Maco Antennas Comet Assembly Instructions Manual

COMET

®

www.macoantennas.net

[phone]

MACO Antennas, A Division of Charles Electronics, LLC

302 S. East Street, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053

Copyright © 2009 Charles Electronics LLC • All Rights Reserved

MACO COMET

PACKING LIST

PART QTY OD SIZE LENGTH DESCRIPTION CHECKLIST

T59P 1 1 ½” .050” 72” ALUM. TUBING SWAGED ONE END ____

T28 1 1 ½” .050” 72” ALUMINUM TUBING ____

T11P 6 5/8” .050” 72” ALUM. TUBING SLOTTED BOTH ENDS ____
T01 8 ½” .050” 72” ALUMINUM TUBING ____
P01P 1 ¼” x 5 5” 1 ½” BOOM TO 1 ½” MAST PIPE ____
W04P 1 7/14 40” COPPER WIRE ____
FA1P 4 48” FIBERGLAS RODS ____
G01P 2 11 METER GAMMA MATCHES ____
Z08P 4 GAMMA STRAPS W/COAX CONNECTORS ____
S42 2 COAX CONNECTOR W/MOUNTING NUT ____

HARDWARE BAG #1
U02 10 1 ½” PLATED U-BOLTS ____
S02 10 1 ½” PLATED SADDLES ____
N03 20 5/16” LOCK NUTS ____

HARDWARE BAG #2
BE1P 6 1 ½” BOOM TO ELEMENT MOUNT ____
W58P 12 5/8” ALUMINUM CLAMPS ____
PL2 8 .437” PLASTIC CAPS – BLACK ____
PL4R 1 1 ½” PLASTIC CAP – RED ____
PL4B 1 1 ½” PLASTIC CAP – BLACK ____
S21 13 10-24 ½” MACHINE SCREWS ____
N11 13 10-24 SQUARE NUTS ____
N12 7 #10 LOCK WASHERS ____
N26 7 #10 FLAT WASHERS ____
Z02P 4 ½” GAMMA STRAPS ____
1 FIBERGLASS ROD KIT (4 SCREWS) ____

1 WARRANTY SHEET ____

1 INSTRUCTION SHEET ____
1 TIP SHEET ____

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.

Rev 05/09

r

BLACK
PLASTIC
CAP

(PL4)

REFLECTOR

-78”--.

\\\

1

l/2”

O.D. MAST
(CUSTOMER
FURNISHED)

.57”

--l

P

GAMMA

MATCHES

\

DRIVEN
ELEMENT

RED PLASTIC
CAP

lDIRECTOR

This figure shows what the antenna should look like when assembled. Specific assembly details are
shown on following pages. All hardware should be tightened securely, and then coated with silicon rubber
sealant or similar compound to prevent loosing from wind vibration .

Take care to locate all parts accurately per dimensions given.

Complete each step as instructed before

going onto the following steps.

After completing assembly, install red plastic cap (PL4R) on the director end of the boom, and the

black plastic cap (PL4B) on the reflector end.

This will enable you to tell at a glance the direction of transmit

and receive.

COMET

2

1 l/2”

U-BOLT (U02

1 112”

SADDLE (S02)

916”

LOCKWASHER (N02)

5/16”

HEX NUT

(NOI)

I

T2

/’

1

l/2”

U-BOLT (UO2

1

l/2” SADDLE.(S02)

5/16”

LOCKWASHER (N02)

5/16”

HEX NUT

(NOI)

1

l/2”

O.D. MAST

(CUSTOMER FURNISHED)

To assemble the boom slide the swaged ends of the boom section

(T59P)

0.152m into the boom

section (T28)

Mount the boom-to-mast plate (PO3P) to the boom using the 1

l/2”

U-bolts, 1

l/2”

saddles, and hardware

shown.

This antenna is designed for mounting on a 1 l/2” O.D. mast. Mount using 1

l/2”

U-bolts, 1 l/2’ saddles,

and hardware as shown.

3

COMET

Please

read the Assembly and Troubleshooting Tips

at the

end of this instruction booklet before assembling elements.

DIMENSION

I

ELEMENT

A

B

W58P. S21, Nl

1

[CLAMP WITH

#10-24x l/2”

DRIVEN

209”

68

l/2”

\SCREW

a

SQ.

NUT

\

DIRECTOR

204” 66”

\

REFLECTOR 161

l/2”

44

314”

FIBERGLASS

R

EFLECTOR

DMEN~IONS

ARE ONLY PRELIMINARY

.

