M2 Antenna Systems 6-30LP11 User manual

M2 Antenna Systems, Inc. 4402 N. Selland Ave. Fresno, CA 93722
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Web: www.m2inc.com
©2015 M2 Antenna Systems Incoporated 06/09/15
Rev.01
Model .........................................6-30LP11
Frequency Range.......................6 To 30 MHz
*Gain ..........................................5 To 6.2 dBi
Front to back ..............................10 To 20 dB Typical
Feed Impedance........................50 Ohms Unbalanced
Maximum VSWR........................1.8:1 Max, Under 1.5
I
Input Connector..........................“N” Female
Power Handling..........................3 Kw, Higher Optional
Boom Length / Type...................80’ / Steel Tower
Turning Radius:..........................65’
Wind area / Survival...................125 MPH
Weight / Ship Wt.........................1,228 Lbs.
M2 Antenna Systems, Inc.
Model No: 6-30LP11
FEATURES:
The 6-30lp11 log periodic is a modern design both mechanically and electrically. Top quality materials combined
with many CNC machined parts will keep it trouble free for years or operation. Performance is excellent and specific path
gain can be as much as 12 dB with ground gain factored in. The 6-30LP11 is available individually or in a turnkey system,
complete with support tower, rotation mechanism and controller. Many options exist within the turnkey system such as
height and type of tower, rotator mechanism, and controller type. As pictured above and originally supplied to NASA at
Edwards air Force Base in Edwards California, the tower was a special, massive, motorized, self supporting 72 foot tower
supplied by US tower Corp to M2specifications. The 6-30LP11 is the latest Log to join the M2Family of high quality broad
band antennas.
SPECIFICATIONS:
*Subtract 2.14 from dBi for dBd

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Look over the ELEMENT ASSEMBLY sheets to get familiar with the various
parts of the log periodic. These written instructions attempt to give some order and efficiency to the
overall assembly and make you aware of critical areas. TWO CUPS OF ZINC PASTE HAS BEEN
PROVIDED AND SHOULD BE USED AT EACH JOINT WHERE MACHINED PARTS JOIN
ALUMINUM RODS OR TUBES AND GENERALLY AT EACH ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT.
WE ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT EACH BOLT AND SCREW USED, BE TOUCHED IN
THIS PASTE WITH THE FIRST FEW THREADS. THIS WILL PREVENT GAULING AND BETTER
TIGHTENING OF THE STAINLESS HARDWARE.
THIS IS A VERY LARGE ANTENNA WHEN COMPLETELY ASSEMBLED. WE SUGGEST YOU
ASSEMBLE THE ELEMENTS FIRST AND WHEN DOING THE LARGER ELEMENTS, ASSEMBLE
THE TIP SECTIONS UP TO THE 1-1/2” SECTIONS, MARK AND SET ASIDE UNTIL THE BOOM IS
ASSEMBLED AND THE INNER SECTIONS 2” DIAMETER AND LARGER ARE MOUNTED ON
THE BOOM.
THE LONGEST 3 ELEMENTS ARE BOXED INDIVIDUALLY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO IDENTIFY
AND ASSEMBLE THE CORRECT ELEMENT SECTIONS.
BEGIN ASSEMBLING THE SMALLEST ELEMENTS FIRST TO ESTABLISH A “ROUTINE”
REFER TO THE ELEMENT 4 THOUGH 11 ASSEMBLY SHEET
1. Locate five (5) 7/8 x 30” FIBERGLASS RODS and (10) POLY DISCS with 7/8” holes. Press a
disc onto the end of a rod and slide it down until it is about 3/4” inside the INNER two 1/4” holes.
Then slide another poly disc on from the other end of the rod and position it about 3/4” inside the
other 1/4” hole. Repeat this for all five of the 7/8” FIBERGLASS RODS. Slight repositioning of the
poly discs may be required when the element is mounted below the boom.
ELEMENT #11 (Smallest)
2. Install a PHASE LINE CLAMP with 1” hole at the butt of the 1” x 60.75” element half with the two
grooves facing the butt. Secure the clamp block temporarily using an 8-32 x 1-1/2” screw and
locknut. Add a PHASING LINE CLAMP CAP to the PHASE LINE CLAMP using a 1/4-20 x 1” flat
head bolt and locknut, but finger tighten only at this time. Repeat for the other #11 element half.
Now slide each element half onto a previously prepared 7/8” FIBERGLASS ROD and align the
holes. Secure with 1/4-20 x 1-1/2" bolt and locknut. Finally, align the grooved side of the clamp
block assembly on each side with the NUT SIDE of the bolt holding each element half onto the
rod. Position the clamp blocks about 1/2” from the end of the element butts and tighten the 8-32 x
1-1/2” screws and locknuts securing the clamp blocks. Use a marking pen to identify the element
as #11. Element #11 is now complete and ready to be installed on the boom at a later time.
ELEMENTS #10, #9, #8, & #7
3. These are very similar to #11. Follow the same procedure as in step #2. Follow the ELEMENT
ASSEMBLY SHEET for the element information and the hardware needed. Don’t forget to use
PENETROX (ZINC) PASTE on all aluminum joints and on the threads of the screws and bolts.
Element #7 has a 1-1/8” outer sleeve but it still uses a 7/8” FIBERGLASS ROD and a PHASE
LINE CLAMP with 1” hole for the phasing lines.
6-30LP11 ASSEMBLY MANUAL

