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The HAM Radio Operator's Antenna Manual
by Buck Rogers K4ABT

For TNC to Radio Interface Cable Diagrams, CLICK HERE !     For PSK31 & SSTV Interface Diagrams, CLICK HERE !

 A Method for hanging a BALUN without adding stress to BALUN binding posts.
 
Of all HF antennas, the multi-band WINDOM is my favorite.
 
An improved 6 Meter "High-Performance" Base-Station Dipole.
 
HF Antenna Cutting Chart
 
VHF & UHF Antenna Cutting Chart
 
Determine correct spacing between antennas to achive proper isolation.
 
A two meter dipole
 
 A TV twin-lead two meter J-Pole; It's very portable and EZ to build !
 
Detailed drawing of a two meter "J" Pole antenna.
 
Detailed drawing of a six meter "J" Pole antenna.
 
Design your own "J" Pole antenna.
 
Design your own QUAD antenna.
 
A 4 element, six meter QUAD design using Design-A-Quad.
 
Antennas and Antenna RF Meters
 

BUT FIRST.... let's review some antenna "basics" in pictorial form.





When using a Dipole made similar to the above antenna, it is highly recommended
that a 1:1 BALUN be used at the antenna feed point (center insulator).


At BUX COMM, *We don't cut corners!
The components used in the manufacture of our BUX BALUNs are from top quality components, beginning with the Silver Plate SO239 connectors and center insulator is made of teflon™(E.I Dupont). The wire we use to wind the ferrite donut is heavy-duty, silver flashed wire, with teflon™ insulation that will handle RF voltages above 5000 volts, and temperatures above 2000 degrees. The binding posts are heavy-duty, tempered brass, with end holes and side-thru holes to accommodate either type loop-thru connection. A double-shoulder brass capture nut is used to add a secure bite and improve antenna wire electrical connections.  With our BUX UN UN (ONION), the coax is Belden™ and the PL259 connectors are Amphenol™. 
4:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 41   $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 30 MHz
o Toroid (Voltage) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________

1:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 11  $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 30 MHz
o Toroid (Current) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________
BUX UN UN De-Coupling transformer, similar to above, but has SO-239 (female)
input
connector and output connector is 1 ft Mini 8 cable with PL-259 (male).

 BUX ONION  $19.95 


4:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 41HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction.

1:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 11HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction. 

1:1,  1 kw VHF Balun,  BUX BALUN 11V  $24.95
Hi-Q, toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver wire.  For VHF beams and J-Pole matching applications, and construction. 
Includes 6 ft, high-quality PL-259 to PL-259 Mini-8 cable/jumper.  Connectors are Amphenol
with Belden cable.


BUX ONION  "Decoupling (isolation balunun) Transformer"
BUX UN UN De-Coupling transformer, has SO-239 (female)input connector and output connector is 1 ft Mini 8 cable with PL-259 (male).
BUX ONION is and UNbalanced to UNbalance (UN-UN) decoupling transformer designed to be used specifically with the DBLSPCL antenna.   High RF currents traveling along the coax feed-line shield can cause high VSWR.  This decoupling transformer prevents RF currents from traveling down the outer shield of the coax. The input connector is an SO239 (female) and the output connector is a PL259 (male), which mates the connector of the "DBLSPCL" RV/Apartment dweller antenna shown above.

BUX ONION  $19.95 


4:1 High Performance, Heavy Duty, 2 KW Balun

*CW/SSB duty-cycles only.  SSB/CW Power @ 3.5 MHz* >1.5 kW if SWR is less than 3:1

*Not rated for AM, RTTY or other high duty-cycle digital modes.

bullet

Double-co-efficient coupled design.

bullet

Exceptional High output.

bullet

Large toroid ferrite cores.

bullet

High winding reactance with only a L-C compensatio.

bullet

Teflon insulated, large gauge, high temperature, wire.

bullet

Compensation for wide bandwidth

bullet

Rated above the legal power limit.

bullet

Stainless-steel eyebolts.

bullet

Input Connector SO-239

bullet

Output Connector Hard-Drawn, tempered Brass Binding Posts.

bullet

Bandwidth 160 - 10 m.

bullet

Power Loss, dB less than 1 dB.



Good photos of VHF & UHF YAGI








Antennas & Accessories



CLICK ON the small graphic to view full size.

Half-Wave HF Antenna Cutting Chart.

 



CLICK ON the small graphic to view full size.

VHF/UHF Cutting Chart
 



CLICK ON the small graphic to view full size.

