Maco Y-Quad User guide

4 ELEMENT SWITCHABLE POLARITY

10/11 METER QUAD BEAM

MACO Y QUAD

PACKING LIST

PART QTY O.D. SIZE LENGTH DESCRIPTION CHECKLIST

T11P 4 5/8” .050” 72” ALUM TUBING SBE ____ T01 4 ½” .050” 72” ALUM TUBING ____ T28 1 1 ½” .050” 72” ALUM TUBING ____ P01P 1 ¼” x 5” x 5” 1 ½” BOOM TO 1 ½” MAST ____ W04P 1 7/14 40’ BARE COPPER WIRE ____ FA1P 4 48” FIBERGLAS RODS ____ G01 2 GAMMA MATCHES ____ Z08 4 GAMMA STRAPS F/COAX CONN ____ S42 2 FEM COAX CONN W/MNTG NTS ____

HARDWARE BAG 1

U02 8 1 ½” PLATED U-BOLTS ____ S02 8 1 ½” PLATED SADDLES ____ N03 16 5/16” LOCK NUTS ____

HARDWARE BAG #2

BE1P 4 BOOM TO ELEMENT MOUNT ____ W58 8 5/8” EXTRUDED ALUM CLAMPS ____ S21 14 10-24 x ½” MACHINE SCREWS ____ N11 16 10-24 SQUARE NUTS ____ N12 8 #10 LOCKWASHERS ____ PL2 4 .437 PLASTIC CAPS – BLACK ____ Z02 4 ½” GAMMA STRAPS ____ PL4 1 1 ½” PLASTIC CAP – BLACK ____ PL4R 1 1 ½” PLASTIC CAP – RED ____

1 TIP SHEET ____ 1 WARRANTY SHEET ____ 1 SET OF INSTRUCTIONS ____

FIBERGLASS HARDWARE BAG

4 8-32 X 3/4” MACHINE SCREWS ____ 4 #8 FLAT WASHERS ____ 4 #8-32 NUTS ____

Please note: In an effort to keep the price on Maco Antennas down, we have decided not to clean up all the burrs and rough edges on the parts. We recommend that you deburr and clean up each part with files, sandpaper, etc. so that they go together easily. We are aware this needs to be done but have elected not to do it to save you the money we would have to add to the price of the kit for this service.

Revised 05/09

QUAD

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

FIGURE 1. BOOM-TO-MAST PLATE

Mark the centers of the l-1/2” O.D. x 72” boom (T28) and the boom-to-mast plate (PO3P). Attach the plate to the boom as shown in Detail Lk. Washers (NOl, N02). Do not over-tighten the U-Bolt as doing so may crush and weaken the boom.

Next mark the centers of the (4) mount onto each piece of tubing to the center. Now assemble these onto the boom as shown in Detail

Make a mark 3-l/2” from one end of each of the with to the mark and tighten the screws. (Ref. Detail Driven Element) Now check the overall length of both elements for

the mark into the in the same manner as above. (Ref. Detail

FIGURE 2. REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY

a board exactly 19 ft. 6 in. apart. Stretch the wire around the nails to the tightness desired when installed

on the spreaders. Then splice the wire and solder. When installed the exact length of each side is important. REMEMBER: The Reflector dimensions are only preliminary. Change to get equal sides of 9’ 9”. Fiberglass length is not critical, however the equal wire length of 9” 9” is very critical. Remember the tightness when installed should be the same as when stretched and spliced

onto the lugs of the (4) fiberglass arms as shown in Detail 2A.

marks, with the loose ends at the bottom as shown and tighten the screws. Bring the ends together and line up the marks that are 2” from each end. Now twist the loose ends together

screws

Make a mark 2” from the plain end of each of the (4) fiberglass arms (FAlP). No insert the arms to

The length of the reflector wire is critical. The easy way to get it right is to drive two nails in

Next loosely assemble the #lo-24 x l/2” screws, flt. washers, lk. washers &nuts (S2 1, N12, N26)

String the wire around the arms so that it is caught between the lugs and the flatwasher at the

sq. nuts (S21,

and then place the plastic end caps (PL2) on each element tip.

tubing on the reflector end using the clamps

paying particular attention to the element spacing.

ELEMENT ASSEMBLY

using l-1/2” U-Bolts (UOZ), Saddles (SO2), and

O.D. x 72” slotted tubing

O.D. x 72” tubing (TOl). Using clamps (W58P)

insert the

MAST MOUNTING

tubing into the slotted ends of the

and slide a boom-to-element

solder as shown. (Ref. Detail

Nuts

tubing (TIlP)

Adjust each fiberglass arm so that the reflector wire becomes taut and each leg of the square is

9”. A slight natural bowing of the fiberglass arms is normal. This will not affect normal operation of the

antenna as long as the lengths of wire are correct. (Ref. Detail 2A)

The Y-Quad may be mounted on a l-1/2” O.D. mast using U-Bolts, Saddles in Detail 28. line for the top 20 feet of the guy cables. Also, the guys should be located at least 12 feet below the level

of the boom. Although it is very desirable to mount the antenna on a mast so that the elements clear the top

of the tower, this should not be attempted unless you are certain that your installation is sturdy enough. Experimentation has shown little, if any, affect on the operation of the antenna by mounting it 2 feet above the top of the tower, or by mounting a rotator so that it lies between the vertical elements. The first

consideration should always be the mechanical stability of the antenna.

