User manual BARKER & WILLIAMSON ALL BWD AND BWDS BROADBAND FOLDED DIPOLES

[. . . ] The antenna comes fully assembled and pretuned so no measuring or cutting is required. It is all weather rated at 2KW PEP Input, 1 KW PEP Output SSB/CW ICAS (Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service), and permits use of the full capabilities of today's continuous coverage transceivers. Its single feedline operation for all bands provides excellent performance for military, emergency management, commercial, and amateur installations. Installation will determine the type of propagation, with skywave/groundwave combination, or just skywave for NVIS use. [. . . ] It may be possible to lay the antenna on the ground in desert/low water table environments. In NVIS installations a counterpoise will sometimes enhance performance. If you are not getting enough distance from your NVIS setup, try raising the center of the antenna a few feet to make a very shallow inverted Vee. (Appropriate NVIS daytime frequencies are approx 5-12 Mhz, nighttime are 2-4 Mhz. ) (2) Conventional operation minimum clear height is recommended at 25 feet for operation down to approx 3. 5 Mhz (ends 12 feet for inverted Vee or sloper), and 40 feet for 1. 8 Mhz (ends 20 feet for inverted Vee or sloper). Less height does not disqualify operation, but may require a tuner on the lowest frequencies. Also, propagation may be reduced with inadequate height on the lower frequencies. (3) This is a non-grounded antenna, so surrounding "grounded objects" try to absorb your radiated wave on low frequencies. "Grounded objects" include metal towers/poles, roofs, gutters, trees, and the ground itself. When supporting from metal towers/poles, step off (or up) from the metal with a wood or PVC support arm 3 to 5 feet. (4) When installing in an attic or close to a roof, remember that power line and conduit/pipe runs become antennas that may cause coupling problems at certain frequencies. Always keep the balun and balancing network hanging in the air with proper support such as an FDMK, away from wood and insulation to avoid fire hazard. Check your feedline (including new ones) with a dummy load placed at the antenna end of the coax. (6) The location will usually be determined by trade-offs of height, available supports, and interfering objects. Sometimes, multiple trials may be necessary to judge which installation is best. Usually, adequate height is favored over other parameters. (1) 2/05 (7) Remember that the highest amount of energy is radiated at a right angle to the antenna wire, the minimum off the ends (when the antenna is parallel to the ground). By using an inverted Vee, you may change the angle of radiation, and therefor affect the distance of transmission at different frequencies. Put simply, the steeper (more vertical than horizontal) an inverted Vee is made, the more it will favor DX, and tend to skip over local stations at low frequencies. We recommend roughly 30 degrees angle down on a leg from horizontal for best general, overall results. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS (1) Determine your supports, paying attention to best possible height , antenna configuration, and alignment. [. . . ] SWR of 2:1 to 3:1 should be expected on 6 meters without a tuner. (2) (3) WIND AND ICE SURVIVAL WIND 100 MPH 150 MPH WITH 3 POLE SYSTEM 40 LBS 80 LBS WITH 3 POLE SYSTEM ICE WARRANTY STATEMENT Barker & Williamson guarantees each product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for 90 days from date of purchase. The warranty applies to the original purchaser only, and we will repair or replace the product at our discretion. Under no circumstances will Barker & Williamson be liable for any damages or consequential damages arising from use or misuse of our products. Warranty is voided if product is subject to misuse, neglect, accident, improperly installed or used in violation of the instructions furnished by us. [. . . ]