™
TW2010L
The Adventurer Lite™
TransWorld Antennas
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
TransWorld Antennas
TW2010L
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Contents
1 Limited Warranty 3
2 Important Safety Information 4
3 Specifications
3.1 Mechanical 5
3.2 Electrical 5
3.3 VSWR Performance 7
4 Unpacking 8
5 The Components of your Antenna
5.1 The Structure 9
5.2 The Stand 10
6 Getting started
6.1 Tools needed 11
6.2 Antenna Setup 11
6.3 Connections 15
6.4 Tuning 16
7 Schematics 19
8 Contact Information 20
Due to continual product improvements, the information in this manual is subject
to change any time without notice. TransWorld Antennas will be held free from
liability, any problems arising from the use of this manual or the products
described herein.
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1 Limited Warranty
TransWorld Antennas warrants to the original owner of this product if purchased from an
authorized dealer or directly from TransWorld Antennas to be free from defects in
material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from date of purchase, provided
dated proof of purchase.
TransWorld Antennas agrees to repair or replace, at TransWorld Antennas’ option, any
defective product still under warranty. TransWorld Antennas will cover return shipping
only. The warranty becomes null and void if it is determined that the product was subject
to conditions beyond what the product is rated for, including, but not limited to, over
power limits, extreme environmental conditions such as flood or fire, or general misuse.
TransWorld Antennas will repair or replace, at TransWorld Antennas’ discretion, any outof-warranty TransWorld Antennas product provided all part, labor, or other repair costs
are provided by the customer, the amount of which is determined by TransWorld
Antennas.
All repairs, in warranty and out-of-warranty should be sent to TransWorld Antennas along
with a brief description of the problem and the circumstances, environmental conditions,
and equipment used at the time the problem occurred. For warranty product repairs, a
dated proof of purchase must also be supplied.
TransWorld Antennas will not be held liable, under any circumstances, for damages
resulting from the use of any TransWorld Antennas product.
TransWorld Antennas reserves the right to make changes to this product, in part or in
whole, at any time, in form, function, or manufacture, without obligation to install or incur
any costs relating to the installation of modified parts onto existing product.
This warranty gives you specific rights. Other rights may apply, which vary from state to
state.
An optional extended limited warranty purchased from TransWorld Antennas extends the
period of this warranty to 24 months or 36 months, depending on warranty product
purchased.
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2 Important Safety Information
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THE INSTALLATION OF THIS PRODUCT NEAR POWER
LINES IS DANGEROUS. FOLLOW THE ENCLOSED
DIRECTIONS.
1. If you are installing an antenna for the first time, for your own safety, seek
PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE. Your dealer can explain which mounting
method to use for the size and type antenna you are about to install.
2. Select your installation site with safety; the distance from power lines should be
at least twice the height of the antenna and mast combined. REMEMBER:
ELECTRIC POWER LINES AND PHONE LINES LOOK ALIKE. FOR YOUR
SAFETY, ASSUME THAT ANY OVERHEAD LINES CAN KILL YOU. When
installing your antenna, REMEMBER:
a. DO NOT use a metal ladder.
b. DO NOT work on a wet or windy day.
c. DO dress properly (shoes with rubber soles and heels, rubber gloves,
long sleeve shirt or jacket).
3. If the assembly starts to drop, get away and let it fall. Remember, the antenna,
the mast, the cable and the metal wires are all excellent conductors of electrical
current. Even the slightest touch of any of these parts to a power line completes
an electrical path through the antenna and the installer.
4. If any part of the antenna system should come in contact with a power line,
DON’T TOUCH IT OR TRY TO REMOVE IT YOURSELF. CALL YOUR LOCAL
POWER COMPANY. They will remove it safely.
GENERAL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAST MOUNTED ANTENNAS
1. Carefully follow the mounting instructions of the product.
2. Connect your mast at Ground by using a copper wire of minimum section 6 mm2.
3. Pay attention to the correct locking of nuts and screws.
4. If necessary (windy areas or very long masts) the use of special anti-wind rods is
recommended.
5. While your antenna is on Tx mode (transmitting) DO NOT stand nearby.
6. It is recommended to strictly respect the maximum power settled by law and
follow the instructions manual of the product.