Antenna Isolation / Spacing Charts
 


 HAM Radio and Commercial 2-way radio antennas


 



A=Benz-O-Matic propane torch; B=Lead-Free solder; C=Tape measure: D=Tubing cutter; E=Sharpie marking pen; F=Solder Paste; G=1/2 inch copper caps; H=Hardcopy of the above drawing; I=Wet Towel; J=PreCut, ready to assemble parts of the 2 meter J-Pole.
 




 



 



Design-A-Quad Antenna

Calculate the total wire length for each element of a quad antenna.
REFLECTOR = 1030 / F (MHz)
DRIVEN = 1005 / F (MHz)
DIRECTOR 1 = 975 / F (MHz)
DIRECTOR 2 = 960 / F (MHz)

ELEMENT SPACING between:
1) Reflector & Driven Element = 730 / F (MHz)
2) Driven Element & 1st Director= 600 / F (MHz)
3) 1st Director & 2nd Director = 600 / F (MHz)

Enter the formula for the antenna calculation
Divided by Freq MHz


Total wire-length in feet is FEET.
Total wire-length in inches is INCHES.
One of four sides in FEET = <- Use ONLY this number for "element spacing" when entering the element spacing numbers (constants; 730 or 600) above!
Total all spacing measurements (in inches) then add 2 inches for each end.


THE QUAD SHOWN BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF A QUAD DESIGN USING DESIGN-A-QUAD ABOVE


ANTENNA  INSULATORS

Weatherproof, (TENYTE) insulators.  Perfect for your DIPOLE or Windom antenna.
For the apartment dweller, you can now hang the 20 meter doublet
in the attic.   I've QSO'd with stations all over the world with the
33 ft dipole in the attic of my garage.   One insulator at the center, and one at each end.  

It's great for other HF WINDOM, single, and multi-band dipole antennas.  Dielectric strength is superior to the old ceramic insulators, without susceptibility to cracking or breakage under impact or extreme temperature changes.
Package of  3,  $2.99 
 ANTINSL3  

Package of 10,  "TeNyte" BUX TNT Insulators $8.99,  ANTINSLX10

For those who want lightning protection, here is one of many, lightning protection device.

   A Secondary Lightning Protector
Remember the axiom; "An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure.
This lightning protector
contains a modified spark gap that provides that
ounce of prevention.  We offer this device as a
secondary
radio protector.   Remember, there is
no substitute for a good earth ground, AC line surge,
and spike protection. 

Keep all ground leads as short as possible.   Where lightning is involved,
we make no warranties.

$ 3.95 each     7516 

UHF DOUBLE FEMALE BULKHEAD (feed-thru) CONNECTORS


For bulkhead and through-the-wall UHF connector feed-thru connections, with keeper nuts.:

Order 7518-2  (Two inches)        $ 2.95 ea.             10 for $ 24.50  
Order 7518-4  (Four inches)       $ 3.95 ea.             10 for $ 34.50  

Order 7518-6  (Six inches)          $ 4.95 ea.             10 for $ 44.50  

Order 7518-8  (Eight inches)     $ 8.95 ea.              10 for $ 82.50  

Order 7518-10 (Ten inches)       $ 10.95ea.            10 for $ 99.50   
Order 7518-12 (Twelve inches) $12.95ea.             10 for $ 114.50 


Heavy Duty  (1") Nuts for the above bulkhead connectors.

2/.99 cents     HDM1-NUT         10 for $ 3.99  


50 Ohm impedance, 3 ft, 6 ft, 9 ft, 12 ft, & 18 feet.
These jumpers are made from high quality, low-loss, RG8X coax cable WxTite, PL-259 connectors installed at each end.
Three ft. (3')    ORDER No.      8X3-PLPL  $3.95    

Six ft. (6')         ORDER No.      8X6-PLPL  $4.95     

Nine ft. (9')      ORDER No.      8X9-PLPL  $5.95     

Twelve ft. (12')   ORDER No.  8X12-PLPL  $7.95  

Eighteen ft. (18')ORDER No.  8X18-PLPL  $8.95
 

 

For more RF Connectors and communications site accessories; CLICK HERE !

This is our BUX COMM High-Performance "HAMMER."
We designed it to cope with a "wholesome" kilowatt... or two, or  three.   We decided that was NOT good enough, so we built it to endure harsh treatment.

STATS: Current Balun
10" x 4"  Wt. 1.5 LBs
4:1 Hi-Power,
160 thru 6 Meters
HEAVY DUTY TOROID MADE OF TYPE 43 FERRITE, FOR LOW PERMEABILITY

4:1 High Performance, Heavy Duty,
*3 KW Balun
(if SWR is less than 2:1)  
*CW/SSB duty-cycles only.
 
