SteppIR UrbanBeam User guide

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Page 1

REV 1.22

4/15/2020

13406 SE 32nd Street, Bellevue, WA 98005 l Tel: [phone] l email: [e-mail]

This assembly manual is intended to be
printed in full COLOR. If the manual is
printed in black and white, many im-

portant details could be lost.

ASSEMBLY MANUAL

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Specifications UrbanBeam Yagi

Boom length 4.0 ft / 1.22 m

Boom outside diameter 1.75 in / 4.45 cm

Longest element 30.5 ft / 9.3 m

Turning radius 15.5 ft / 4.72 m

Weight 45 lb / 20.5 kg

Wind load - EIA-222-F/G 7.9 ft2 / 0.73m2

Wind load - EIA-222-C 4.4 ft2 / 0.41m2

Wind rating 100 mph

Adjustable elements 2

Power Rating 3000 watts continuous

Feed points 1

Frequency coverage 6.8 MHz—54 MHz

Control cable 12 conductor shielded, 22AWG

Frequency Gain

dBi

Front to

Back

dB

Front to

Rear

dB

40M 1.61 9.55 (F/S)

30M 1.772 9.63 (F/S)

20M 6.50 16.5 12.0

17M 6.6 21 12.6

15M 6.6 24.6 14.0

12M 6.7 18.5 15.7

10M 6.65 14.8 14.8

6M 6.15 4.0 4.0

UrbanBeam Yagi Specifications

PREAMBLE

1

A full size dipole is referenced at 2.1dBi

2

Measured SWR is 2.3:1 for this model on 30m

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page(s)

Preamble 2-19

Antenna specifications 2

YouTube Assembly Instructions by Pascal Villenueve, VA2PV 5

Urban Beam Drawing 6

OK, NOW WHAT?? Advice from Jim Streible K4DLI (SK) 7-8

Parts Checklist 9-10

Assembly Kits—Bill of Materials 11-12

Assembly Notes (Read before you start assembly) 13

A Word About Stainless Steel and the Potential for Galling 14

Antenna Overview 15

Section 1 — Boom / Mast Plate Assembly 16-25

Overview 16

EHU Boom Locations 17

EHU Placement 18

EHU Overview 19

EHU Wiring 20-21

Director EHU Drawing 22

Attaching Director Mounting Plate & EHU to Boom 23

Driven EHU Drawing 24

Attaching Driven Mounting Plate & EHU to Boom 25

Section 2 — Mounting the Boom to the Mast Plate 25-28

Mast Plate-to-Boom Overview Drawing 26

Attaching Boom to Mast Plate 27

Mounting the Terminal Housing Tube 28

Section 3 — Boom Wiring & Initial Testing 29-31

Wiring EHUs to Control Cable 29

Connecting Control Cable to DSUB 30

Wiring Test 31

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URBANBEAM TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page(s)

Section 4 — Preparing Telescoping Poles and Loop Tubes 32-41

Overview 32

Preparing Pole Tips 33-34

Sizing the Pole Tip Remnants for Loop Tubes 35

Attaching Sweep Couplers to Sweep Tubes 36-37

Attaching Poles & Loop Tubes to Sweeps 38

Joining the Loop Halves Together 39

Prepare the CPVC inner-guide tube & diverter cone 40-41

Section 5 — Final Assembly 42-45

Securing the element tubes to the EHU 42-43

Mounting the UrbanBeam to the Tower Mast 44

Last Steps 45

Section 6 — Troubleshooting 46-47

Troubleshooting tips 46-47

Section 7 — Miscellaneous 48-49

Warranty 48

Contact Information 49

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Pascal Villeneuve, VA2PV has done an excellent series on
YouTube showing the unboxing and assembly of the Urban
Beam Yagi antenna. He also did a comprehensive review of
the product including the OptimizIR controller. Below are
links that we HIGHLY recommend you review thoroughly be-

fore unboxing and assembling your Urban Beam Yagi:

Unboxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KlkyR3S9v8
Assembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKLnPsXhUYE
Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InKqrViwrxk

If typing these links in are laborious, simply go to www.youtube.com and then

type in Pascal Villeneuve, Urban Beam, and the three links will appear.

Special thanks to Pascal Villeneuve VA2PV for the time he spent making these in-

credible 4K HD Videos!

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OK - - - NOW WHAT?

(Sage advice from Jim Streible, K4DLI, SK)

PREAMBLE

You have ordered you SteppIR Antenna and are

waiting for delivery. What do you do in the meantime?

1. Go to the SteppIR web site at www.steppir.com and download the latest manual for your antenna,
and also the Operators Manual for the controller.

