Hex Wire Beam Hint:: How to hold your Hex Wire Beam during construction

I have been asked several times. What do you use to hold your Hex Wire Beam baseplate hub while your are building the antenna. I use two different methods of holding the antenna. One is a Ridgid 40A Portable Tristand Yoke Vise($450) shown in the first picture. The Rigid vise is very expensive for using it to build one antenna.



The more economical stand is a umbrella stand with a granite base (60 lbs) shown in the second picture. It retails for approximately $25 and is multi-use. You can always use it for its intended purpose when your finished.












The third picture is the umbrella stand with a 40 meter baseplate.


Keep On Building,

73,

Ron W4RDM
www.hexkit.com






Keywords: homebrew hex beam, diy hexbeam,G3TXQ hex beam, broadband hex beam, broadband hexbeam, broadband hex-beam, hexagonal beam, G3TXQ broadband hexagonal beam, MaxGain Systems, hex beam kit, FB-77-1024, Ferrite Beads, 40 meter hexbeam, 30 meter hexbeam

Hex Wire Beam Hint: Simple Current Balun Using Ferrite Beads

This is a simple low cost 1:1 current balun for use on the Hex Wire Beam. It will work on any antenna that requires a 1:1 balun. The Hex Wire Beam requires a 1:1 current balun to reduce the common mode current flow on the outside of the coax. This common mode current will distort the radiation patten of the antenna. The RF Choke uses six of the ferrite beads over the coax just before the feedline from the shack attaches to the 20 meter driver..

Coax sizes up to RG-8 / RG-213 will pass through
the beads.

Historically the rf choke impedance rule of thumb(ROT) is a five or ten to one common mode balun impedance. This ROT would suggest that a 500 ohm common mode impedance is enough for 50 ohm transmission line. But in practice the ROT impedance requirement can be any value, depending on the system voltage exciting the feedline and system common mode impedance.

Based on tests using a RF current meter(W8JI Homebrewed Meter) at multiple points along the coax six of the ferrites provide more than enough impedance for the a common mode choke on the hex wire beam antennas whether it is located at the feedpoint of the antenna or below the baseplate.

Theoretically placing the balun/rfchoke below the baseplate indicates that it can distort the pattern of the hex wire beam. On the air tests indicate there are no difference.

The first picture is the ferrite beads before waterproofing. The second is after heat shrink waterproofing of the ferrite beads.

As you can see this is very very simple and inexpensive.


Link to where you can purchase a ferrite balun kit

Keep On Building,

73,

Ron W4RDM
www.hexkit.com






Keywords: homebrew hex beam, diy hexbeam,G3TXQ hex beam, broadband hex beam, broadband hexbeam, broadband hex-beam, hexagonal beam, G3TXQ broadband hexagonal beam, MaxGain Systems, hex beam kit, Ferrite Beads

Hex Wire Beam Hint:: Wire Guide Examples for Hex Wire Beams

Here's several ways to construct wire guides
for home brew hex wire beams.
I have used them all. They all are low cost
and many times you already have
the components to build them.

Keep on Building,

73,

Ron W4RDM
www.HexKit.com

This guide uses a plastic D-Ring and a hose clamp.


















A guide using a wire tie and a hose clamp.

















Wire Guide using two wire ties.




















Here's the wire guide that I use on the driver and reflector wire on the end of my spreaders.




















Keywords: homebrew hex beam, diy hexbeam,G3TXQ hex beam, broadband hex beam, broadband hexbeam, broadband hex-beam, hexagonal beam, G3TXQ broadband hexagonal beam, MaxGain Systems, hex beam kit

Don Tunstill, W4NO (SK)

I met Don when I moved to Huntsville in the 1980's. He was always a good friend.
I only saw him about once a year at the Huntsville Hamfest since I moved to Tennessee.

From the ARRL Newsletter:
Don Tunstill, W4NO (SK): Don Tunstill, W4NO, founder of the Central America VEC, passed away at his home in Huntsville, Alabama on Monday, June 9. He was 69. Tunstill, an ARRL Life Member, was a charter member of Huntsville Amateur Radio Club and served as president of Huntsville Hamfest  for more than 30 years. With the FCC, Tunstill assisted with the formulation and implementation of the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator program and the vanity call sign system. He founded the Central America VEC, one of the first VE programs in the state of Alabama. A memorial service is planned for 10 AM on June 13 at Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville.

USS Alabama Museum Ships on the Air Special event

I grew up in South Alabama in the small community of Chickasaw, near Mobile. One of my earliest memories is collecting Dimes to bring the USS Alabama to Mobile. I also remember
how hot the deck was the first time me and my cousins toured the ship barefooted. We learned to walk in the shade.
I worked the USS Alabama today on 7.260 today during the Museum ships on the Air Special Event.
73 Ron W4RDM
Link to USS Alabama Google Map
Wave Recording File of USS Alabama 40 Meter Station

Dx Engineering Hexxagonal HexBeam Hub

I ordered one of the Dx Engineering Hexxagonal HexBeam Hubs this past weekend to do
some comparisons with the hex baseplate hub that I have been fabricating over the past two
years.

Note: click on the pictures for a larger view

I received the hub in a well packed 9 pound box yesterday via UPS
Three days from Ohio to Tennessee is pretty standard shipping time.


Here's a top view of the DX Engineering hexxagonal hub.





Here's a bottom view of the DX Engineering hexxagonal hub.





Here's the hardware included with the DX Engineering hexxagonal hub.




Here's a view of the DX Engineering hexxagonal hub on a scale for weigh in



My observations so far:

• It's heavy
• The center post clamping configuration is much more complicated than my (hexkit.com) standard baseplate.

73,

Ron Mott W4RDM
www.hexkit.com


Keywords: homebrew hex beam, diy hexbeam,G3TXQ hex beam, broadband hex beam, broadband hexbeam, broadband hex-beam, hexagonal beam, G3TXQ broadband hexagonal beam, MaxGain Systems, DX Engineering, K4KIO, hex beam kit