Raw materials , plate , square boom 1.5x 1.5 inch, .375 tubing for elements, 1.375 round tubing to make joints of the square, 1.5x1.5 x.125 angle to reinforce
Close look of the aluminum tubing
How receive the tubing from Cycle-24.com perfect conditions via UPS 6ft long tubing
How looks the tubing inside the card board tubes
with flash you can see the bright of the new aluminum
8/11 arrive the holders/clamps stauff from G0KSC, in 7 days arrive fro UK to California was a good time for a mail package
here a view of the holders, yes yes, the keyboard looks terrible dirty with the flash , I made the clean up after checking the photos
Here in the late afternoon working on the first section of the boom, just installed the reflector holder and making the marks for the others elements
Another view of the reflector
Is how looks the element
The only angle available was 1.5x 1.5 x.125 ionized gold to make the mounting the Driven element 1, will be insulated, this is photo is only to see how looks
Side view of the driven
The driven element will be 1/2 inches tubing and the others elements will be 3/8
front view and was all for this day,
After a little work break, return to work on the antenna,this Friday with forecast for 110 deg F. Here is the first loop
the bending tool
Start to see how to make it correct, this tool was replaced a few minutes later, more confident was no problem the position of the holders
several tries with this tool to set the holes in the driven 1
Is how the holders of DE 1 looks , before making the real element
DE 1
Reflector, DE1 and DE2 in position, and now is time to see what bolts and nuts are needed to continue, a trip to Lowes
After checking several times the separation of the elements to equalize distance to start bending the tubes for the loop, and later a great idea
This was the idea, use only a piece of 1/2 tubing , check the separation of the elements and make in the same position the 2 loops, really works
here a close look
The first loop done
how looks
bending the second loop
almost there on the 90 deg
reaching the 90 deg with 1 hand
Done
here is how close the loop, the past photos show the first bend, this is the second, using the tool inverse and reaching the point to connect
here is a presentation view, is not the full loop is just half size to make easy the bending of the corners
Noalox to the joint of the DE 2
noalox and later Pop Up rivets
here is the FULL loop
the joint point of the DE 2
The Driver Element 1 , solid rod of fiberglass
REF DE1 DE2 and D1 in the first 2 meters of boom,
Is how the square tubing was reinforced to joint other piece of square tubing
those are the soft rivets to make the adjustments, will be replaced with SS bolts and hard rivets
making another joint, Made 5 to have in the shipping size
in the back is a 1.5x1.5 inches angle to make the joint more secure and failure proof , or at least is the idea
Very close
Is how the 2 sections of boom are riveted , this is a temporary
Almost finished the boom, 110 deg Fahrenheit in this exact moment of the photo
another view
at last the 9.8 meters mark of the Director 5
adding the elements to the boom
more holders in the boom
Finished at last, this part, the next is the brackets and vertical support
After the adjustment and choke fabrication will work on the extras to have it more secure to winds , the holders are 1 bolt an extra help will be needed to keep those elements in position
the next time will use a ruler to make the marks for the rivets and looks a single line
left over when you order the 6ft pieces
the missing bolts and nuts, before installation will be installed
a little accident in the director 4, those tubing are sharp
The plate boom to mast, 7x10in bring to my mind to add a piece of square tube to reinforce the center for that reason the wide mark, will be 2 1.5in sq tubes at the middle
The sample saddle to make the holes, this are 1/4 in but the idea is to use the DXE 2 in 5/16 clamp with aluminum saddle
here the holes ready for the DXE U bolt and saddle
August Sunday 22nd, finally a nice day to work, 90 deg. F, Cloudy and 40% humidity, I move the antenna to a lot next to the QTH to perform adjustments at low level
Here is the antenna when was ready to check the SWR after installing all the elements and check was secure
This is the side to side in the loop
the pigtail used to check the SWR, no balun at this time, need to buy a piece of soft flat bar
another view, how the antenna hangs at the ends, is "normal" for the length of the boom and the several joints
Here is the first adjustment , the 1/2 inch tubes where cut to 110cm and this are the 3/8 tubing pieces of the loop
Here is the first SWR 1.0 at first try
5 feet from the ground, no balun
lower part of the band
1.5 up in the band
2.0 top Up
2.0 lower point
1.0 up to 50.270
Is how looks the antenna at the 8ft level to work in the support rope
Side view of the antenna before work in the vertical support
another view, from here i can see that the lower piece of tubing really works
First adjustment in the support
I made another test with a piece of 1/4 wave insulated copper wire as a hybrid balun and the SWR was the same
I can say this is the first antenna i build under with this material and technique will give a 7.5 of 10 at this moment , will work a little to make a 8.5 to 9
here is one of the details to fix, the bracket boom to mast, now in the 0.7 version
the balance point and the bracket clamps to improve
As you can see is not a portable antenna
another view of the antenna and how small is
Front view of the antenna
A look to the constructor after the temperature jump to 97 deg with SUN and 45% humidity @ noon, wearing the official hat
Reinforcement to the joints 1.5 inch x 1/8 alum flat bar
Top view of the 2 sides reinforcement
here the 2 GØKSC hybrid baluns , made from scrap pieces
balun installed in the 7ele, 149.7 mm from the feed to the boom
Is how have plans to mount the stauff holders in the round tubing and get a flat surface
Here you can see the 2 materials
anchor point for the vertical support (rope) at the boom
Yes, now are 2 antennas the small is a 4 ele 3.5m boom also LFA
Bracket Boom to mast finished
lower boom support attachment
Boom reinforcement and bracket
Here is the other project, a 4 el LFA , finished just looking what mast to boom use and final adjustment
Here is the antenna during the adjustment, here the antenna was too short , 1.1 at 50.750
another view from below, nice sky 103 deg 50% humidity
here the sky start to become cloudy, now the second adjustment say that need to add 8 cm to the loop
here is the antenna now adjusted to 1.0 at the 50.125 with the storm getting closer
The wind start to blow, the antenna is 27 ft high
you can see all the antenna with the last clear sky
2 1.5 inch angles as bracket
side view of the mast to boom
here the driven with the balun and the temporary hex bolts
hex bolts looks that work, those are just for testing SS will be the final
