DX Engineering DXE-TB-3P User manual

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Tilt Base Mounting Plate
Installation Guide
DXE-TB-INS-Rev 3b
U.S. Patent 7,432,875
DXE-TB-3P Shown with optional Hustler BTV Series Antenna
installed and partially tilted
DXE-TB-3P for Hustler 4/5/6-BTV Vertical Antennas
DXE-TB-4P for DX Engineering Verticals and most Other Vertical Antennas
DXE-TB-6P for Hy-Gain AV-14AVQ Vertical Antennas
DXE-TB-7P for Comtek 30 and 40 meter Vertical Antennas
DXE-TB-8P for Comtek 20 meter Vertical Antennas
© DX Engineering 2013
P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491 USA
Phone: [phone] ∙ Tech Support and International: [phone]
Fax: [phone] ∙ E-mail: [email protected]

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Introduction
The patented DX Engineering Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875) mounting plate enables operators to
raise or lower a vertical antenna in seconds while leaving the base securely attached to the mounting
post.
With the Tilt Base, one person can handle the antenna - no more climbing ladders or removing a
bracket from the support post. Easily make repairs, tune your vertical, or lay your antenna down
before bad weather hits with a DX Engineering Tilt Base.
Precision cut from 3/16" 304 Stainless Steel, this mounting plate is virtually indestructible.
Conveniently mounts to the same mast that you use for the antenna and radial plate.
There are five versions of the Tilt Base kit:
DXE-TB-3P, DXE-TB-4P, DXE-TB-6P, DXE-TB-7P and DXE-TB-8P:
DXE-TB-3P
Specifically designed to mate with the antenna mounting bracket of the Hustler 4,
5 or 6 BTV vertical antennas.
DXE-TB-4P
May be used as the tilt option for the DX Engineering vertical antennas: DXE-
30VE-1, DXE-40-VE-1 and DXE-40VA-1.
May also be used with most other quarter wave vertical antennas (up to 28 feet
tall) by first mounting the antenna to a short piece of mast pipe, and then
mounting the antenna mounting mast assembly to the 4P adapter plate. The DXE-
TB-4P Tilt Base adapter plate will work with vertical antennas s that are mounted
on a mast pipe with a maximum of 1.75" OD, weigh less than or equal to 20
pounds, and have a height of no more than 28 ft.
Vertical antennas up to 43 feet must be adequately guyed and extra precautions
taken when raising or lowering to avoid undue lateral stress on the tilt mechanism.
DXE-TB-6P
Is specifically designed to mate to the antenna mounting bracket of the Hy-Gain
AV-14AVQ (HGN-AV-14AVQ). This special bracket allows the AV-14AVQ to
be closer to ground level for maximum performance.
DXE-TB-7P
Is specifically designed to mate to the Comtek 30 Meter (COM-30VA) and
Comtek 40 Meter (COM-40VA) Vertical Antennas.
DXE-TB-8P
Is specifically designed to mate to the Comtek 20 Meter (COM-20VA) Vertical
Antennas.
Parts Needed But Not Supplied
Clamps needed to mount the Tilt Base to your 2" OD maximum mounting pipe. The standard 1-1/2"
galvanized water pipe (with its 1.9" OD) is just fine for this application and can usually be found at
your local home building supply store.
Two DXE-SSVC-2P V-Bolt clamps for a steel mounting pipe from 1" to 2" OD - or -
Two DXE-CAVS-2P V-Bolt clamps used with pipes from 1" to 2" OD mounting pipe - or -
[Two DXE-CAVS-1P V-Bolt Clamps to secure the vertical antenna base to the Tilt Base arm are
included with the DXE-TB-4P.]

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Parts Lists
DXE-TB-3P
Qty
Description
1
Laser Cut 3/16" thick 304 Stainless Steel Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875)
4
1/4” Stainless Steel Nyloc Locknuts
4
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
2
1/4” Stainless Steel Flanged Hex Nuts
4
1/4-20 x 1-1/2 ” Stainless Hex Head Bolts
4
1/4” Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Fender Washers
DXE-TB-4P
Qty
Description
1
Laser Cut 3/16" thick 304 Stainless Steel Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875)
1
TB-4P Mounting Plate (bolts to the Insulated Channel on DXE antennas)
2
DXE-CAVS-1P V-Saddle Clamps - secures the Tilt Base Mounting Plate
to the antenna mounting mast for non-DX Engineering antennas
4
1/4” Stainless Steel Nyloc Locknuts
4
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
2
1/4” Stainless Steel Flanged Hex Nuts
4
1/4-20 x 1-1/2 ” Stainless Hex Head Bolts (not used - see text)
4
1/4” Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Fender Washers
DXE-TB-6P
Qty
Description
1
Laser Cut 3/16" thick 304 Stainless Steel Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875)
1
Hy-Gain AV-14AVQ Vertical Antenna Adapter Plate
4
1/4” Stainless Steel Nyloc Locknuts
8
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
2
1/4” Stainless Steel Flanged Hex Nuts
4
1/4 - 20 x 1-1/2 ” long Stainless Hex Head Bolts
8
1/4” Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Fender Washers
4
Aluminum Spacers, 1/2" OD x 1/4" long
4
1/4-20 x 1" long Stainless Steel Hex Head Bolts
4
1/4" Stainless Steel Split Washer

