Hy-Gain DB-1015A User manual

MODEL DB-1015A 10- and 15-Meter
Duo
-
Band Antenna
Order No
HY-GAIN ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
8601 Northeast Highway 6 Lincoln,
Nebraska 68505 Telephone [phone]Area
Code 402
printed •.
copyright Hy-Gain Electronics Corporation At
rights

TABLE OF CONTENTS page
SECTION I - GENERAL DESCRIPTION
General ...................……………………………….........................................1
Specifications ........................………………………………...............................1
Theory of Operation ......................................……………………………...........1
SECTION II - ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
Preparation of Assembly ...............………………………...............................2
Boom Assembly ..…………………………………...................................................2
Reflector Element Assembly ..…………………….........................................3
Driven Element Assembly .........……………………………....................................5
Befa Match ..............……………………………….............................................6
Director Element Assembly ...........…………………………................................6
Final Assembly .................................………………………………….......................8
SECTION III - PARTS LIST ..............................................……………………………… 8

SECTION 1 GENERAL
DESCRIPTION
General The Hy-Gain Model DB-1015A is a three element, duo-bander that operates on 10 and
15 meters. Hy-Gain's Hy-Q traps allow multibanding. The antenna fits a 11/4” – 21/2”
O.D. mast and can be rotated with a heavy duty TV rotator.
Specifications Electrical
Input impedance …………………………......................................................52 ohms
Gain …………………………………........................................................... 8 dB minimum
Front-to-back ratio ……………………………................................................... 20 - 25 dB
Maximum power input ……………………………………………………………….. 1 kW AM
VSWR (at resonance) ..........................…......................…………………………….. 1.2:1
Lightning protection .....................................……………………………............DC ground
Mechanical
Boomlength....………………………………………......................................................... 12'9"
Boom diameter .............……………………….…………..….............................…...........… 2”
Longest element ......……………………………........................................... 23' maximum
Maximum wind survival .........……..………………………......................................... 80 mph
Net weight……………………………................................................. 32 lbs. approximately
Accepts mast ....………………………...................................……………...............15/8" O.D.
Wind surface area .....................…………………………………..............................3.8 sq. ft.
Wind load (80 mph) .........………………………………….........................................97.3 lbs.
Theory of Operation Hy-Gain Hy-Q traps are air dielectric parallel resonant circuits which operate as
electronic switches. On 10 meters the "switch" is open so only the inner portions of the
e!ements are operative, giving a three element, 10-meter beam. On 15 meters the
“switch" is closed and the entire element is operative, giving a three element, 15-meter
beam.
The exclusive beta match matches the antenna input impedance to 52-ohm coaxial
cable and
p
uts the entire structure at DC
g
round for li
g
htnin
g
p
rotection.
SECTION 11 ASSEMBLY AND
INSTALLATION
WARNING
Avoid any accidental contact with power lines or any overhead obstructions by
ladders or lnstallatlon equipment. Failure to exercise care could result In serious
In
j
ur
y
.

Preparation Before assembling the antenna, read through the instructions and familiarize yourself with
for Assembl
y
the
p
rocedures.
The easiest method of erecting the antenna is to completely assemble the antenna
on the
g
round, then hoist it into
p
osition usin
g
a block and tackle as shown in Fi
g
ure
Fi
gu
r
e
CAUTION
Measure tubin
g
len
g
th carefull
y
.
All tubing supplied with the DB-1015A is designed to telescope together. Make all
measurements as accurate as possible using the dimensions given in this manual for
o
p
timum results from
y
our antenna.
Boom Assembly ( ) Select the two boom sections (2" diameter tubing) and the boom-to-mast brackets.
Loosely assemble the boom-to-mast bracket using the ¼”-20 x ¾” screws, nuts, and
lockwashers as shown in Figure 2. Slip the drilled end of each boom section into the
boomto-mast bracket and line up the holes. Attach the boom to the bracket using the
two 5/16"-18 x 2 1/2" screws, nuts, and lockwashers provided.
NOTE: The boom-to-mast bracket has a hole drilled in it for connecting to the mast.
This connection will
prevent the rotation of the antenna in severe wind storms. Drill
the mast before raising the antenna into place.