7. Stick self-adhering “DANGER” label at eye level on your mast.
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3 Specifications
Congratulations on the purchase of your TW2010L antenna! The TW2010L
represents a revolutionary jump in HF antenna performance, convenience, and
reliability. The ruggedly built TW2010L was designed with ease of use in mind.
Therefore, all TW2010L antennas are pre-assembled and tuned at the time of
manufacture. With its compact three-part fold-up design, the TW2010L is ready
to go right out of the box1 for permanent or temporary installation using the
supplied quick break-down stand.
The TW2010L is a center fed vertical dipole antenna with a very low radiation
take-off angle (around 27 degrees above horizontal), allowing for very long skips
using low power on 10, 12, 15 17, and 20 meters2. The TW2010L is a groundmounted omni directional antenna, requiring no ground radials, tower, or rotor.
3.1 Mechanical
Dimensions (folded):
Three pieces, each less than 34" long
Antenna Dimensions (after setup):
Width: 5' 3-1/2"
Height: 6' 10-1/2"
8' 3" on permanent mounting tube
Weight: Approx. 10 lbs
3.2 Electrical
SSB 1,200W PEP
CW 800W
RTTY 500W
AM 375W, 100% mod (full legal)
1
Tuning may be required
2 Though some have reported some results on 2m, 6m, and 70cm, only 10-, 12-, 15-, 17-, and 20- meters are officially
supported by TransWorld Antennas.
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Band
1.5 : 1 Band Width
3
Typical minimum VSWR
15m <Entire Band>
1.1 : 1
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3 Specifications
Antenna (cont.)
10m 1,210 kHz 1.1 : 1
12m <Entire Band> 1.1 : 1
17m <Entire Band> 1.1 : 1
20m 200 kHz 1.1 : 1
(cont.)
Directionality: Omni directional
Vertical radiation angle: 27°
Band selection: 5-band manually switched at antenna structure
3
Test conditions: 100 feet of quality RG8/U coax, 100W output power, antenna mounted approx. 24” above ground with
no external objects, metallic or otherwise, within 20ft radius of the antenna.
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3.3 VSWR Performance
The five plots below represent the VSWR performance of the antenna under the
test circumstances noted on page 6. The term “bandwidth” here refers to the
range of frequencies over which the antenna exhibits a VSWR of 1.5:1 or less.
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4 Unpacking
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Here’s what you should find in your shipping box:
• Travel Bag containing the four main pieces of the antenna structure:
o Top section
o Middle section
o Bottom section
o Stand
Four leg assemblies
Stand body
Leg stop bracket
• Also included are:
o This manual
o Two shorting jumpers for band selection
Save all packaging materials! The original shipping materials may serve as a
very handy travel box for portable applications. Also, if the antenna is returned
for warranty or money-back guarantee claims, all original packaging materials will
be required for approved shipping.
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Top Section
Middle Section
B
ottom Section
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5 The Components of your Antenna
There are two basic components to your new TW2010L: The antenna
structure and the stand.
5.1 The Structure
The structure of your antenna has been built in three pieces, top,
middle, bottom. The top and bottom pieces fold up for quick and
easy travel. Fold-up and assembly of the three main structure
pieces is achieved using pre-installed clamp knobs. See below for
a summary of these four components.
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32.2” x 6.25” x 3.8”
30.13” x 7.41” x 4.88”
33.75” x 6.25” x 3.8”
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5.2 The Stand
Your TW2010L is supplied with a four-leg stand intended for both
permanent and temporary installations. The stand breaks down quickly
and easily into five pieces.
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6 Getting Started
Getting started with your new TW2010L is quick and easy. Follow these steps to
get started using your new antenna right away.
6.1 Tools Needed
A small Phillips screwdriver should be the
only tool ever needed for use with your
TW2010L, required to open the switching
array box for adjusting tuning (page 16).
Under normal circumstances, after optional initial tuning, no tools should ever be
required for break down, transport, and setup of the TW2010L.
6.2 Antenna Setup
1) Choose a location for your antenna. The area you choose for your antenna
should be at least 10 meters (about 33 feet) from any metal structure or other
objects that could detune the antenna.