2. Read the manuals from cover-to-cover ---TWICE! Don’t just read them –Study them, so you are
familiar the terminology used about the antennas and have a good idea of how the antenna is as­sembled and where the various parts go.

3. As you go through the manuals make notes of any instructions you may not clearly understand,
then call or email for clarifications. It is better to have it all sorted out before you start assembly.
We don’t mind answering your questions beforehand.

4. Now, wait for notification your antenna is being shipped.

Your antenna has arrived!

What is the first thing to do?

1. If the antennas is to arrive on Wednesday----DO NOT plan an antenna party for Saturday!

2. Even if you plan to install the antenna weeks later, the first thing to do is to unpack the antenna

and do a complete inspection. Make sure nothing is missing or has been damaged in shipment.

3. Do a complete inventory of every part, nut and bolt. Yes it takes time, but it also allows you to

notify SteppIR if anything is missing and allow time to get it to you before you start assembly of
the antenna. There is nothing more frustrating than realizing that something is missing, just
hours before you want to install the antenna.

4. Go back to the SteppIR website and download the latest manual. SteppIR constantly is improv-

ing and adding to the manual, so even though your paper instruction manual is going to have all
the data you need, it makes sense to check for the latest updates online. This is especially true
if you purchased the antenna and a period of time has passed between arrival and install dates.
The Manual revision is published on the front page in the lower right hand corner.

5. Take the controller and power supply out of their wrappings and connect them. The controller

does not have to be connected to the antenna in order to familiarize yourself with it. In fact, it is
best to get familiar with the controller when it is not connected to the antenna. Turn on the con­troller and read through the Operators Manual again while operating the controller in all of its
modes. Go through the menus so you know what each does and how to navigate through the
various menus and functions.

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OK - - - NOW WHAT? (continued)

(Sage advice from Jim Streible, K4DLI, SK)

PREAMBLE

Your Antenna Has Arrived!

What is the first thing to do?

(continued)

6. When you have finished working with the controller, be sure the display indicates “Elements

Home” and the controller has been turned OFF. When the controller is connected to the anten-

na and the controller is turned back on the next time, it will assume the antenna is extended to
whatever the controller display indicates. If the antenna is in the home position the controller
needs to be set to “Home” as well before you plug in the control cable.

7. Once the antenna is completely assembled and ready to mount on the antenna tower, use an
antenna analyzer, if you have one, to test resonance of the antenna. If you don’t have an ana­lyzer, try to borrow one. It will save you a lot of time and worry. Check the antenna on each
band for some sign of resonance within the frequency range. Leave the antenna on the default
frequency and tune the analyzer to see where the dip occurs. It will be somewhere below the
lower band edge on each band with the antenna 3 or 4 feet above the ground on saw horses.
Since it is so close to the ground, don’t expect to see a 1:1 SWR here, just look for a good indi­cation of resonance, something in the range of 1.5:1 to 3:1.

Once it has been determined this part of the antenna is working correctly do the following: Se­lect the lowest band and establish the dip condition by tuning the analyzer. Do not touch the
analyzer again. Retract the elements and then reselect the same band. The antenna should
come back the very near the same setting. Do this 2 or 3 times on each band. Also, try going
from the band being tested to any other band and back again and observe that the antenna
comes back to the same SWR reading. Now you know the antenna is tuning correctly from
band to band and is consistent.

8. When you are ready to use the antenna, be sure to “enable” all of the options you have pur-
chased with your controller or antenna. If you purchased the serial interface option, be sure to
set it up for your radio type and baud rate. When done enabling,

save and then turn the con-

troller off, and back on again

.

9. Enjoy the antenna!

73

Jim Streible—K4DLI

Jim passed away in early 2016, but his advice has enduring value.

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UrbanBeam PARTS CHECKLIST

✓

QTY Part # Description

1 70-3420-01 20m passive EHU (no lid - mounting plates acts as lid)

1 70-3403-01 40m driven element EHU (no lid, mounting plate acts as lid)

1 SDA100 Electronic controller

OPTIONS FOR SDA100:

1 01321 Transceiver interface
1 01324 Remote driver board
1 01323 Advanced lightning protection (ALP)
1 01322 Tuning relay

1 09002 33v___ (PN 09002)

72-0010-01 EHU Control cable wire pack consisting of:

1 Length 10’ four conductor cable

1 Coax seal (used to seal the control cable in the wire trough of EHU)

1 10-1018-11 1-3/4” Aluminum Boom (4 foot section)
4 10-1013-02 18 ft telescoping fiberglass pole
1 71-0022 UrbanBeam Instruction manual
1 71-0010 SDA 100 Instruction manual (MUSTANG Firmware)

4 60-1006-22 Quick disconnect boot 1.5" x 1.25" (connect poles to EHU)

