DX Engineering DXE-3X10 Instruction Manual

SkyHawk 3X10

20/15/10 Meter Tri-Band

Yagi Antenna

DXE-3X10-INS Rev 1e

© DX Engineering 2020

1200 Southeast Ave. - Tallmadge, OH 44278 USA

Phone: [phone] ∙ Tech Support and International: [phone]

Fax: [phone] ∙ E-mail: [e-mail]

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DX Engineering SkyHawk 3X10

Congratulations on the purchase of your DX Engineering SkyHawk 3X10. You now possess the

finest computer optimized tri-band on the market. The SkyHawk
features low weight, zero mast torque, a balanced beam and high wind
survival. Corrosion and UV resistant materials are used throughout its
construction. Only stainless steel fasteners and rivets are used. Custom
designed aluminum extrusions make assembly a snap. Multiple wall
boom construction, eliminating the need for stays, coupled with ultra
thin trap-free riveted elements significantly reduces wind load.

DX Engineering SkyHawk Tri-Band Yagi Antennas are the choice of experienced DXers, especially if
your interest is HF contesting. The DX Engineering SkyHawk provides the highest payback in
performance and operating pleasure compared to any other single component in your station.

This well-designed, single-tower system offers outstanding performance without the headaches of
maintaining more substantial antenna farms. DX Engineering SkyHawk antenna reflects the latest
computer-optimized design for maximum gain and bandwidth. It is built from the finest materials,
including all stainless steel hardware.

The SkyHawk antenna offers minimal wind-loading for its size and is torque-balanced to reduce wear and
tear on your rotor. Assembly is easy, as tower top adjustments have been eliminated and the elements are
truly locked in place.

DX Engineering SkyHawk features include:

 EZ-mount system for attaching antenna to mast
 All parts de-burred
 Stainless steel pop-riveted elements
 Quality COMTEK balun and balun mounting system
 No user adjustment required - just assemble and put it up

Additional specifications include:

20 meters:

 Three elements
 Effective boom length: 23 ft.
 VSWR: less than 1.4:1 between 14.0 and 14.35 MHz, measured at feed-point
 Front to back: >20 dB across the entire band
 F/B peaks at 14.150 MHz at 21 dB
 Gain: better than 7 dBi across band
 7.4 dBi gain at 14.350 MHz

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15 meters:

 Three elements
 Effective boom length: 15 ft., 6 in.
 VSWR: less than 1.5:1 between 21.0 and 21.45 MHz, measured at feed-point
 Front to back: >16 dB across the entire band
 F/B peaks at 21.350 at 24.5 dB
 Gain: better than 7 dBi across band
 7.6 dBi gain at 21.45 MHz

10 meters:

 Four elements
 Effective boom length: 16 ft., 9 in.
 VSWR: less than 1.5:1 between 28.0 and 28.9 MHz, measured at feed-point
 Front to back: >14 dB across the entire band
 F/B peaks at 28.5 at 15 dB
 Gain: better than 7.7 dBi across band
 9.2 dBi gain at 28.9 MHz

NOTE: ALL DIMENSIONS IS THIS INSTRUCTION ARE IN INCHES (MILLIMETERS)

UNL

ESS

OTHERWISE NOTED.

Required Tools

Rivet tool: POP Rivetool PRG 430, POP Rivetool PRGIII or equivalent
Flat blade screwdriver
Nut Driver: 11/32” and 3/8” nut driver
Wrench: 7/16” and 1/2”
Pair of saw horses or similar support
Permanent marker

Before You Start
WARNING: INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT NEAR POWER LINES IS DANGEROUS.

FOR YOUR SAFETY FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
WARNING: AT NO TIME DURING ASSEMBLY, INSTALLATION, ADJUSTMENT, OR

OPERATION SHOULD ANY PART OF THIS PRODUCT BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO
CONTACT WITH ELECTRIC POWER LINES, NOR SHOULD THIS PRODUCT BE
INSTALLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT ANY PART OF IT MAY CONTACT POWER LINES
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OR IN THE EVENT OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE.
FAILURE TO EXERCISE EXTREME CARE IN THIS MA

TTER

CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE

TO PROPERTY, PERSONAL INJURY OR

DEA

TH.

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Before you start assembling the antenna, read through the instructions completely, paying special
attention to the diagrams. When you unpack the box, do so on a surface where you will not lose
small parts. Check the parts against the PARTS LIST, identifying each part carefully.

NOTE: Check to see that all parts are present before beginning assembly.

Installation Notes

CHOOSING AN INSTALLATION SITE: As with all directional antennas, care must be taken in

the choice of an installation site for your SkyHawk 3X10. Select a place clear of power lines or
other obstructions. The SkyHawk 3X10 should be mounted at least 30 ft (9.1 m) above the ground
for proper operation. If the SkyHawk 3X10 is mounted a full-wave above ground, the takeoff angle
is 14° with a minor lobe at 40° or so. For a 1/2-wave it’s closer to 20°. At mounting heights below
1/2-wave the takeoff angle is much greater than 20°. There’s no easy way to calculate it, but there
are graphs for wave angles at heights of 1/4, 1/8 and so on in any edition of the A.R.R.L. Antenna
Handbook. The SkyHawk 3X10 should be able to rotate without hitting anything. Finally, it
should not be near any large masses of metal, like metal roofing or siding. Plan your installation so
that metallic guy wires are broken up with compression insulators and no other antennas are nearby,
i.e. dipoles mounted right under the beam.

