Cushcraft A505S Instructions 1 MB

LIMITED WARRANTY

CUSHCRAFT CORPORATION, P.O. BOX 4680, MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
03108, WARRANTS TO THE ORIGINAL CONSUMER PURCHASER FOR ONE YEAR
FROM DATE OF PURCHASE THAT EACH CUSHCRAFT ANTENNA IS FREE OF

DEFECTS IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP. IF, IN THE JUDGMENT OF CUSHCRAFT,

ANY SUCH ANTENNA IS DEFECTIVE, THEN CUSHCRAFT CORPORATION WILL, AT
ITS OPTION, REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ANTENNA AT ITS EXPENSE WITHIN THIRTY
DAYS OF THE DATE THE ANTENNA IS RETURNED (AT PURCHASER'S EXPENSE) TO
CUSHCRAFT OR ONE OF ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES. THIS WARRANTY IS
IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESSED WARRANTIES, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY IS
LIMITED IN DURATION TO ONE YEAR. CUSHCRAFT CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHICH MAY RESULT
FROM A DEFECT. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN
IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS OR EXCLUSIONS OR LIMITATIONS OF INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSION MAY NOT
APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU
MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. THIS
WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO ANY PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE BEEN SUBJECT
TO MISUSE, NEGLECT, ACCIDENT OR IMPROPER INSTALLATION, ANY REPAIRS OR
ALTERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE CUSHCRAFT CORPORATION FACTORY WILL NULLIFY
THIS WARRANTY.

SPECIFIC

ATIONS SUBJECT

O CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

T

ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION

INSTRUCTIONS

A505S

5 ELEMENT

C u s h cr a ft C o r p o ra t io n s h a ll n o t b e li a b l e f o r a n y in c i d e n t a l o r

c o ns eq ue n tia l d am a ge s w hi c h m a y re su lt fr o m a d efe c t, o r u se , im p ro p er

o r o th e rw is e o r in st al la tio n , im p ro pe r o r o th e rw is e.

P le as e c on ta ct y ou r v en d o r fo r te c h ni c a l s up p o rt a nd w a rr an ty s er v ice .

W A R R A N T Y A N D L IA B I L IT Y

C O M M U N I C AT IO N S A N T E N N A S

48 Perimeter Road, Manchester NH 03103 USA

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Web Site: http://www.cushcraft.com

International - Tel: [phone] • Fax:[phone]

6 METER BEAM

951365_GF_AA

A50-5S

A50-5S

THIS ANTENNA IS AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR. CONTACT WITH POWER LINES CAN RESULT IN DEATH, OR SERIOUS

WARNING

INJURY. DO NOT INSTALL THIS ANTENNA WHERE THERE IS ANY POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT WITH OR HIGH VOLTAGE ARC­OVER FROM POWER CABLES OR SERVICE DROPS TO BUILDINGS. THE ANTENNA, SUPPORTING MAST AND/OR TOWER
MUST NOT BE CLOSE TO ANY POWER LINES DURING INSTALLATION, REMOVAL OR IN THE EVENT PART OF THE SYSTEM
SHOULD ACCIDENTALLY FALL. FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES FOR ANTENNA INSTALLATIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE U.S.
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION AND LISTED IN THE ENCLOSED PAMPHLET.

Your Cushcraft 6 meter beam is designed and manufactured to give top performance and trouble free service. The antenna will perform as specified
if the instructions and suggestions are followed and care is used in assembly and installation. When checking the components received in your
antenna package use the parts lists in each section. It is easiest to identify the various dimensions of tubing by separating them into groups of the
same diameter and length. If you are unable to locate any tube or component, check the inside of all tubing. IMPORTANT: save the weight label
from the outside of the carton. Each antenna is weighed at the factory to verify the parts count. If you claim a missing part, you will be asked for
the weight verification label. There is a master parts list on page 2.

LOCATION

Location of the antenna is very important. Surrounding objects such as trees, power lines, other antennas, etc. will seriously reduce efficiency. To
minimize the effects of surrounding objects, mount the antenna as high and in the clear as possible. If metal guy wires are used, they should be
broken with strain insulators. YOU MUST INSURE THAT NEITHER PEOPLE OR PETS CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH YOUR ANTENNA WHILE
IT IS IN OPERATION. DEADLY VOLTAGES AND CURRENTS MAY EXIST. ALSO, SINCE THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO RF ARE NOT
FULLY UNDERSTOOD, LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO INTENSE RF FIELDS IS NOT RECOMMENDED. THERE IS A WARNING STICKER
WHICH MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE BOOM AS SHOWN IN FIGURE E.