SSB/CW Power @ 3.5 MHz* >2 kW if SWR is less than 3:1, Not rated for RTTY & AM

Will not saturate at Amateur Radio Power Levels 
Regular $64.97 
 
Now at BUX COMM $ 39.95

Order 3KBBB   

 

 

1:1 version High Performance, Heavy Duty,  (Current BALUN),
stock number 3KBBB11 
BUX COMM $ 39.95  

 

At BUX COMM, *We don't cut corners!
The components used in the manufacture of our BALUNs are from top quality components, beginning with the Silver Plate SO239 connectors. The center insulator is teflon™(E.I Dupont). The wire we use to wind the ferrite donut is heavy-duty, silver flashed wire, with teflon™ insulation that will handle RF voltages above 5000 volts, and temperatures above 2000 degrees. The binding posts are heavy-duty, tempered brass, with end holes and side-thru holes to accommodate either type loop-thru connection. A double-shoulder brass capture nut is used to add a secure bite and improve antenna wire electrical connections.
4:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 41   $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 30 MHz
o Toroid (Voltage) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________

1:1  Balun,  BUXBALUN 11  $19.95

o 50 ohm, SO-239 unbalanced input
o Balanced output
o 1.6 to 30 MHz
o Toroid (Current) design
o Heavy Duty, Lightweight construction
o Sealed against moisture
____________________________________________________
BUX UN UN De-Coupling transformer, similar to above, but has SO-239 (female)
input
connector and output connector is 1 ft Mini 8 cable with PL-259 (male).

 BUX ONION  $19.95 


 

4:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 41HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction.

1:1, 1.5kw Balun,  BUX BALUN 11HD  $27.95
Toroid  design, wound with teflon covered, silver plated wire.* Heavy-Duty, construction. 

4:1 High Performance, Balun  

*CW/SSB duty-cycles only.  SSB/CW Power @ 3.5 MHz* >1.5 kW if SWR is less than 3:1

*Not rated for AM, RTTY or other high duty-cycle digital modes.

bullet

Double-co-efficient coupled design.

bullet

Exceptional High output.

bullet

Large toroid ferrite cores.

bullet

High winding reactance with only a L-C compensatio.

bullet

Teflon insulated, large gauge, high temperature, wire.

bullet

Compensation for wide bandwidth

bullet

Rated above the legal power limit.

bullet

Stainless-steel eyebolts.

bullet

Input Connector SO-239

bullet

Output Connector Hard-Drawn, tempered Brass Binding Posts.

bullet

Bandwidth 160 - 10 m.

bullet

Power Loss, dB less than 1 dB.

BUX MOBALUN
When you hear those strong HF mobile signals, here's one reason they stand out from the rest.
By installing the BUX MoBalun near the input to your antenna, you deliver more RF energy to the antenna. At the same time, the BUX MoBalun prevents RF from traveling back along the shield (high SWR) of your coax.
High power rating, Low-permeability toroid,  with Internal
composition fiber-glass  to prevent vibration during mobile operation. For input and output connectors, we use only the best Silver plated, Teflon insulated, SO239 connectors.  500 watts PEP.  This MoBALUN is also ideal for marine antenna installations.
BUX COMM ©Photo

             $19.95  MOBALUN 

An HF Dipole Antenna specially designed with the Apartment Dweller, RV, & Field-day operator in mind.
Don't be fooled by those over-priced knock-offs that use a piece of drilled aluminum that breaks in a cold wind.  This is the original, Fixed station, RV, apartment dweller, and portable dipole from BUX Communications.  It is designed for rapid deployment and effective HF communications where space is limited.  The mounting bracket and hardware are made of high-quality, hard-drawn, aircraft aluminum, to withstand the elements and maintain a strong posture in adverse wind and weather conditions.

On a budget, Mobile in an RV, or live in a space-restricted environment?..  Here's the the solution: Here's an HF horizontal (or vertical) polarized antenna that will meet those beams "head-on!"  When installed on a rotor, this combo makes a great bi-directional fixed-station antenna.  Shown here with BUX UNUN (ONION) as the decoupling balun (unun) to prevent reradiating of the coax shield and better match at the antenna feed point.

When the stations with the gain and power in their antennas are transmitting in the horizontal plane, then you should be meeting them in the same plane.  Horizontal signals tend to follow the earths contour, and are easier to capture using a horizontally polarized antenna.  See the BUX UNUN elsewhere on this page.


BCC Photo ©
 
Photo above;  BUX COMM, "DBLCOMBO", see details below.
 
