I’m designing my version at the moment. I like the zip-tie idea to create the cord loops, but you need to use an electric rope cutter to fuse the ends of the ropes to guard against fraying and moisture wicking.
What did you use for the spreaders? I've been looking everywhere, but they're either really expensive or from O.S (which makes them really expensive by the time you do foreign currency orders). Les -VK1LH
Great build overall, but here's a question - your use of para cord and zip ties between the elements, when para cord gets wet, it's going to be conductive, and your para cords are tied to ring terminals which are (at least at first glance) connected to your element wire. Isn't that potentially going to create a circuit between your poles?
I haven't finished the video yet and already found myself needing to comment/ask questions. First, it looks VERY nice. I've seen "factory" antennas that were not nearly as professional looking. I am jealous as the center post on my my somewhat famous store bought hex does not have the structural integrity that it should. Yours looks like what I want mine to be like. I suppose I'll have to make my own. Mine does work well but leaves one feeling like it's ready to give up the ghost. Now, I don't know how I can get an answer to this. I'll have to look for contact info later. I really want to know what EVERYTHING is made of. Especially the spreaders. Mine are fiberglass and I'm told are difficult to procure. Disappointing upon inspection and finding the wall thickness varies an insane amount. I had an accident which caused me to buy some spare spreaders. I bought extras thankfully. I tried to fix my mess WITHOUT removing the wires from their connections to "save time". Well, this caused me to do a degree of manhandling the spreaders. Not GORILLA but man handling. With little pressure a tube split. Right at the thinnest part. "What a surprise". So I'm very intrigued with the kind of material you've used for the spreaders. Last, I had a lightbulb in my brain last night. Can you stack hexbeams? Would it work and add enough gain to make it worth the trouble? I am a huge proponent of hex beams. I live on a postage stamp sized QTH. The Hex Beam and AB 577 MAST have made the impossible possible. A 20 foot diameter hex beam that's raised weekly to 50 feet (I will go higher if I can ever find 1 to 4 more mast tubes) by myself in about a half hour or less. Even at what is now the very bottom of the solar cycle, I'm routinely working Africa and Europe. From Northern California. One contact was the East Coast of South Africa at the southern quadrant. Almost 11,000 miles. Just a little further and I'll be at the magical halfway point of the circumference of Earth.
@@VK5IR Very professional finish Theo. I see Haverford sell Squid poles in various lengths, however your sections never look as thin as their thinnest sections. The K4KIO site shows an overall finished length of 3.4163m for each spreader - so I'm wondering exactly what parts you ordered from Haverford. I'm thinking they would be the 'base' components from various Squid Pole stock kits. Look forward to building one. 73 de VK2FALF
Hi Very good work. Look profetion home made. Can you send me the antenna sketch or tell me the length of the wires (the screen and the reflector) of each band? Thanks Avi
Kind of. In Australia we call them squid poles. I believe they are intendted to be long surf-rods for fishing. haverford.com.au/collections/telescopic-squid-poles/products/5m-telescopic-poles-multi-purpose?variant=12702551769201
I am kind of speechless. Uh . . . Thank you very, very much. Outstanding work; the build, the video, and the attention to detail. Thank you!
Excellent! 4K video too. really a sneak peak view of the built. appreciated. Thank You!
Thanks for the video Theo youve done a great job cheers Allan VK5MAD
Soo beautiful!!!
Quality HexBeam congrats,
Really nice constaction...thanks for share
Very good! Looks profissional.
I’m designing my version at the moment. I like the zip-tie idea to create the cord loops, but you need to use an electric rope cutter to fuse the ends of the ropes to guard against fraying and moisture wicking.
Yes, I singed them using a cigarette lighter after recording the video.
awesome Theo I reckon an nbs will fit in your yard
First-Class construction. I always had good luck with stainless Nyloc nuts. Maybe you could convert the trampoline into something, too. :-)
Yeah, I did switch to stainless nylock nuts for the base plate before it went up as I worked out that non nylock nuts came loose too easily.
Great Job. what are the cables you used to join the elements. 50ohms or 75ohms?
What did you use for the spreaders? I've been looking everywhere, but they're either really expensive or from O.S (which makes them really expensive by the time you do foreign currency orders). Les -VK1LH
Too hell with your antenna, LOOK AT THAT LAWN Mate! I could cry! Hexbeam looks the goods too well done great job.
