DX Engineering DXE-AOK-17M User manual

17 Meter Add-On Kit
for
Hustler BTV Series Verticals
DXE-AOK-17M
U.S. Patent 7,554,500
DXE-AOK-17M-INS Revision 5b
DXE-AOK-17M Installed on a BTV
DX Engineering 2012
P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491
Phone: [phone] ∙ Tech Support and International: [phone]
Fax: [phone] ∙ E-mail: [email protected]

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The DX Engineering DXE-AOK-17M kit adds 17 meter coverage to the Hustler BTV series of
vertical antennas without giving up any existing band coverage. This kit will operate across the
entire 17 meter band with an SWR of 1.5:1 or less and adds negligible wind loading to the antenna.
No disassembly of the existing antenna is required, simply bolt this kit over the 10m trap, make
some minimal tuning adjustments to the vertical and you're on the air with an additional band. If
your BTV is installed on the roof or in an elevated position, 4 resonant radials for 17 meters should
be added.
Included Materials
The shipping tube contains the following components:
17 Meter Pre-assembled Loading Coil
Two Stainless Band Clamps with threaded studs
Long aluminum bracket
Short aluminum grooved bracket
Two 12 inch Hot Rodz with black vinyl covers for one end
Two Black Vinyl end caps for coil
1 Large washer
1 Carriage Bolt
6 #10x24 Hex Nuts
6 #10 Flat Washers
7 #10 Split Washers
4 #10 External Tooth Washers
1 #10x24 Wing Nut
Scotch-Brite® Pad for cleaning trap connections
Penetrox A –Prevent oxidation between the trap and band clamps
All hardware is Stainless Steel. When installing stainless steel hardware, it is suggested that UMI-
81343, UMI-81464, DXE-NSBT8 or DXE-NMBT8 - Never-Seez or Anti-Seize be used to prevent
thread galling on stainless steel.
Installation
If you have tuned your vertical by adjusting the various sections of the antenna, we recommend that
you return the dimensions of the vertical to the factory default settings before installing the 17m kit.
These settings are located in the Hustler assembly instructions that came with the vertical. The
instructions are also available for download on our website, www.dxengineering.com.
A Word About Power Levels
This kit was designed for use at power levels of nominally 850-watts or more in either SSB or
CW modes and duty cycles, with an SWR of 1.5:1 or less without the use of an antenna tuner.
Use in any continuous power mode such as RTTY (radio-teletype) operation should be done at
reduced power levels or duty cycles to assure long, trouble free performance.

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The 17m kit will attach to the BTV vertical right over the 10m trap using special clamps. The trap
aluminum cover should be cleaned prior to installation using the included Scotch-Brite® pad.
Assembly
The 17m kit is easy to assemble.
Figure 1 - Loading Coil Assembly
1. Using Figure 1 for reference, take the two black vinyl end caps and put one at each end of
the coil tube. These end caps may be pre-installed on some coil tubes.
2. Put one of the two small black vinyl end caps at one at the end of each Hot Rodz
3. Place an external tooth washer over each of 2 adjacent bolts on the coil assembly. It does not
matter which end of the coil is used.
4. Attach the longer aluminum bracket to the coil. See Figure 2. Place the bracket over the
bolts, install a flat washer, then a lock washer and nut over each bolt. Tighten firmly.
5. Insert the carriage bolt through the short aluminum bracket from the side opposite the
grooves. The square hole will prevent the bolt from turning. Use the large flat washer over
the carriage bolt, then a lock washer, then a wing nut. Tighten the wing nut just a few turns
on the bolt so the Rodz will still slide underneath the large flat washer.
6. Place an external tooth washer over each of the remaining bolts on the coil assembly. Then
attach the short aluminum bracket to the coil in the same manner as step 4. Make sure the
grooves in the bracket are facing away from the coil. Tighten firmly.
7. As shown in Figure 2, attach the two band clamps to the longer aluminum bracket. The
clamps should be mounted on the same side of the bracket as the coil. Orient the clamps so
the screw adjusters face the same direction. Use a flat washer, lock washer and nut on each
stud. Hand-tighten the clamp hardware. It will be fully tightened in a later step.
8. Insert the two 12 inch Hot Rodz into the grooves of the small bracket. Make sure they go
between the large flat washer and the aluminum bracket. The end with the vinyl cap should
face out. Hand-snug the wing nut to hold the Rodz in-place and adjust each one until there is
2 inches between the mounting carriage bolt and the short end of each rod. Tighten firmly
but do not use pliers on the wing nut. Hand tight is sufficient.