4. Element #6 is similar as well but has internal sleeves to strengthen the element. It has a 1-1/4”
diameter element butt and needs a 1” FIBERGLASS ROD, POLY DISCS with 1” hole and
PHASE LINE CLAMPS with 1-1/4” hole.
5. ELEMENT #5 is 1-1/2” diameter at the butt and needs a 1-1/4” FIBERGLASS ROD, POLY
DISCS with 1-1/4” hole and PHASE LINE CLAMPS with 1-1/2” hole.
6. ELEMENT #4 is similar to #5 but requires a 1-5/8” OUTSIDE SLEEVE over the butt section to
maintain element strength to survive 125 mph winds. ELEMENT #4 is unique because at #4
there is transition in phasing line diameter. Both PHASE LINE CLAMPS AND 3/8” CLAMP
BLOCK PAIRS are required at the butt of this element. The 3/8” diameter phasing lines go back
to element #3.
THIS COMPLETES ELEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ELEMENTS #11
DOWN THROUGH ELEMENT #4
ELEMENTS #3, #2 AND #1 ARE NEXT AND WE RECOMMEND YOU ASSEMBLE THE OUTER
SECTIONS BEGINNING WITH THE 1-1/2” SECTIONS, MARK THEM AND SET THEM ASIDE FOR
LATER CONNECTION TO THEIR INNER SECTIONS.
6-30LP11 ASSEMBLY MANUAL

7. Assemble the three inner section of ELEMENT #3. NOTE that the PHASE LINE CLAMPS and
PHASING LINE CLAMP CAPS have been replaced with pairs of 3/8” CLAMP BLOCKS held in
place with the same bolt that keeps the element on the 2” FIBERGLASS ROD. These 3/8”
CLAMP BLOCKS clamp the 3/8” diameter phasing lines installed later in the assembly. The
POLY DISCS have 2” diameter holes to fit over the 2” center support insulator and may have
been factory installed as have the machined coupling rings. If POLY DISCS have not been fac-
tory installed on CENTER SUPPORT INSULATOR you will have to remove two rings off one
side, slide POLY DISCS on and re-install rings. NOTE: These POLY DISCS provide a long
barrier between the “hot” element and the grounded tower boom. They provide arc and flashover
protection in the event the insulator is contaminated with salt spray, bird doo or other foreign
substances that could conduct under the right condition.
8. Assembling ELEMENT #2 & #1 is similar to #3 except ELEMENT #2 & #1 each use (2)
ELEMENT SIDE SUPPORT BRACKETS that are attached to the 2” sections just inside the
SWAGED (necked down) section. Use a 2” U-bolt and cradle and stainless nuts and lock
washers. Attach (3) HPTG 1200 Philistran insulated cables to each of the three holes in ELE-
MENT SIDE SUPPORT BRACKET. Use a 3/16” cable eye in each hole. String two 1/8” cable
clips on one end of each cable and thread the cable end through each hole and around each
cable eye. Thread the cable end back through the cable clips about 3”. Space the clips about 1”
inch apart. Push one clip tight against the cable eye and begin tightening that clip. Strighten the
cable between the clips and begin tightening the second clip. Alternate back and forth on the
tightening of each clip until each is tight and the clips are secure. The other ends of these cable
will be attached to the TOWER BOOM and ELEMENT VERTICAL SUPPORT MAST later in the
assembly procedure.
6-30LP11 ASSEMBLY MANUAL