Plan your installation carefully. If you use volunteer helpers be sure that they are qualified to assist you. Make certain that everyone involved
understands that you are in charge and that they must follow your instructions. If you have any doubts at all employ a professional antenna
installation company to install your antenna.

KEY P/N DISPLAY DESC SIZE QTY

115 050115 CONNECTOR 1

116 240116 SILICONE 1

cushcraft

SILICONE GREASE

BOOT

PACKAGE

FIGURE F

cushcraft

COAT WITH SILICONE GREASE

(DO NOT coat the center pin or socket!)

cushcraft

#5 - FEEDLINE ASSEMBLY

Before attaching the feedline permanently, tune the antenna as
outlined on page 1. The antenna is designed for use with 50 Ohm
coaxial cable terminated with a PL-259 connector. Any length of
feedline can be used with your A50-5S.The shortest length of cable
will have the least loss. A connector boot is included for use with your
new antenna. (Figure F) Slide the boot over the cable before
attaching your PL-259. Coat only the outside connector threads and
shell with silicone grease. Do not coat the center pin or receptacle.
After the PL-259 is firmly screwed on to the antenna connector, slide
the vinyl boot over the connector and against the mast bracket. Tape
the feedline to the boom and down the mast. It's a good idea to form
a drip loop in the coax to help protect the connector from water
damage (figure G).

FIGURE G

MOUNTING

The mast mount bracket will accommodate up to a 2" OD (5.1 cm) mast. A 1-1/2" OD (3.8 cm) or larger heavy wall tubing mast should be used.
A good heavy duty antenna rotator will provide the best service and longest life. Often it is desirable to mount several antennas on one mast. To
keep possible interaction to a minimum, place your antennas as far apart as you can.

SYSTEM GROUNDING

Direct grounding of the antenna, mast and tower is very important. This serves as protection from lightning strikes and static buildup, and from high
voltage which is present in the radio equipment connected to the antenna. A good electrical connection should be made to one or more ground
rods (or other extensive ground system) directly at the base of the tower or mast, using at least #10AWG ground wire and non-corrosive hardware.
For details and safety standards, consult the National Electrical Code. You should also use a coaxial lightning arrester. Cushcraft offers several
different models, such as LAC-1, LAC-2 and the LAC-4 series.

ASSEMBLY

Assemble your antenna by following the directions and illustrations in steps 1 through 5. Vertical polarization is normally used for FM. Other modes
use horizontal polarization. After the antenna is completely assembled, verify dimensions and element spacings for accuracy. Then, return to the
section below for final tuning.

TUNING PROCEDURE

If you wish to check the VSWR before installation, please observe the following procedures. Temporarily mount the antenna with the boom vertical,
reflector at least one foot (30 cm) off the ground on a non-metallic support (wooden box), to prevent detuning the antenna. Guy the top of the boom.
Do not use line with wire in it (some clotheslines have a wire core). Keep other antennas, metal objects and guy lines clear of the antenna under
test. Do not attempt to tune the Yagi near the ground with the boom parallel to the ground since ground effects will nullify any adjustment and
degraded performance will result.

Run the coax cable from your transmitter to the area in which the antenna is going to be tested. The length of this cable or your feedline is not critical.
Connect a good quality VSWR bridge to the end of this cable. Connect a short length of cable [10 ft (305 cm) or less] from the VSWR bridge to
the antenna. Set the transmitter to your center operating frequency. When you read VSWR, be sure you move far enough away from the antenna
so that your body does not effect the reading.

SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency
Number Elements
Forward Gain
Front to Back Ratio
SWR Typical
2:1 Bandwidth, MHz
Power
Boom Length
Longest Element
Turning Radius
Mast Size Range
Wind Surface Area
Weight

50-54 MHz
5

10.5 dBi
24 dB

1.2:1
>1
1000 Watts
12 ft. (3.7 m)
123" (312.4 cm)

7.8 ft. (2.37 m)

1.5-2.0 in (3.8-5.1 cm)

2.9 ft2. (.273 m2)
11 lb. (5.0 kg)

Measure the VSWR. If it is high, move the Reddi-Match clamp (69) by 1/4" (.6 cm) in one direction and check the VSWR. If the VSWR improved,
then continue moving the Reddi-Match clamp in the same direction. If the VSWR deteriorated then move the Reddi-Match clamp in the opposite
direction. Repeat this procedure until no further improvement can be made. You have matched your antenna to 50 Ohms. Then tighten all
connections. Tape the feedline to the boom and mast.

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