor of the first piece of coax to the center connector, with the braid soldered to the outer shield of the coaxial fitting screwed to the mast.
Strip away one inch of outer insulation at the center of the second section of coax, taking care to avoid nicking the dielectric covering the copper center conductor. Twist the exposed braided shield into two pigtails.
Solder the copper center conductors exposed at the ends of the second piece of coax to the braided shield at the tips. Solder the ends to the elements at each side of the insulated clamp.
Solder the remaining end of the first coaxial section soldered to the coaxial fitting on the mast to the braided pigtails on the coax straddling the clamp.
Seal all exposed wiring with silicone to inhibit moisture intrusion.
Drill through the side of the center of the mast. Push the clamp through the mast and over the boom. This vertical orientation is necessary for 2-meter operation.