12 10-1059-01 Polyolefin heat shrink (waterproof telescoping pole joints)

1 20-6208-01 25 pin D-SUB connector (only used if no D-SUB splice purchased)
1 20-6209-01 Backshell for 25 pin D-SUB connector
4 10-1703-01 1” OD x 18” Polyethylene sweep tube
4 10-1701-01 Metal loop struts (connects between adjacent sweep couplers)
2 70-2030-01 EHU aluminum mounting plate with foam aligning/insulating gasket

10 60-0112 10-32 SS set screw (one set screw per pair of saddles)

1 10-1021-43 8” x 8” x 0.25” Aluminum mast place (for use with aluminum saddles)
2 70-2025-23 CPVC Liner 40” without coupler
2 70-2025-13 CPVC Liner 49” with coupler

It is important that you do an inventory of the items that were shipped to you. Nothing is worse than
discovering a day before a planned installation that there are missing parts! We do our very best to en­sure that you receive everything needed for construction of your antenna, but better to be safe than
sorry—inventory your parts well in advance of your installation. The items in blue represent options
available for the UrbanBeam Yagi—you will need to check these items off only if you purchased them.

PREAMBLE

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Page 10

UrbanBeam PARTS CHECKLIST (continued)

PREAMBLE

ASSEMBLY KITS

(a bill of materials for each kit is shown on the next page)

✓

QTY Part # Description

1 72-0060-01 UrbanBeam Loop Hardware kit

1 72-0061-01 UrbanBeam Mast Plate hardware kit
1 72-0041-01 Glue, tape and anti-seize kit (use anti-seize on ALL stainless fasteners!)
1 72-0062-01 UrbanBeam Element Hardware kit

ANTENNA OPTIONS
Voltage suppressor (lighting arrestor) OPTION
1 06112 12 pin voltage suppressor (20-8052-01)
1 01501 Connector Junction Box (70-2034)

1 03322 12 conductor control cable _______________ ft

IMPORTANT: When setting up your SDA 100 or

SDA 2000 OptimizIR electronic controller, be cer­tain you have gone into the settings menu and en­sured that the Urban Beam Yagi has been selected
and saved before you use the controller. Failure to
do so can cause damage to your antenna.

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Page 11

ASSEMBLY KITS - BILL OF MATERIALS

✓

QTY PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

16 09-0013 3M Grip tape 2.3” x 1”

53 60-0014 6-32 Nylock nut

53 60-0016 6-32 Flat Washer

53 60-0186 6-32 x 2” SS Pan head Phil screw

16 halves 10-1155-01 Schedule 160 Sweep Clamps

1 09-0007 Silicone wrap, blue, 0.50” x 10mil; used for 40/30 loop; 5ft

roll

1 09-1025 11/16” conical grinding stone (pole tip preparation)

2 10-1702-01 Loop Splice 5 inch

6 60-6000-50 Type “M” (.312) #10 SS Hose Clamp .312”

UrbanBeam Loop Hardware Kit

72-0060-01

PREAMBLE

✓

QTY PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

4 10-1601-03 1.75” x .75” Aluminum Saddle Half

4 10-1601-22 2.00” x .75” Aluminum Saddle Half

4 60-0065 5/16” x 3.5” Hex head bolt, SS

4 60-0114 5/16” x 3.75” Hex head bolt, SS

8 60-0046 5/16” -18 SS Nylock nut

UrbanBeam Mast Plate Hardware Kit

72-0061-01

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✓

QTY PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

2 72-0054-21 EHU Housing Hardware Kit

8 60-0046 5/16” Nylock nuts

8 60-0065 5/16” X 3-1/2” Stainless steel hex head bolt

8 10-1601-03 1-¾” Aluminum saddle half

UrbanBeam Element Hardware Kit

72-0062-01

ASSEMBLY KITS- BILL OF MATERIALS (continued)

PREAMBLE

✓

QTY PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

10 60-0017 10-32 x3/4” Stainless steel machine screw

10 60-0018 # 10 SS washer

10 60-0019 10-32 Nylock nut

EHU Housing Hardware Kit

72-0054-21

✓

QTY PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

1 72-0009-03 Glue kit

1 09-0001 66’ PVC electrical tape

1 10-1028-01 Anti-Seize

2 10-1509-02 Diverter cone

1 10-1029-01 Connector Protector

Glue, Tape & Anti-Seize Kit

72-0041-01

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Page 13

ASSEMBLY NOTES

PREAMBLE

Before beginning assembly of this antenna, please read the manual in its entirety to familiarize
yourself with the task at hand.  Doing so will eliminate potential confusion.

Be sure to do an inventory of your parts as soon as possible after receipt of the antenna, and
well before your intended installation date - this way we can supply you any missing parts in
adequate time.