CHANCE TO

OET

EQUAL

sms

OF 9’ 6”.

FIBERGLMS

LENGTH ISNOTCRITICAL,

HOWNER,THEEQUALWlRE

LENGTH

OF

9’

6”

IS

VERY

CRITICAL.

TIIPJ
518” O.D.

TUBING

TllP­5/8” O.D.

TUBING

ELEMEN I ASSEMBLY (FIGURE

3AI

-------

BE2P -

TUBING

BOOM-TO-

\

6

ELEMENT
MOUNT

MOUNT

>M

TIIP
518”

0 D

TUBING

UOl, SOI,

NO1 NO2

_

2”

u-BOL I a

SAVOLE

-----

mm--

HORIZONTAL

UOI, SOI. NOI, NO21

5116”

NUTS a WASHERS

1

7/8” p-

2”

U-BOLT a SADDLE

U

5116”

NUTS 8 WASHFRS

HORIZONTAL ELEMENT MOUNTING

ELEMENT SPACING

VERTICAL ELEMENT MOUNTING

(FIGURE 3B)

______--__---______----------------___

The length of the reflector wire is very critical. It must be the correct length to
operate correctly. Take the wire

(WO4P)

and uncoil it making sure that there are no
kinks; secure it to a nail. Pull the wire until it stretches an inch or so. The easy way
to get the correct lengc#,for the reflector loop is as follows

1. Drive 2nails in a board or fence

l/2

the length of the loop apart --which is 228”

(5.790m)

between them.

2. Stretch the wire

aro:zq$he

nails by hand as tightly as possible and splice ends

together. Solder the splice. Remove one nail

521,

Nil,

N12, N26,

and remove the loop. Cut any excess wire off.

3. Loosely assemble the machine screws

(S21),

flatwashers (N26), lockwashers

(N12),

and hex

nuts (N06) onto the lugs of the fiberglass arms,

adjusting the length as shown.

4. Tighten 3 of the 4 clamps that hold the

VERY

:RITICAL

zxq$F;; ;-Fiire as

shown,

6. Tighten the wire by pulling the fourth

FIGURE

3C

COMET

fiberglass rod until the wire is the same tightness as it was around the nails. The wire
loop is now the correct length. R EFLECTOR DIMENSIONS ARE ONLY PRELIMINARY. CHANGE

TO GET EQUAL SIDES

01;

9’ 6”.

FIBERGLASS LENGTH IS NOT CRITICAL, HOWEVER, THE EQUAL

WIRE LENG'I‘H

OF 9’ 6” IS VWY CRITICAL.

4

*

NOTE:

THESE DIMENSONS ARE APPROXI­MATE. REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON

ADnJSTINNG

THE S.W.R. TO

DETERMlNE

EX-

ACT SETTINGS. THERE ARE 2

St:PARATE

GAMMA ADJUSTMENTS, 1. CAPACITOR AD-

JUSTMENT, 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.

ZOBP-GAMMA

STRAPS
(INSTALL FLUSH AGAINST
BOOM-TO-ELEMENT MOUNT)

ELEMENT

318” STARWASHER

FLATWASHER

PLASTIC

SHOULDEFi

WASHER

ZO2P

GAMMA

STRAk

(SLIDER)

1
I

I

1

VERTICAL/

DRIVEN ELEMENT

l!-

GOlP

USTOMER FURNISHED

OAXIAL

CABLES

HOHILON 1

AL

GAMMA MATCH

COMET

GAMMA MATCH MOUNTING

GOIP

VERTICAL
GAMMA MATCH

COMET

Installing and rigging towers, masts and antennas require specialized skills and experience. Information

ACO

supplied by M
similar products before. No one should attempt to install towers or masts without these knowledgeable skills.

MACO assumes no liability if faulty or dangerous installation practices are used. There are available, trained
and experienced personnel to assist in installation, maintenance, or disassembly. Contact your local installer if
consultation or assistance is required.

All tower and antenna installations should be thoroughly inspected at least twice a year by qualified,
experienced, and trained personnel to insure proper performance and safety standards.

An additional warning precaution is given to be careful of surrounding high voltage power wires and other
electrical hazards during installation of your tower, rotor, or antenna.

assumes that all products will be installed by personnel having these skills and have installed

Do not erect a tower, rotor, or antenna during an electrical
storm, rainstorm, or when lightning is a possibility.

MACO Antennas is a Division of Charles Electronics, LLC

www.macoantennas.net

[phone]

Revised 09/12/10