adjustiwave essential user manual · 2020. 10. 22. · adjustiwave essential overview (continued)...

adjustiwave Essential User Manual

adjustiwave essential user instructions_V1_SEP_2020 PAGE 1 of 17

1.Title Page – Page 1

2.Contents –

3.Precautions before installing – Page 3

4.adjustiwave Essential overview – Pages 4 – 5

5.Components to be supplied by user – Page 6

6.adjustiwave Essential system components – Page 7

7.adjustiwave Essential main unit overview – Page 8

8.Setting up for operation – Pages 9 – 14

9.Operational bandwidth sweeps – Page 15 – 16

10.adjustiwave essential FAQ – Page 17

Contents

PAGE 2 of 17 adjustiwave essential user instructions_V1_SEP_2020

1.Please read this user manual thoroughly before use.

2.Do not touch the antenna when transmitting.

3.Do not install the antenna if there is a risk of thunder / lightning.

4.Do not touch the antenna / coax cable if there is thunder in the area.

5.Do not install the antenna near any overhead cables / structures where

power runs. Ensure if the antenna fell, it wouldn’t come in contact.

6.Do not install the antenna in high winds.

Precautions before installing

PAGE 3 of 17 adjustiwave essential user instructions_V1_SEP_2020

Thank you for purchasing an adjustiwave antenna system. The adjustiwave Essential antenna system operates on the principle of a standard ¼ wave vertical antenna. The antenna has been designed to operate anywhere in the radio frequency spectrum between 3.5 MHz and 71mhz MHz on systems without a choke balun and 3.5 MHz and 148mhz MHz on systems with the QRO choke balun option. The radiating element has been marked for the majority of amateur radio bands. Markers on the radiating element are only a guide. You may need to lengthen or shorten the vertical element dependant on the ground you set up over.

If you have the QRO choke balun option, power handling at resonance is around 1kw CW, power handling for digital modes will be a bit lower (I am unable to test fully due licence restrictions in the UK as well as not having a Linear Amplifier big enough!). 1 x Fair-Rite FT240-43 core is used along with DXW142 Coax. Common mode attenuation figures range from 28db on 80m to 30db on 10m. Most attenuation is on 20m at just under 37db.

Non QRO choke balun systems have an estimated rating of 2KW CW, again I unable to test this fully but there are no restricting components.

You will require to use a ground radial system with the adjustiwave essential. I recommend using a total length of 16 quarter wavelengths at your lowest frequency of operation. Radials do not have to be a quarter wavelength long. I personally use radials at 4m long but the total length is at least 16 quarter wavelengths.

On non QRO choke balun versions, a “Fixed Band Add-On” connection is included as standard. This is simply a connection to the vertical element. If you wish, you can add an additional wire element which makes the antenna act as a “Fan Vertical”. This is very handy for night time working where you can have say 40m set on the fixed band add-on & 80m set on the adjustable element. You can then switch bands without any adjustment.

adjustiwave Essential Overview


adjustiwave Essential Overview (Continued)

For operation on 15m (21Mhz) and higher, you have the option to use the antenna as a ¾ length vertical which will give you slightly better low angle radiation. ¾ wave lengths are not marked on the elements

For frequencies lower than 7 MHz the antenna becomes “Linear Loaded” meaning that the radiating element folds back over itself and forms an upside down “U”. Linear loading allows operation on the lower bands with very little loss in efficiency or operational bandwidth.

The antenna is “Mono Band” at any one time (unless you are utilising the fixed band option on a non QRO choke balun system) so you need to adjust the length of the radiating element when you want to change operating frequency. When you get used to the adjustment you will be able to change bands in about 30 seconds. The only band you may need to adjust when you want to work either the bottom or top end of it is 80m. SWR 2:1 bandwidth is about 270 KHz which is very impressive for an antenna that is only half the height of a full size ¼ wave vertical for 80m.

The adjustiwave is designed in such a way that it uses standard off the shelf components. This allows costs to be kept to a minimum. Please keep this in mind, the antenna has been built to be functional and not necessary aesthetically pleasing.