Danger: The antenna should not be placed anywhere near power lines, as
serious injury or death could occur. And as always, CALL BEFORE YOU DIG to
ensure you know where buried gas, water, sewer, power, and other service lines
are located.
Danger: As with any antenna installation, exposure limits should be
calculated to ensure safe operation. Vertical dipoles, such as the TW2010L,
should not be operated at more than about 200W on 20m. Visit the ARRL
website (http://www.arrl.org/news/rfsafety/) for more information on exposure
limits and calculations.
The antenna’s coax feed line should be run at a 45-degree angle down from the
structure to the ground to minimize parasitic coupling (see figure on page 15).
Failure to do so will result in higher than expected VSWR readings. Plan for this
extra footprint when choosing a location for your antenna.
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2) Assemble Stand. First, locate the slits
in the exposed metal stud in the end of a
leg assembly. Align these slits with the
slot in the base of the stand body. Slide
the leg down into the stand body
completely.
Complete this step for all four legs,
keeping the stand upside down while you
work on it.
Next, slide the supplied leg stop bracket
down into the base of the stand body, as
shown at right, making sure it slides all the
way down until the L-bracket presses
against the leg studs inside the stand body.
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Finally, rotate the clamp ball clockwise
until the leg stop bracket is firmly
pinching the stand body wall, as shown
at left.
Now your stand is ready to use. To disassemble, reverse the steps above.
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3) Assemble antenna. First, attach the bottom section to the middle section,
making sure to slide the pieces completely together. The ¼” slots on the end of
the middle section should engage completely with the stud of the clamp knob on
the end of the bottom section, as shown in step 1 below. Tighten the clamp knob
snugly.
Attach the top section to the middle section, making sure to slide
the pieces completely together and tighten clamp knob.
Second, attach the middle section to the top section as shown in step 2 below.
Again, the clamp knob stud should fully engage with the slots on the end of the
top section. Tighten the clamp knob snugly.
TW2010L
Attach the middle section to the bottom section and tighten
clamp knob.
Finally, fold the arms of the top and bottom sections out as shown in step 3. The
arms should be folded out completely horizontal. Firmly tighten all four clamp
knobs to ensure that the top arms do not rotate downward over time.
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Loosen arm clamp knobs. Fold out arms on top and bottom
sections, then re-tighten arm clamp knobs.
3
5) Install shorting jumpers. Band selection
on your TW2010L is performed by moving a
pair of shorting jumpers to the appropriate
locations in the front of the antenna’s loading
box. To change bands, simply pullout the
jumpers and re-insert into the holes that
correspond to the new desired band, ensuring
that the jumpers are inserted fully until they
stop. In the example on the right, the 20m
band is being selected. Both jumpers must be
inserted into the correct holes for correct
operation.
4) Install antenna onto the stand. As shown at left,
slide the bottom of the bottom section onto the
stand’s insulator rod. As with assembly above, the
slots on the end of the bottom section should fully
engage with the stand’s clamp knob stud. Firmly
tighten the clamp knob.
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Warning: Remove jumpers from the antenna’s loading box prior to
transporting your antenna! The banana plugs on the ends of the jumpers can be
easily damaged if the shorting jumpers are subject to hard lateral forces while
plugged into the loading box. This type of damage can occur when transporting
the middle section in the travel bag or similar carrier without first removing the
shorting jumpers.
6.3 Connections
Warning: Turn off equipment before making or removing any connections.
Failure to do so could result in equipment damage.
Coax cable. Connect your coax cable to your
radio and to the SO-239 on the TW2010L’s
loading array box. It is highly recommended to
use at least 65 feet of coax on your TW2010L.
For best performance, use a high quality RG-8
or RG-8X coax cable.
Final connection notes: The coax cable should
feed the antenna at a 45-degree angle as
shown in the figure at right. Failure to do so
will result in parasitic coupling and cause
higher than normal VSWR readings.
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6.4 Tuning
Although your TW2010L was factory pre-tuned4, the environment in which your
antenna is placed has an effect on tuning. Some minor adjustments may be
necessary to tune the antenna to the desired center frequency for each band.