BUX COMM © graphics 1998-2004 (c)

By combining a pair (two) of the single band HF Mobile (loaded) tunable-tip antennas, you can have an ideal, single element, (bi-directional) horizontal dipole.

  At left;  is a photo of the BUX CommCo dipole configuration using a pair of our model BHF20M mobile antennas, and our model DABRKT "Double Antenna BRacKeT."   The DABRKT will fit up to one and a quarter inch (1-1/4") diameter mast.

The supporting mast is attached to the apex of our warehouse.  Overall height of my antenna above ground is only 17 feet. When you see me on 20 meters (14.070,15 USB) running test on RASCAL interfaces, this is the antenna I am using.

 

← 
By combining a pair (two) of the single band HF (VHF) whips at left, you can have an ideal, single element, horizontal dipole (beam). This type antenna opens the world of HF and VHF communications for the apartment dweller, RV HAM, field-day operating, and a variety of other uses and applications.

Bracket alone is $16.95
$16.95 each  DBLBRKT 

tuneable-tip antennas allow adjusting for minimum VSWR.
 

or see the DBLSPCL; details below

← 
When you see me in QSO on 20 meters, using PSK31, I am using this antenna mount with two of the BHF-20 M antennas at 17 ft.  An FT-817 at 5 watts PEP, worked 50 + countries.

When installed on a rotor, this combo makes a great bi-directional fixed-station antenna.   Turning radius, seventeen feet, (approx).

HF Mobile (loaded), tunable-tip antennas

BUX HF MOBILE ANTENNAS
Tunable-tip enables adjusting for minimum VSWR.


Mobile tuneable-tip antennas.

BHF75M  75 METER  3/8" X 24 THREAD   8 feet long $16.95

BHF40M 40 METER  3/8" X 24 THREAD  8 feet long $16.95  

BHF20M 20 METER 3/8" X 24 THREAD  8 feet long $16.95  

BHF17M 17 METER  3/8" X 24 THREAD 8 feet long $16.95 

BHF15M 15 METER 3/8" X 24 THREAD 8 feet long $16.95  

BHF10M 10 METER  3/8" X 24 THREAD 8 feet long $16.95 

BHF6M  6 METER  3/8" X 24 THREAD 6 feet long  $16.95  

Spare 48 inch stainless-steel stinger (TIPS) for above antennas.
TIP48,   $2.95  

Here's the perfect solution for your RV and portable HF antenna applications.  
Use our dipole, mast-mounted bracket for 'fixed-station',  field-day operating, apartment dwellers, and the RV  travelers.  With two of the mobile HF antennas shown at left, you can have the best of both worlds.




By combining a pair (two) of the single
band HF Mobile (loaded) tuneable-tip antennas, and (VHF) whips at left, you can have an ideal, single element, horizontal dipole (beam). This type antenna opens the world of HF and VHF communications for the apartment dweller, RV HAM, field-day operating, and a variety of other uses and applications.  Antenna(s) Not Included.

$16.95 each
 DBLBRKT 

tuneable-tip antennas allow adjusting for minimum VSWR.
 

By combining a pair (two) of the single band HF Mobile (loaded) tuneable-tip antennas above, you can have an ideal, single element, horizontal dipole (beam). This type antenna opens the world of HF communications for the apartment dweller, RV HAM, field-day operating, and a variety of other uses and applications.  The packages described below include two antenna, the Double Antenna-Bracket (DBLBRKT), and mounting hardware

$ 39.97 DBLSPCL (without BALUN) With BALUN, see "DBLCOMBO", below.
75 Meters→,    40 Meters→,    20 Meters→,

17 Meters→,    15 Meters→,    10 Meters→,

 

 6 Meters → 


By combining a pair (two) of the single band HF Mobile (loaded) tuneable-tip antennas above, you can have an ideal, single element, horizontal dipole (beam). This type antenna opens the world of HF communications for the apartment dweller, RV HAM, field-day operating, and a variety of other uses and applications.  The package described below includes two antenna, the Double-Bracket (DBLBRKT), mounting hardware, and BUX BALUN (UNUN).    $AVE $$$$$, ADD the BUX UNUN , shown below, BOTH, DPLSPCL & BUXUNUN, for only $ 54.97, ORDER, DBLCOMBO 
75 Meters→,   40 Meters→,   20 Meters→,

 17 Meters→,   15 Meters→,   10 Meters→

 

6  Meters →

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Order Line ONLY, Mon > Fri 10 AM to 4 PM,  434 534 8873  or FAX your order, 24/7 to FAX 434 525 7818

 All text and graphics on these pages are ©®™ of G. E. Rogers Sr and BUX COMM Corp 1986 - 2005

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