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DXE-TB-7P
Qty
Description
1
Laser Cut 3/16" thick 304 Stainless Steel Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875)
1
Comtek Vertical Antenna Adapter Plate
4
1/4” Stainless Steel Nyloc Locknuts
4
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
2
1/4” Stainless Steel Flanged Hex Nuts
4
1/4-20 x 1-3/4 ” long Stainless Hex Head Bolts
4
1/4” Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Fender Washers
4
Aluminum Spacers, 1/2" OD x 1/4" long
2
2” Custom Length 5/16” Threaded Stainless Steel U-Bolts
4
5/16” Stainless Flat Washers
4
5/16” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
5/16” Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
DXE-TB-8P
Qty
Description
1
Laser Cut 3/16" thick 304 Stainless Steel Tilt Base (U.S. Patent 7,432,875)
1
Comtek Vertical Antenna Adapter Plate
4
1/4” Stainless Steel Nyloc Locknuts
4
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts
2
1/4” Stainless Steel Flanged Hex Nuts
4
1/4-20 x 1-3/4 ” long Stainless Hex Head Bolts
4
1/4” Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4” Stainless Fender Washers
4
Aluminum Spacers, 1/2" OD x 1/4" long
2
1-1/2” Custom Length 1/4-20 Threaded Stainless Steel U-Bolts
4
1/4-20 Stainless Flat Washers
4
1/4-20 Stainless Split Lock Washers
4
1/4-20 Stainless Steel Hex Nuts

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Mounting Pipe - For all versions of the Tilt Base
Use a 1-3/4" to 2" OD thick-walled galvanized steel mounting pipe at least 4
feet long. This will allow approximately 2 feet to be below ground and 2 feet
above ground. A thick-walled steel pipe with a minimum thickness of 1/8"
(1/4" preferred) should be used. The standard 1-1/2" galvanized water pipe
(with its 1.9" OD) is just fine for this application and can usually be found at
your local home building supply store. For permanent mounting, use a post-
hole digger to make a hole deep enough to accommodate 2 feet of pipe and a
couple inches of
gravel at the
bottom for
drainage. Set the
pipe on the gravel,
use the pre-mix
concrete to fill
around the pipe,
adding water and
mixing as you fill
or mix the concrete
first, then pour in
the hole. Fill the hole until the concrete is
level with the ground around it. Use a
level as you fill the hole to be sure the
pipe is straight.
Figure 1 - Tilt Base Mounting
Allow to set overnight. Your location,
landscape and ground conditions may require different mounting solutions in order to have the steel
mounting pipe and the vertical antenna in a secure position. You may also attach the Tilt Base to a
wooden post at the location you intend to use the antenna, making sure the unit is securely mounted.
When using the optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate, allow approximately a 7" clearance (Figure
1) from the Radial Plate surface to the bottom edge of the Tilt Base.
Note: Steel, rather than aluminum, is much more suitable for mounting in concrete. Aluminum
will quickly corrode due to incompatibility with the materials used to make concrete.
Note: UMI-81343 Never-Seez®or DXE-NSBT8 Anti-Seize should be used
on all clamps, bolts and stainless steel threaded hardware to prevent
galling and to ensure proper tightening.

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When the Tilt Base is installed on the customer supplied mounting pipe, the Tilt Base will look as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2 - Tilt Base installed on customer supplied 2" OD mounting pipe
using two optional DXE-SSVC-2P stainless steel V-Clamps.
Shown with optional DXE-RADP-3 Radial Plate

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DXE-TB-3P with Hustler 4/5/6 BTV Verticals: Attach the mounting hardware
to the Hustler antenna bracket as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 - Assembly for Hustler 4/5/6 BTV (shown with optional Radial Plate)
The upper Nyloc nuts are used to secure the tightened flange nuts from becoming loose if
the wind vibrates your antenna assembly.
Figure 4 - Tilt Base shown with optional
BTV antenna, VFCC, VFCC Shelf,
Radial Plate, and Radial Wires

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DXE-TB-4P with DX Engineering Verticals:
If you are installing the optional Tilt Base to a DX Engineering DXE-30VA-1, DXE-40VA-1 or
DXE-40VE-1 vertical antenna, the included smaller mounting plate will be installed on the antenna
insulated channel in place of the existing (larger non-tilt) mounting plate.
For retrofits (installing the Tilt Base after you have already assembled the
vertical antenna) follow Steps 1 through 3.
For new installations, use Step 3. Use the smaller mounting plate instead of the
larger mounting plate. Then continue using the DX Engineering antenna
installation manual that is included with your antenna.
1. Remove the antenna from the mounting pipe. Install the Tilt Base plate on the mounting pipe
using two DXE-SSVC-2P Stainless Steel Clamps as shown in Figures 1& 2. Allow
approximately 4" to 7" space between the bottom of the Tilt Plate to the top of the optional
Radial Plate (depending on original antenna installation options - refer to your antenna
installation manual for details).
2. Remove the existing mounting plate from the insulated channel. Reference Figure 5.
Figure - 5

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3. Using Figure 6, attach the smaller Tilt Base aluminum mounting plate to the back of the
insulated channel. The antenna base hardware kit contains four 2" hex head bolts, four flat
washers, four aluminum spacers, four split washers and four nuts. From the inside of the
channel, insert a 2" hex head bolt with a flat washer through each of the middle four holes,
through the backing plate. Put on the aluminum spacer, a split washer and a plain hex nut.
Tighten firmly, but not enough to crush the insulated channel.
Figure - 6

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Base Section to Tilt Base
Place the Lower Base Section into the holes of the mounted Tilt Base and loosely install the Tilt
Base mounting hardware shown in Figure 7. Leave the flange nuts and Nyloc nuts slightly loose.
Figure - 7
Using a wrench or nut driver, securely tighten the two Nyloc Nuts at the bottom of the patented Tilt
Base. Then loosen them one-half turn each. This will allow proper movement of the Tilt Base while
raising or lowering the antenna. It is not necessary to tighten these nuts more securely unless further
tilt operation is no longer required. They should not be loosened more than one-half turn at any
time. The upper Nyloc nuts are used to secure the tightened flange nuts from becoming loose if the
wind vibrates your antenna assembly.