Driven Element Inner Support Tube

We began today by installing the remaining two-element housings on our SteppIR DB36. We first assembled and installed the element housing for Director 2. This step was nearly identical to what was done for the Reflector. The Driven Element housing is a different assembly due to its larger side. The first step was to install the two Inner Support Tubes onto the driven element stepper housing. These tubes are held in place with stainless steel clamps and a set of foam rings seal the inside of the driven element housing from the weather.

The next step was to support the driven element sweeps on sawhorses so that we could install them on the antenna. Note the white inner support tube extending out of the left element extension tube associated with the driven element. This is the end of the Inner Support Tube installed in the previous step.

Driven Element Loop

With the Driven Element sweeps installed, the final footprint of the antenna can be seen. The DB36 is truly a big antenna!

Completed Element Housings on DB36

The next step was to install the three Element Support Trusses for the elements with sweep housings (the Reflector, Driven Element and Director 2). You can see the support lines associated with the Reflector element support truss in the picture below. Similar truss assemblies were installed on the other two sweep elements and the support lines were adjusted so that the antenna elements droop about the same amount as Director 1. It is important that the ends of the sweeps droop enough to allow water which collects in the sweeps due to condensation to drain out of the ends for the sweeps. If they do not drain, the water can freeze and break the sweep housings.

Element Support Truss

The beginnings of the 80m Dipole assembly that will be installed on the upper of our two DB36 antennas are shown in the picture below. A support rope is fastened to the ends of the boom and to the element support truss posts to support the 80m Dipole.

80m Dipole Support End

The 80m Dipole switch is shown below. The 80m Dipole support lines from the ends of the boom are connected to the switch. The lines will support the wire for the 80m Dipole.

80m Dipole Switch

Well, our SteppIR DB36 is almost complete. Here’s a picture of the antenna with all of the element housings and associated trusses installed and adjusted.

DB36 with Element Truss Supports

We will complete the installation of the 80m Dipole, install the 6m Passive Kit, wire all of the control cables and test the antenna next. I hope to complete these steps sometime this week.

You can read more about our tower project via the articles which follow:

• First Tower Part 1 – Ground Broken For New Tower!
• First Tower Part 2 – Tower/Antenna System Design Details And Equipment Ordering
• First Tower Part 3 – More Excavation For Feedline Conduits
• First Tower Part 4 – Tower/Antenna System Analysis And Design (Planning And EZNEC)
• First Tower Part 5 – Tower/Antenna System Analysis And Design (HFTA Analysis)
• First Tower Part 6 – We Have A Tower!
• First Tower Part 7 – 100 ft Tower Completed!
• First Tower Part 8 – VHF/UHF Antenna System Design
• First Tower Part 9 – Feedline Conduits And Electrical Power Complete
• First Tower Part 10 – Building Yagis (70 cm)
• First Tower Part 11 – Building Yagis (2m)
• First Tower Part 12 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36)
• First Tower Part 13 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36 Continued)
• First Tower Part 15 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36 Completed)
• First Tower Part 16 – Building Yagis (Second SteppIR DB36 Completed)
• First Tower Part 17 – Feedline Breakout System
• First Tower Part 18 – Antennas On The Tower (Preparation and Upper Yagis)
• First Tower Part 19 – Antennas On The Tower (System Integration)
• First Tower Part 20 – Antennas On The Tower (System Complete)
• First Tower Part 21 – Antennas On The Tower (Final Odds and Ends)
• Complete Presentation on Amateur Radio Station Design And Construction

– Fred, AB1OC