1. Use 1/2-13 X 2” (grade 5) galvanized bolts, 1/2-13 galvanized nut & 1/2-13 galvanized pal nut
for all tower boom section joints.
2. Shims (as shown) are supplied with tower sections to help align. Use as needed.
6-30LP11 BOOM TOWERASSEMBLY

6-30LP11 ELEMENT ASSEMBLY #4-11

6-30LP11 ELEMENT ASSEMBLY #3

6-30LP11 ELEMENT ASSEMBLY #2

6-30LP11 ELEMENT ASSEMBLY #1

1. Begin by installing element #11, the smallest element. Locate the bag of twenty (20) HD CRA-
DLES with 7/8” radius to fit the 7/8” fiberglass rods. These cradles have clearance holes for 5/16”
diameter bolts. Drop four (4) 5/16-24 x 4” bolts down through the element #11 mounting plate.
Hold the center of element #11 up near the plate and place two saddles on the center of 7/8” fi-
berglass rod. Raise the element up and feed the bolts down through the cradles. Place another
cradle under each upper cradle and add locknuts. Tighten up the nuts until the element is almost
secure. Then center the element through the cradles and rotate the element until the bolts at the
element butt are up and their corresponding nuts are down. Tighten the cradle bolts evenly and
completely. Now orient the PHASE LINE CLAMP ASSEMBLIES on the element butts so the
PHASING LINE CLAMP CAP are DOWN and square with the boom.
2. Continue mounting element #10, #9, #8, and #7 in order as described above.
3. Element #6 is different only as it has a 1” fiberglass rod and (4) HD CRADLES with 1” radius, fit-
ting the fiberglasss rod perfectly. Use (4) 5/16-24 x 4” bolts and locknuts to secure the element.
4. Element #5 and #4 both use 1-1/4” fiberglass rods and (4) HD CRADLES with 1-1/4” radius.
Use 5/16-24 x 4-1/2” bolts and locknuts.
5. Because of their size and weight we have suggested that just the INNER SECTIONS of element
#3, #2, and #1 be mounted before the whole element is assembled. Element #3 and #2 use 2”
fiberglass rods and (4) HD CRADLE with 2” radius. These cradles require 3/8-24 x 5” bolts and
locknuts. Before tightening cradles completely be sure to rotate the element so the 3/8” PHASE
LINE CLAMP CAPS are down and their bolts are perfectly perpendicular with the TOWER
BOOM legs. Doing this will facilitate the installation of the phasing lines in the subsequent as-
sembly steps.
6. Element #1 uses a 2” fiberglass rod and (8) HD CRADLES with 2” radius. These cradles require
(8) 3/8-24 x 5” bolts and locknuts. Again center and rotate the element in the cradles so the 3/8”
PHASE LINE CLAMP CAPS are down and their bolts perpendicular to the TOWER BOOM legs.
7. OPTIONAL: THE TIP SECTION OF ELEMENTS #3, #2, AND #1 CAN NOW BE INSTALLED.
You may also elect to do the element tip installation just prior to the antenna being place on a
tower. If you do it now or later, refer again to the appropriate element assembly sheet for the
hardware required to attach the tip sections.
8. Now do the final check and tightening of the all elements forward to the Element #11. TIGHTEN
each bottom cradle EVENLY AND SECURELY.
6-30LP11 ELEMENT INSTALLATION