If mounted on a guyed tower break up the guys every 3 feet by using egg insulators in the guy

Y QUAD

Hardware as shown

2

FIGURE 3. GAMMA MATCH MOUNTING

Mount the (2) gamma matches using the gamma straps (ZO2P, cables to the connectors (S42) and dress along boom and down the mast.

ADJUSTING STANDING WAVE RATIO

Refer to Figure 3. The dimensions given are approximate and should be used as a starting point. The following instruction covers the adjustment of one gamma match. To adjust the second gamma match simply repeat this procedure. The gamma match has (2) adjustments. First is the capacitor adjust and second is the slider adjust. First connect a S.W.R. bridge to the coax. between your transmitter and the antenna and check the S.W.R. If adjustment is required first loosen the clamp on the gamma match and the screws holding the slider (Gamma straps adjustment first one direction then the other until a minimum S.W.R. reading is obtained. If S.W.R. is not yet satisfactory, first move the slider out 2” away from the boom. the slider back to the original position and the 2” towards the boom. Now readjust the capacitor for minimum S. W.R. You should now be able to determine which direction to move the slider. Repeat the above procedure moving the slider in smaller increments until a satisfactory S.W.R. reading is obtained. Tighten all hardware.

NOTE:

Upon completion of assembly place the Red Plastic Cap Element end of the boom and the Black Plastic Cap on the Reflector end of the boom. This will allow

you to determine at a glance the direction of transmit

Disconnect the S.W.R. bridge

and attaching hardware as shown. Attach your 52 ohm

to the horizontal and vertical driven elements,

coaxial

Next move the capacitor

the reading has gone up move

reconnect your coax. cable.

on the Driven

receive.

Serious

contact

raising

I

- l-112”

ALUM. TUBING

(BOOM CENTER)

I I

------

U02, S02,

U-BOLTS

NUTS & WSHRS.

(TYPICAL 2 PLACES)

DETAIL IA

NO2

HORIZONTAL

5”)

ELEMENT

REFLECTOR ELEMENT (13’

REFLECTOR

ELEMENT

I

10” APPROX.)

APPROX.)

ALUM. TUBING

I l-112” U-BOLTS

I

I I I I I I I

UO2, S02. l-112” U-BOLTS

I

VERTICAL ELEMENT MOUNTING

O.D.

TUBING

NUTS

HORIZONTAL ELEMENT MOUNTING

HORIZONTAL

SADDLE

WSHRS.

SADDLE

WSHRS.

(BOOM END)

O.D.

I

I I

I

(TYP. 4 PLACES)

\

Please

the Assembly

Troub eshooting Tips at the

end of this instruction booklet before assembling elements.

I

\ FIBERGLASS

I

I I

P

O.D.

TUBING

DETAIL 1 D

(TYP. 4 PLACES)

ELEMENT ASSEMBLY

DETAIL

CLAMP WITH SCREW

O.D.

TUBING

SQ. NUT I

BOOM TO MAST PLATE

Y QUAD

I

I I

ELEMENT SPACING

DETAIL 1 B

(TYP. 2 PLACES)

i

I

4

DIMENSIONS AKE ONLY PRELIMINARY. CHANGE TO GET

~:Qll/\l.

9’.

LENGTH IS NOTCRITICAL. HOWEVER

9’ IS

CKl-IlCAI..

U-BOLTS

S02,

NUTS

N02,

SADDLES

WSHRS.

DETAIL 2A

PLASTIC CAP

DIRECTION

CUSTOMER

RED

O.D.

REFLECTOR WIRE

BLACK

PLASTIC CAP

REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY

MAST MOUNTING

Y QUAD

*

NOTE.

THESE DIMENSONS ARE

MATE. REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS Of;

THE S.W.R. TO DETERMINE EXACT SETTINGS. THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE GAMMA ADJUSTMENTS, 1. CAPACITOR ADJUSTMENT, 2. SLIDER POSITION.

DO NOT MOVE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

MOVE THE CAPACITOR FIRST, THEN, IF NECESSARY MOVE THE SLIDER, AND GO BACK TO THE CAPACITOR.

(INSTALL FLUSH AGAINST BOOM-TO-ELEMENT MOUNT)

S21.

LK. WSHR.

N12

WSHR. B SQ NUT

SCREW

24 NUT

SC!. NUT

S42

\

STRAPS

CUSTOMER FURNISHED COAXIAL CABLES

GAMMA (SLIDER)

Y QUAD

i

HORIZONTAL GAMMA MATCH

V

VERTICAL/ DRIVEN ELEMENT

SHOULDER

WASHER

VERTICAL GAMMA MATCH