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Assembly of the 17m kit is complete. Firmly tighten the coil mounting hardware. Tighten the clamp
mounting hardware after the 17m kit is attached to the vertical and the band clamps are tight.
Figure 2 - Assembled 17m kit
Attaching to the Vertical
No matter which Hustler BTV model you have, installation of the 17m kit is identical. The kit
attaches directly to the vertical on the 10m trap cover 2 inches below the bottom edge of black
plastic trap cover, as shown in Figure 3, using the included band clamps. The trap cover where the
clamps are located should be cleaned prior to installation using the included Scotch-Brite® pad to
ensure a good connection. A small amount of the included Penetrox A anti-oxidizing compound
should be used to prevent future oxidation. Poor connections between the 17m kit and the trap cover
may result in a change of the resonant frequency or high SWR over-time.
Figure 4 - 17m and 12m
kits installed on a BTV
Figure 3 - 17m Kit installed on a BTV
The orientation of the 17m kit on the trap is important (see
Figures 3 and 4). If you are using a DX Engineering Tilt-Base
with your vertical, place the kit on the vertical so it does not
interfere or touch the ground when the antenna is tilted-down. Also, if you are using the DXE-
AOK-12M 12 meter add-on kit, ensure you orient the 17 meter 90 degrees from the DXE-AOK-
12M as shown in Figure 4. This will prevent the Tuning Rods from being too close to the other add
on kit which may cause overheating under certain conditions.

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Tuning
An antenna analyzer is the best way to adjust the resonant frequency of an antenna. Measurements
should be made at the antenna using a short (5 or 6 ft) piece of 50 Ohm coax between the antenna
and the analyzer. If you are too close to the antenna your presence can affect the tuning, if you are
too far, the coax length may act as a radial and resonate. Taking readings close to the antenna also
eliminates the possibility of a long or marginal feedline influencing the tuning or causing erratic
readings. You should tune the antenna for resonance (X=0) rather than for low SWR, although they
are often close or at the same point. Normally, the SWR goes down somewhat and the bandwidth
increases once the feedline is reconnected and you measure the SWR at the operating position.
Tuning the 17M kit
The 17M kit should be added to the antenna and tuned first. Start with the dimensions shown in
Figure 5. Because this kit has sufficient bandwidth to allow operation across the entire 17 meter
band with a SWR of 1.5:1 or less, adjust the kit to resonate at the middle of the band, or around 18.1
MHz. Adjustment to the resonant frequency is done by slightly loosening the wing nut holding the
Hot Rodz and adjusting the length of the Hot Rodz. Make both Hot Rodz longer to go lower in
frequency, make them shorter to go higher in frequency, Both Hot Rodz should be adjusted equally
and should not need to be adjusted more than a couple of inches. Make adjustments in small steps.
1/2 in. of adjustment should change the resonant frequency by about 75 kHz.
Figure 5 - Hot Rodz Initial Position
Tuning the Vertical
The 17m add-on kit electrically couples to the rest of the vertical and does have some influence on
the tuning of adjacent bands. We recommend restoring the factory-set tubing dimensions of your
BTV prior to making any adjustments. These dimensions are listed in the BTV series installation
manual that came with your antenna. They are also available for download on our website,
www.dxengineering.com, in the Hustler Antenna section.
In some installations, particularly those with very good soil conditions or a very good radial system,
the traps themselves may have been changed from factory dimensions during the initial installation
of the vertical to resonate the vertical in each band. In those cases where the traps have already been
adjusted, leave them as-is for now. If you have doubts about the factory-set trap dimensions, use
Figure 6 to check them.
Check the vertical for resonance on each band and note each resonant frequency. This will help
determine what adjustments are needed. After installation and tuning of the 17m kit, the BTV will

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likely resonate about the same frequency in the 10 meter band and a little higher in the 15 and 20
meter (and 30 meters if installed) bands. Little to no difference is likely on 40 or 80 meters. In most
cases, re-tuning to the desired frequencies for each band can be accomplished by adjusting the
tubing dimensions of each section as described in the Hustler installation instructions.
Figure 6 - Factory-Set Trap Calibration Dimensions. (Newer style trap)
Trap Adjustments –only when tubing adjustments are insufficient
In a few cases, where the vertical is installed over electrically superior ground or where radials have
been installed the adjustments of the resonant frequencies provided by lengthening or shortening the
tubing may be insufficient to achieve the frequencies desired. This can occur with or without the
addition of the 17M kit and is easily rectified as described below.
When a desired resonant point cannot be achieved by the normal adjustments outlined in the Hustler
manual, re-tuning the vertical for in-band resonance is best done by adjusting the traps. Trap
adjustment is accomplished just like the adjustment of other parts of the antenna: by loosening a
stainless clamp, making an adjustment and tightening the clamp again. The main difference is that
trap adjustments are a very coarse adjustment. A little movement results in a big change in the
resonant frequency for that band.
Referring to Figure 6, the general rule-of-thumb is that increasing dimension Y results in a lower
frequency and decreasing dimension Y results in a higher frequency.
Just like other antenna adjustments trap adjustments are not permanent and can be restored easily.
You can always return the trap to its previously resonant frequency by simply returning it to its
previous adjustment point.