Check the tuning of the antenna using an analyzer or the SWR meter on your
transceiver before performing the tuning process. Post-factory tuning might not
be required.
Danger: Do not apply RF power to the antenna while anyone is standing
near the antenna. RF burns or electrical shock may occur, causing severe injury
or death.
Loading Array Operation. All of the coils on the top half of the loading array are
series connected. The shorting jumper shorts the signal to the metal structure,
bypassing all of the coils above a given band (the bottom half of the loading array
is effectively a mirror image of the top half). The tuning for each band depends
on the tuning for the previous band. Therefore, tuning must start at the 10m coil
pair and progress in order up to the 20m band.
Equipment. The tuning process requires Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)
measurement. These measurements can be accomplished using most any
antenna analyzer. However, these devices typically generate a very small signal
(less than 0.2W), and may show higher than expected VSWR readings. A
4
The antenna is pre-tuned to the center of the general portion of the phone band under circumstance that
may differ from the environment of your specific installation.
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reading of 1.3:1 at the tuned frequency is typical at this low power. The VSWR
readings should decrease once the antenna is used with 5W of power or more.
The VSWR reading on your transceiver will likely show a lower VSWR than a
low-power antenna analyzer.
Cables. Make sure that the coax used for the tuning process is at least 65 feet
long, and that the coax is installed at a 45 degree angle as described on page
16.
Tuning. To tune each band, each of two coils in the coil pair for that band must
be spread or compressed (see figures below). By spreading each coil in the coil
pair, the tuned frequency for that band will increase. Likewise, compressing the
coils in a coil pair will decrease the band’s tuned frequency. You should try to
spread or compress each of the two coils in a coil pair by the same amount.
1) Preparation. To begin the tuning process, remove the loading array cover
using a small Phillips screwdriver and connect the coax cable to the loading array
box, as described on page 15. The coax you use for the tuning process should
ideally be the coax you plan to use for the antenna during normal use. Connect
the coax cable to the device you wish to use to measure VSWR.
2) Start at 10m. Set the shorting jumpers to the 10m band (see page 14, step 5
for details) and determine to what frequency the antenna is best tuned. If you
wish to increase the tuned frequency, spread open each of the two coils labeled
“10m” on the switching array circuit board, as shown in the figure below.
3) Tune next band. Once the 10m band is tuned, set the shorting jumpers to the
12m band and tune the 12m band in a similar fashion as you tuned the 10m band
in step 2.
4) Repeat for remaining bands. Repeat the tuning process for the 15m, 17m,
and 20m bands, in that order.
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Final tuning notes
If lower bands exhibit very low VSWR, but higher bands suffer VSWR problems
(or vice-versa), the spread of the center coil can be adjusted to effect which
bands tune best. By spreading the center coil slightly, the low-frequency bands
will tune better, and by compressing the center coil, the higher-frequency bands
will tune better. But note that if the center coil is changed, the tuned center
frequencies may change and the tuning process above will have to be repeated.
If tuning proves difficult, follow this checklist to eliminate common tuning
problems:
Is your antenna placed at least 30 feet away from other objects (buildings,
people, trees, etc.)? The ends of the antenna’s arms are very sensitive to
coupling with external objects.
Is your antenna installed such that the arms are at least 24” off the ground?
The spacing between the antenna’s arms and the ground should be between 24”
and 36”.
Is your coax cable a high-quality RG-8 or RG-8X cable?
Is your coax cable long enough? At least 65 feet of coax should be used for
best results.
Is your coax installed at a 45-degree angle with respect to the antenna as in
the figure on page 15?
Are you checking the VSWR using less than five watts? Once at least five
watts is applied to the antenna, VSWR readings may improve significantly.
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7 Schematics
This page contains the schematics for the TW2010L’s TW-RB-2 loading array.
TW-RB-2
Loading Array
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8 Contact Information
If you need to contact TransWorld Antennas, just drop us an email at:
support@transworldantennas.com
Use this email address for help with installation, setup, tuning, or operation, for
product or company information, or warranty/money back guarantee claims.
Check back at our website frequently for product updates at:
www.transworldantennas.com
We can also be reached through our web-based contact system on the website.
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