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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- 5R8SV erects a K4KIO hexbeam using a heavy duty Spiderbeam aluminum 10 meter telescoping mast, a Yaesu gs-065 thrust bearing, and a Yaesu G450 rotor. Fabrication of a wood and metal support is described. The video shows how to put these elements together and guy the antenna, including wiring of the rotor and rotor controller. The video also provides answers to two installation questions: 1) how to fix the rotor controller and cable if the provided molex connectors do not match; 2) how to convert the controller from 110V operation to 220-230V operation by rewiring the transformer.
Excellent video and narration too.
I have the same antenna at 35 ft. on a Rohan 25 G and the same Yaesu rotors. It’s been up about 10 years and has performed very well with 190 iDX locations to it’s credit. We are just getting out of an ice storm and one end of the 17 meter element came loose. 😩
I like your set up and think I might take down the tower and use your method of installing a new hex beam. I’m 74, and coming to the end of my climbing day. (well that’s what the xyl says)
Best of luck to you in your new QTH, hope to work you some day.
73
wd4dda
Thank you for this video. It's incredibly informative and so well narrated. I've been thinking about a hex beam setup exactly like this in my own backyard here in Missouri. At my previous residence I had a 45 foot tower with a Mosley classic tribander (24 foot boom). The base for it was 90 cubic feet of concrete, which was quite the project. For my next antenna I'd like something like what you have assembled in this video, sturdy, yet less permanent. Thanks for showing me how it's done. You did a great job and it's well thought out. - AB0TA
Excellent - I'm about to put a KIO up and the video was very helpful and professionally done - many thanks. - N6DBZ
Very nice video. I am installing almost identical antenna and rotor but on a tripod tower mount on my roof about 9 M above ground. I purchased the Hex Beam from SP7IDX in Europe.
Pretty nifty setup! You have used almost the same mast as used by the VWS Spiderbeam (the tube wall might be a bit thicker).
If the storms can topple trees, I would be concerned that might pull away the tower unless you can quickly disconnect it (just insert a 300# working strength carabiner, or slip the knots) when you lower the tower during storm preparation. The eye-bolt should be at least 8" to ensure good load distribution into the heartwood (assuming it is a hardwood tree), and you might need to unscrew it as the tree grows, or to release the tension on the 'biner if needed. I gather that you plan to lower the tower before there is significant wind-load, (as you know from ours) it can be done is just a few minutes, but you might consider applying a third (standing) platform, or quick ladder attachment, so you have stable footing, control, & posture while you raise & lower it.
The lowest 'hose' clamp seems to be rather low on the tangs, and I have noticed on ours, that if too close to the ends of the curfs, can cause permanent deformation & stress weakening, visible as a slight 'frosting' of the aluminum surface due to crystalline/domain separation. Somewhere I read that the manufacturer recommended the clamp be kept within 1/2" of the end of the tube. The deformation can also cause increased friction during the hand raising effort even if the clamp is loose.
If you want the post to last more than a few years, assuming it is not pressure treated, you might also consider frequent paint crack inspections or a cuff or collar around the bottom 18" of the post, to keep down the bacterial infiltration (& rot), when rain splashes or wind blows soil & microbes up onto the post at the concrete flex point.
73, John, KA4YMA
Excellent video, very informative. Just received my K4KIO Hex Beam aswell and am still deciding how to erect this beam. Your tips on converting the 110v to 220-230v operation is very helpful since it is also a standard in my QTH.
Hope to work you on the bands,
73, Zul V85CZ
Thank you for the fascinating video. Is the antenna working to your expectations after all of this work?
Almost identical to my set-up. Nicely done. Interestingly, my molex connector correctly matched the plug on my 450...square round square on the bottom row, round square round on the top. Weird that yours didn't. I'm using a Rohn 9H50 mast with a 2.25" (57mm) OD. The rotor will accommodate masts up to 63mm.
73 Mark KD8EDC
+Mark Tosiello Thanks. Yes, I have no idea why the connectors didn't match up. I ordered everything from Universal Radio. Perhaps at some point the manufacturing process switched from one standard to another and I just got a mix of old and new standards? If I were somewhere with fast mail-order I might have tried to get a replacement connector, but trans-shipping to Madagascar takes a couple months at best. Even business couriers like Fedex, DHL, etc., typically take a week. 73! Jack 5R8SV
How do you like the Rohn 9h50? seems like the short mast but will ship UPS
There was absoloutely nothing wrong with the molex connector, you simply installed the pins on the wrong side of the connector. Look at the connector diagram and look at your connector in your video clip.
Tnx for your time and nice video Jack.
Just contact today with you :-) i was 20 years in qrx, recently returned to radio becose im just retired :-)
73 dx EA5OM
Leave it to yaesu to F something so simple up
Good job! PY1VOY Rick