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Figure 7 - Marking the tube
A good suggestion is to mark the position of the trap with a pencil before starting so that returning
to the initial point will simply a matter of lining up the marks or referring to Figure 6.
Always start with the 10 meter trap because any adjustment done there affects the rest of the
antenna. If the 10M section requires no further adjustment move up the antenna to the 15M trap,
then the 20M trap, etc.
Slightly loosen the clamp that secures the trap cover to the tubing as seen in Figure 8. Grasp the
trap at the end with the black plastic cap and exert a slight twisting motion while at the same time
moving the trap cover up or down depending on whether the frequency needs to be higher or lower
(Figure 9).
Figure 8 - Trap Cover Clamp Figure 9 - Adjusting the Trap
The typical movement usually works out to about 1/8 to 1/4–inch but sometimes more is needed.
1/4 to 1/2 inch of adjustment will result in about 500 kHz of change. Firmly tighten the trap clamp
and re-test the antenna for resonance. Continue this procedure until the antenna has resonance near
the desired frequency.
Note: Be sure that the connection between the trap cover and the tubing is clean and the clamp is
tight. Some surface film may have developed on the BTV tubing over-time. Poor connections here
can cause erratic readings.
Next, move up the antenna to the each successive trap and make similar adjustments until the
antenna resonates near the desired frequencies. Fine tuning can be accomplished by adjusting the
tubing dimensions of each section as described in the Hustler installation instructions.

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Technical Support
If you have questions about this product, or if you experience difficulties during the installation,
contact DX Engineering at [phone]. You can also e-mail us at:
[email protected]
For best service, please take a few minutes to review this manual before you call.
Warranty
All products manufactured by DX Engineering are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a
period of one (1) year from date of shipment. DX Engineering’s sole obligation under these warranties shall be to issue
credit, repair or replace any item or part thereof which is proved to be other than as warranted; no allowance shall be
made for any labor charges of Buyer for replacement of parts, adjustment or repairs, or any other work, unless such
charges are authorized in advance by DX Engineering. If DX Engineering’s products are claimed to be defective in
material or workmanship, DX Engineering shall, upon prompt notice thereof, issue shipping instructions for return to
DX Engineering (transportation-charges prepaid by Buyer). Every such claim for breach of these warranties shall be
deemed to be waived by Buyer unless made in writing. The above warranties shall not extend to any products or parts
thereof which have been subjected to any misuse or neglect, damaged by accident, rendered defective by reason of
improper installation, damaged from severe weather including floods, or abnormal environmental conditions such as
prolonged exposure to corrosives or power surges, or by the performance of repairs or alterations outside of our plant,
and shall not apply to any goods or parts thereof furnished by Buyer or acquired from others at Buyer’s specifications.
In addition, DX Engineering’s warranties do not extend to other equipment and parts manufactured by others except to
the extent of the original manufacturer’s warranty to DX Engineering. The obligations under the foregoing warranties
are limited to the precise terms thereof. These warranties provide exclusive remedies, expressly in lieu of all other
remedies including claims for special or consequential damages. SELLER NEITHER MAKES NOR ASSUMES ANY
OTHER WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, WHETHER EXPRESS, STATUTORY, OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, AND NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO ASSUME
FOR DX ENGINEERING ANY OBLIGATION OR LIABILITY NOT STRICTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
FOREGOING.
©DX Engineering 2012
DX Engineering®, DXE®, Hot Rodz™, Maxi-Core™, THUNDERBOLT™, Antenna Designer™, Yagi Mechanical™,
and Gorilla Grip® Stainless Steel Boom Clamps, are trademarks of PDS Electronics, Inc. No license to use or reproduce
any of these trademarks or other trademarks is given or implied. All other brands and product names are the trademarks
of their respective owners.
Specifications subject to change without notice.