The adjustiwave does not necessarily need to be used as a standard ¼ vertical. How about building a parasitic/phased array or perhaps building a 4 square array utilising multiple adjustiwave antennas?


adjustiwave Essential System Components

1 2 3 41.adjustiwave main unit

2.Spreader arms x 3

3.Top spreader clamp plate

4.Spare parts – Wing nuts x 2, Penny washers x Half Nuts x 2


adjustiwave Essential Main Unit Overview

1

1. Vertical element reel

2. Vertical element slave reel

3. Mast clamps

4. SO239 connection

2

53

45. Bottom spreader arm clamps

6. Radial connection

7. Fixed band add-on (only on non Choke Balun systems)

76


Components to be supplied by user

1.12m Spiderbeam HD fibreglass pole

2.Guying components to fix Spiderbeam pole securely

3.Ground radials – For best results use a total radial

length of at least 16 quarter wavelengths at your

lowest operating frequency. The individual radial

length is not critical.


Setting up for operation

1. Remove the top section of the Spiderbeam pole (this shouldn’t be required).

2. Mount the Spiderbeam pole to its intended position (either guying or clamped to something).

3. Clamp the adjustiwave main unit to the Spiderbeam pole ensuring it is as low to the ground as possible.



4. Fit one of the spreader arms to the main adjustiwave unit with the pulley pointing up.



5. Fit the remaining two fibreglass arms to the top spreader clamping plate with the pulleys pointing down &

slightly tighten with a 6mm Allen key. Do not overtighten or you will strip the M6 threads in the nylon

plate (6 off M6 half nuts are included in case you do this).

6. Fit the top spreader plate & arms to the second last section of the Spiderbeam pole by sliding the rubber

tube clamp over the end of the section. Once you lightly tighten the two clamp screws, you should not have

to touch these again. You can just slide it on and off, friction will hold it in place.



7. Loosen the wingnuts on both vertical element reels. Slowly thread the line upwards and through the two top

spreader arms, down to the bottom spreader arm and hook the loop onto the small bolt on the slave reel as

shown.



8. Very slowly, raise all the Spiderbeam sections until it is fully raised keeping the top spreader arms

parallel with the bottom arm. You may want tape or clamp each joint to stop the pole collapsing.

9. Wind the vertical element slave reel anti-clockwise until the band marker of your chosen band is level

with the vertical element reel spindle. If you are operating lower than 7Mhz, the antenna will become

“Linear Loaded”.

10.Tighten the wingnuts on both vertical reels ensuring there is slight tension in the vertical element.



11.Connect your radial wires to the adjustiwave main unit or ground plate.

12.Connect your coax to the SO239 connection.

13.Check resonance with an SWR measuring device. If the antenna is resonant is lower than where you want,

shorten the vertical element. If the resonance dip is higher than you want, lengthen the vertical element.

14.You are now ready to operate and make some contacts.


Operational Bandwidth

80m - 270Khz SWR 2:1 Bandwidth

80m - 400Khz SWR 3:1 Bandwidth

60m - Entire band coverage SWR <2:1


30m - Entire band coverage SWR <1.5:1



These sweeps were taken using 48 radials at 4 meters long (192 meters in total) while set up in a clear open area.

Operational Bandwidth (continued)








These sweeps were taken using 48 radials at 4 meters long (192 meters in total) while set up in a clear open area.

adjustiwave Essential - FAQ

1. How many people does it take to set up the adjustiwave – I have designed this antenna so one person can set it up without any issues.

2. Can I use other fiberglass poles? – Of course. Any pole used just needs to be strong enough to support the top mount plate assembly and arms. You may not want to use 80m for example. If this is the case, why not use 6m of a 10m pole. You will still be able to operate 40m upwards. You may however require a different mast clamp and top spreader clamp plate.

3. How long does the antenna take to set up? – The system can be set up in around 20 minutes, much less when you are familiar.

4. I'm not seeing an SWR dip of 1.5:1 or less, what could be wrong? – Ensure you have enough ground radials and there isn’t any structures near by that could be having an effect, for example lamp posts.

5. The Band marker(s) do not align exactly with the reel spindle – This is completely normal, these are only a guide to get you in the ball park to check resonance with an SWR meter. The length of the vertical element will vary dependent on the number/length of radials and the ground type you set up over.

6. I still cannot achieve resonance on 80m and I have enough radials down and there is no nearby structures –Dependent on ground conditions, you may need to use the top section of the Spiderbeam pole. If this is the case, you will have to build up the 1st pole section diameter slightly so the top spreader plate can clamp securely.

7. Can I convert my adjustiwave Essential to an adjustiwave Standard? – Yes, the antenna has been designed modularly to allow an adjustable radial to be fitted to any Essential antenna system.


adjustiwave essential user manual · 2020. 10. 22. · adjustiwave essential overview (continued)...

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