Fi
gu
r
e
Reflector Element ( ) Loosely assemble a small set of element-to-boom brackets on the longest end of the
Assembly boom as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Do not forget the 1/4" - 20 x 3/8" anchor screws with their
associated square nuts as shown in Figure 4. Position the bracket 3 1/4" from the tip of the
boom to the center of the bracket. This will be the Reflector end of the boom.
NOTE: The following steps will be done one at a time. Do them first for one side of
the boom
,
then for the other side.
() Select the R-1 section of tubing (1'/." x 46"). Slip the R-1 section into the bracket
assembled on the boom. Tighten the screws to hold the R=1 section securely but do
not tighten the anchor screw at this time.
( ) Check to see that the Reflector element will lie in a plane horizontal to the earth
when the antenna is mounted on your mast. Do this by observing the position of the
element with respect to the boom-to-mast bracket. Make any adjustments necessary
keeping the center of the bracket 3'/." from the tip of the boom then tighten the
anchor screws securely.
Compression Take care when measuring the tubing lengths for your mode of transmission. Place the
Clamps clamp near the end of the tube with the joint even with the slot in the tube. Tighten the clamp until
the inner tube cannot be turned in the outer tube.
Do not over ti
g
hten the com
p
ression
NOTE: To save time, loosely assemble all of the compression clamps and their
appropriate hardware before beginning further installation of the antenna.

( ) Assemble 1 1/4" compression clamp and slip it onto the R-1 section. Refer to Figure
5. Select the R-2 section (11/8" x 55"). Slip the unswaged (untapered) end of the R-2
section into the R-1 section and measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your
mode of transmission. Tighten the compression clamp slightly.
NOTE: Decide which mode of transmission you will use. Figure 3 shows dimensions
for CW and Phone, but you must use only one mode throughout the antenna
assembly.
If you tried to use the Low Phone dimension on one band and the Medium Phone
dimension on another band, the antenna wouldn't give optimum performance.
To decide which transmiting mode is best for your purposes, refer to the VSWR charts
in Figure 7.
( ) Assemble a 1 " compression clamp and slip it onto the unswaged end of the R-2
section. Select the 10-meter trap and slip the unswaged end into the R-2 section.
Measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your mode of transmission. Make certain
the trap drain holes are.facing downward. Tighten the compression clamp slightly. .
( ) Assemble 11/16" compression clamp and slip it over the swaged end of the 10-
meter trap. Select the R-3 section (7/16" x 19")and slip it into the 10-meter trap.
Measure the dimension shown in Figure 3 for your mode of transmission. Tighten the
compression clamp slightly.
( ) Carefully recheck all measurements and be sure the trap drain holes are pointed
down. Now ti
g
hten all com
p
ression clam
p
s securel
y
.

Driven Element ( ) Select the large set of element-to-boom brackets and loosely assemble on the boom
Assembly 66" from the center of the reflector element-to-boom bracket as shown in Figure 3. Do not
forget the anchor screws as shown in Figure 4.
( ) Select the DE-1 section of tubing (11/4" x 36 1/2") and the Driven Element
insulators. Slip the insulator over the DE-1 section then slip the insulated end of DE-1
into the bracket assembled on the boom. Tighten the screws to hold the element
securely but do not tighten the anchor screws at this time. Refer to Figure 4.
( ) Check to see if the Driven Element will lie in the same plane as the Reflector and
make certain it is still 66" from the center of one bracket to the center of the other.
Now tighten the anchor screws securely.
( ) Assemble a 1 1/4" compression clamp and slip it over the DE-1 section. Select the
DE-2 section (1 1/8” x 52"). Slip the unswaged end of the DE-2 section into the DE-1
section and measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your mode of
transmission. Tighten the compression clamp slightly. .
( ) Assemble a 1 "compression clamp and slip it over the swaged end of the DE-2
section. Select a 10-meter trap and slip the unswaged end into the DE-2 section.
Measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your mode of transmission. Make
certain the trap drain holes are facing downward. Tighten the compression clamp
( ) Assemble a 11 /16" compression clamp and slip it over the swaged end of the trap.
Select the DE-3 section (7/16" x 19") and slip it into the swaged end of the trap.
Measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your mode of transmission. Tighten the
compression clamp slightly.
( ) Carefully recheck all measurements as shown in Figure 3 and make certain the
trap
drain holes are facing downward. Tighten all compression clamps securely.