Great job mate, where did you find the spreaders, hard to find in Australia
Good job on the build, but might want to find alternative to zip ties as the UV will make them brittle
Great build overall, but here's a question - your use of para cord and zip ties between the elements, when para cord gets wet, it's going to be conductive, and your para cords are tied to ring terminals which are (at least at first glance) connected to your element wire. Isn't that potentially going to create a circuit between your poles?
It hasn't been an issue yet. I closely followed the build instructions at hex-beam.com which is the methos suggested.
I haven't finished the video yet and already found myself needing to comment/ask questions. First, it looks VERY nice. I've seen "factory" antennas that were not nearly as professional looking.
I am jealous as the center post on my my somewhat famous store bought hex does not have the structural integrity that it should. Yours looks like what I want mine to be like. I suppose I'll have to make my own. Mine does work well but leaves one feeling like it's ready to give up the ghost.
Now, I don't know how I can get an answer to this. I'll have to look for contact info later. I really want to know what EVERYTHING is made of. Especially the spreaders.
Mine are fiberglass and I'm told are difficult to procure. Disappointing upon inspection and finding the wall thickness varies an insane amount.
I had an accident which caused me to buy some spare spreaders. I bought extras thankfully. I tried to fix my mess WITHOUT removing the wires from their connections to "save time". Well, this caused me to do a degree of manhandling the spreaders. Not GORILLA but man handling. With little pressure a tube split. Right at the thinnest part. "What a surprise".
So I'm very intrigued with the kind of material you've used for the spreaders.
Last, I had a lightbulb in my brain last night. Can you stack hexbeams? Would it work and add enough gain to make it worth the trouble?
I am a huge proponent of hex beams. I live on a postage stamp sized QTH. The Hex Beam and AB 577 MAST have made the impossible possible.
A 20 foot diameter hex beam that's raised weekly to 50 feet (I will go higher if I can ever find 1 to 4 more mast tubes) by myself in about a half hour or less.
Even at what is now the very bottom of the solar cycle, I'm routinely working Africa and Europe. From Northern California. One contact was the East Coast of South Africa at the southern quadrant. Almost 11,000 miles. Just a little further and I'll be at the magical halfway point of the circumference of Earth.
czcams.com/video/1zuoTaJD2s0/video.html
with this kind of results what kind of power were you running
Thanks, good antena!
Greetings from Belgium 73
Great walk around man. Looks great. Awesome job. How’s the vswr at this height ? Should be under 1.5 across
At only just over 3ft off the ground, the SWR is between 2-3:1 however I know it will be fin when I put it in the air.
Thought I'd add now that the antenna is at 30ft, all band's are ≤1.5:1 SWR across all band's.
@@VK5IR show us a picture with your antenna up at 9 meters
@@rolandlang3590 czcams.com/video/KJRReEeUXfk/video.html
This is at 10m height.
Nice build! How has it held up since you made this video?
So far, so good!
nice
Odlično 73
Beautiful job! Where did you source your spreaders? 73!
Haverford in Sydney
@@VK5IR Very professional finish Theo. I see Haverford sell Squid poles in various lengths, however your sections never look as thin as their thinnest sections. The K4KIO site shows an overall finished length of 3.4163m for each spreader - so I'm wondering exactly what parts you ordered from Haverford. I'm thinking they would be the 'base' components from various Squid Pole stock kits. Look forward to building one. 73 de VK2FALF
Hi Very good work. Look profetion home made. Can you send me the antenna sketch or tell me the length of the wires (the screen and the reflector) of each band?
Thanks Avi
All the info you need can be found at hex-beam.com
Hi there, are there fishing poles?
Good job
Kind of. In Australia we call them squid poles. I believe they are intendted to be long surf-rods for fishing.
haverford.com.au/collections/telescopic-squid-poles/products/5m-telescopic-poles-multi-purpose?variant=12702551769201
What poles were used in that project ?
haverford.com.au/collections/telescopic-squid-poles/products/5m-telescopic-poles-multi-purpose?variant=12702551769201
Beautiful job! Any ballpark figure for cost total?
Hi. It cost me about $700AUD.
@@VK5IR Thanks, hope it's still serving you well!
@@andrewmullen5770 Sure is!
@@andrewmullen5770 It sure is!
Hi Theo, nice video, looking for the schematics from this antenna, hope to see you on the band, Antonio PY2CAT
Hi Antonio. Al the info can be found at hex-beam.com
@@VK5IR Thanks Theo, 73
Ндааа.... настолько небрежно относиться к своему хобби...
Very nice indeed! 73 kf0alt
Great video! de W2CSI