Be sure to check the insides of the aluminum tubing and the telescoping poles when unpack-

ing your boxes. In certain situations we put items inside these pieces to reduce the amount of

boxes used for shipping, which in turn reduces your shipping costs.

A large, cleared flat area is recommended for assembly of an antenna of this size and com­plexity. Typically, an area 10 ft x 35 ft would be ideal. We recommend using sawhorses or a
sturdy table when installing the boom. By having the boom elevated, it is easier to ensure that
the elements are level.  Rubber or nitrile gloves are recommended when applying the anti­seize to the stainless steel fasteners or the aluminum boom sections.

Be sure to refer to the UrbanBeam configuration drawing on the following page so that you
can fully understand how the antenna operates. In addition, the configuration drawing identi­fies EHU placement, which is important as you progress in your installation of the antenna.

If you have a flat surface that is at least 48” long, you can use it to make sure the two EHUs
are in the same plane. If you do not, the use of a level for adjusting the Element Housing

Units (EHUs) is highly recommended. This is a surprisingly accurate and consistent method.

When all the EHU’s are level, secure the boom to the sawhorses so that it cannot shift—this
will help considerably when you are leveling the mast plate.

Be sure to use the anti-seize compound supplied to prevent the galling of the stainless steel
fasteners. If you do not use the anti-seize, count on issues with the stainless steel hardware
galling.  Heat is one of the primary culprits with galling, so if you use a ratchet, steady speed
as you tighten will help minimize galling. We have found that when the anti-seize is applied to
the bolt portion of the hardware, it will eliminate any galling issues.

NEVER ATTEMPT TO WIRE OR CHANGE WIRING ON THE ANTENNA WHEN THE
ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER IS CONNECTED TO THE CONTROL CABLE, EVEN IF IT IS
TURNED OFF. This is the number one cause of installation failures for our products. Even

with power off, damage can occur. When the power is “off” on your controller, there is still a

very small amount of power feeding to the stepper motors, to effectively “lock” them in place.

This reduces the need for calibration of the antenna.

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Page 14

From time to time, we get complaints from customers regarding galling of stainless steel fasteners.

Here is an excerpt from the Industrial Fastener Institute's Standards Book:

Thread galling seems to be the most prevalent with fasteners made of stainless steel, aluminum,
titanium and other alloys which self-generate an oxide surface film for corrosion protection. During

fastener tightening, as pressure builds between the contacting and sliding thread surfaces, protec-

tive oxides are broken, possibly wiped off and interface metal high points shear or lock together.
This cumulative clogging-shearing-locking action causes increasing adhesion. In the extreme, gall­ing leads to seizing - the actual freezing together of the threads. If tightening is continued, the fas­tener can be twisted off or its threads ripped out.

During minor galling, the fastener can still be removed, but in severe cases of galling, a strong
bond between the bolt and nut can prevent removal of fasteners. Unfortunately, little is known on
how to control it, but here are two ways to minimize this effect:

Decreasing installation RPM speed will cause less friction and decrease heat generation. Lubrication
used prior to assembly can dramatically reduce or eliminate galling. Recommended lubricants

should contain higher amounts of molybdenum disulfide, such as graphite which is very commonly

used as a solid lubricant or special anti-galling lubricants sold by chemical companies.

We provide an anti-seize compound stick called “Thread Magic” (shown in picture below) with all of
our antennas and strongly encourage you to use it to reduce the aggravation of galling. The
Thread Magic stick is fantastic—you can get plenty of anti-seize on the fastener without getting it
on your hands!

Contrary to popular belief, galling of stainless steel is not a symptom of a "cheap" fastener - it is
prevalent in all types of stainless steel, aluminum and titanium fasteners. You can be assured that
the stainless steel fasteners we provide with our products are of very high quality.

Save yourself a lot of grief and always use a

thread lubricant when working with stainless
steel fasteners.

A WORD ABOUT STAINLESS STEEL GALLING

PREAMBLE

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Page 15

REVERSE DIRECTION (180 deg)

20m-6m Director

ANTENNA OVERVIEW

FORWARD DIRECTION (Normal)

The UrbanBeam Yagi antenna uses a loop element for 30m and 40M. The loop elements used for 40m and
30m are 50% shorter than a full size dipole element, with very little sacrifice in performance (-0.6dB).

The UrbanBeam is a dipole on 40m and 30m. The UrbanBeam performs as a 2 element Yagi on 20m-6m.

Assembly of the UrbanBeam can be broken into phases:

• Prepare the Boom with EHUs, Mast Plate, and Connector Tube (or optional Connector Box)

• Prepare the Element Tubes & Loop Tubes

• Final Assembly & Testing

40m, 20m-6m Driven

PREAMBLE