Beta Match () Select the Beta Match tubes (3/4" x 17"), the beta support insulator and clamp as
shown in Figures 3 and 6. Make certain the drilled ends of the beta tubes are pointed
towards the Driven Element.
( ) Select the Beta Match shorting strap and the shorting clamp and assemble as
shown in Figure 6. Notice that the 10-24 x 11/2" screw attaching the shorting straps to
the clamp has a sleeve slipped over it. This allows you to install the shorting straps
without causin
g
undue strain on the Beta Match tube.
( ) Install the pigtail assembly (wire with solder lug on each end) on the Beta Match
tubes using the two #10 metal screws and lockwashers. Slip the 1 ¼” tubing clamps
on the driven element near the insulators. Loosely attach the pigtails to the tubing
clamps using the ¼”-20 x 1 ½” screws as shown in Figure 6. Do not tighten the
connection at this time. The coaxial feedline will connect to this point in a later step.
Director Element ( ) Select the remaining set of element-to-boom brackets and loosely assemble on the
Assembly boom 803/8" from the center of the driven element-to-boom bracket to the center of the
Director Element-to-boom bracket. Refer to Figure 3 and 4. Do not forget the anchor screws
as shown in Figure 4.
( ) Select the D-1 section of tubing (1'/." x 28"). Insert the D-1 section into the bracket
assembled on the boom. Tighten the screws to hold the element securely but do not
tighten the anchor screws at this time.

( ) Carefully recheck the 80 3/8" measurements from the center of the Driven
Element bracket to the center of the Director Element bracket. Make certain the
Director Element lies in the same plane as the other elements, then tighten the
anchor securely.
( ) Assemble a 1 ¼” compression clamp and slip it over the. D-1 section. Select the
D-2 section (11/8" x 52 ½”). Slip the unswaged end of the D-2 into the D-1 section
and measure the dimension shown in Figure 3 for your mode of transmission.
Tighten the compression clamps slightly.
( ) Assemble a 1” compression clamp and slip it over the swaged end of D-2. Select
a 10-meter trap and slip the unswaged end into the D-2: Measure the dimension
shown in Figure 3 for your mode of transmission. Make certain the trap drain holes
are facing downward and tighten the compression clamp slightly.
( ) Assemble a 11 /16" compression clamp and slip it over the swaged end of the 10-
meter tra
p
.
( ) Select the D-3 section (7/16" x 17 ¼”) and slip it into the swaged end of the 10-
meter trap. Measure the dimension shown on Figure 3 for your mode of transmission,
then tighten the compression clamp slightly.
( ) Carefully recheck all measurements as shown in Figure 3 and make certain the
trap drain holes are facing downward. Tighten all compression clamps securely.

Final Assembl
y
( ) Place 7/16" caplug on each element tip and a 2" caplug on each end of the boom.
Wind an RF choke using RG-8/u coaxial cable as shown in Figure 6. This choke must
consist of 13 turns with a 5" diameter. Strip one end of the choke as shown in Figure 6
and connect to the tubing clamps on the Driven Element. Tape the choke securely to
the boom and weatherproof the connection to the Driven Element using Pli-O-Bond,
Neoprene, or some similar substance. Also, tape the coaxial braid to prevent it from
shorting out on the element bracket or the boom. A choke is necessary to keep
unbalanced currents from flowing down the coax and decreasing the efficiency of the
NOTE: In place. of the RF choke it is recommended that you obtain a Hy-Gain balun,
Model BN-86, available at your local Hy-Gain dealer. The BN-86 allows theDB-1015A
to operate with an efficiency greater than is possible with a "homemade" choke.
( ) Your DB-1015A is now ready to be installed on a 1 5/8” O.D. mast. Use one of the
methods explained at the beginning of this section. When mounting the completed
antenna, be certain to pin the bracket to the mast as explained in the section' "Boom
Assembly." Tape the coaxial feedline to the mast every 6" using waterproof tape.
( ) For lightning protection and noise free reception' ground the base of your tower.
Use an 8' copper clad, steel ground rod driven into the ground as close to the base of
the tower as possible. Attach the tower to the ground rod using #8 or larger copoer or
aluminum wire. for total protection of your equipment from lightning it is recommended
that you obtain a Hy-Gain Model LA-1, lightning arrestor.
This com
p
letes the installation of
y
our DB-1015A. Ha
ppy
DX'in
g
.