MASTS AND GUYING: In order to avoid coupling between antenna elements and guy wires that
can de- tune the antenna it may be necessary to break up the guy wires with insulators. If the
separation between

the antenna and the highest set of guys is less than 15' (4.6m) it would be a good
idea to use insulators on each of the uppermost guys at intervals of 10' (3m). Place the first
insulator on each

guy AT

THE MAST OR TOWER, for that too is a conductor that can be coupled

to the antenna by any horizontal or near-horizontal guy wire connected to it.

Rivet Installation

The elements of your SkyHawk 3X10 are assembled with two or three blind rivets per joint. Blind
rivets were chosen to provide fast, strong, reliable, vibration proof assembly, with high grip and
pull-up strengths. Open end stainless steel rivets are used because they provide better than 80%
more shear and tensile strength than closed end aluminum rivets. Blind rivets are easily set by:

1. Line up the holes in each tube as shown in the diagram.

2. Insert a blind rivet in each hole.

3. Making sure the rivet is fully seated, set the rivet with rivet tool.

4. Repeat step 3 for the other rivets.

If for some reason you need to remove a blind rivet: Blind rivets may easily be removed by
drilling through them with a 1/8(3) drill bit. Be careful not to drill through the entire element and
be sure to remove any remnants left from the removed rivet.

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Fastener Assembly

Installing and tightening fasteners is a simple procedure but one which is often done incorrectly.
Tightening fasteners to the proper torque keeps bolts tight, increases joint strength, creates friction
between parts to resist shear and improves the fatigue resistance of the connection. Unfortunately
fasteners are usually over tightened causing them to fracture or at least causing thread damage
making them impossible to disassemble.

It is strongly recommended that a lubricant such as JTL-12555 Jet-Lube SS-20 Pure Copper Anti-
Seize be used on the threads to reduce friction which allows the fastener to be properly tensioned.

The best way to properly tension a fastener is to tighten the nut until the lock washer is flat and then
tighten it no more than an additional one quarter turn. This rule should be followed except for U­bolts and the 1/4 x 2-3/4(70) boom to saddle screw where one additional full turn is required.

Tubing Assembly

In order to decelerate oxidation and to improve electrical conductivity a high quality RF conductive
anti-oxidizing compound should be used. JTL-12555 Jet-Lube SS-30 is an ideal electrical joint
compound that ensures proper electrical connections between aluminum and copper metal parts
such as conductors, telescoping aluminum tubing, or other antenna and grounding parts. Apply a
thin layer to each metal to metal antenna connection with a brush or clean cloth. Be careful not to
accumulate excess material on other parts or yourself as it’s quite difficult to remove and virtually
impossible to clean out of clothing.

Parts List

10 Meter Reflector

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 10M

3/4(19) x 28(711)

□ 2 Element Section B 10M

5/8(16) x 35-7/8(911)

□ 2 Element Section C 10M Reflector

1/2(12) x 71-1/8(1,807)

10 Meter Driven

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Insulator Driven

□ 2

Element Section A 10M Driven

3/4(19) x 24(356)

□ 2 Element Section B 10M Driven

5/8(16) x 38(965)

□ 2 Element Section C 10M Driven

1/2(13) x 68-43/64(1,744)

10 Meter Director 1

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 10M

3/4(19) x 28(711)

□ 2 Element Section B 10M

5/8(16) x 35-7/8(911)

□ 2 Element Section C 10M Director 1

1/2(13) x 63-23/32(1,618)

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10 Meter Director 2

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 10M

3/4(19) x 28(711)

□ 2 Element Section B 10M

5/8(16) x 35-7/8(911)

□ 2 Element Section C 10M Director 2

1/2(13) x 64-9/16(1,640)

15 Meter Reflector

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 15M

3/4(19) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section B 15M

5/8(16) X 59-7/8(1,521)

□ 2 Element Section C 15M

1/2(13) X 71-7/8(1,826)

□ 2 Element Section D 15M Reflector

3/8(10) X 28-15/32(723)

15 Meter Driven

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Insulator Driven

□ 2 Element Section A 15M Driven

3/4(19) X 23-7/8(606)

□ 2 Element Section B 15M Driven

5/8(16) X 59-7/8(1,521)

□ 2 Element Section C 15M

1/2(13) X 71-7/8(1,826)

□ 2 Element Section D 15M Driven

3/8(10) X 23-5/8(600)

15 Meter Director

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 15M

3/4(19) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section B 15M

5/8(16) X 59-7/8(1,521)

□ 2 Element Section C 15M

1/2(13) X 71-7/8(1,826)

□ 2 Element Section D 15M Director

3/8(10) X 14-5/64(358)

20 Meter Reflector

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Section A 20M

1(25) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section B 20M

7/8(22) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section C 20M

3/4(19) X 71-7/8(1,826)

□ 2 Element Section D 20M

5/8(16) X 65-7/8(1,673)

□ 2 Element Section E 20M

1/2(13) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section F 20M Reflector

3/8(10) X 47-7/32(1,199)

20 Meter Driven

Qty

Description

Size

□ 1 Element Insulator 20M Driven

□ 2

Element Section A 20M Driven

1(25) X 23-7/8(606)

□ 2 Element Section B 20M Driven

7/8(22) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section C 20M

3/4(19) X 71-7/8(1,826)

□ 2 Element Section D 20M

5/8(16) X 65-7/8(1,673)

□ 2 Element Section E 20M

1/2(12) X 47-7/8(1,216)

□ 2 Element Section F 20M Driven

3/8(10) X 28-3/16(716)