S9 Antennas S9v 31' Mk II User manual

Model S9v
31’ Mk II
Multiband Vertical Antenna
Installation Guide

S9v 31’ MKII Installation Guide
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WARNING: INSTALLATION OF THIS
PRODUCT NEAR POWERLINES IS
DANGEROUS. FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW
THE INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the S9v 31’ Mk II multiband vertical antenna,
hereinafter referred to as the S9v. We believe the S9v to be the lightest, most
efficient and safest full-size vertical antenna available and we sincerely hope that
you enjoy your new S9v.
The S9v is a tapered, ultra-lightweight 31’ fiberglass vertical antenna designed
for fixed and portable Amateur Radio use from 40 through 6 meters. Friction-
locking sections and high-tech polymer tube rings allow the antenna to be quickly
and safely deployed in practically any environment without tools.
Please read this guide in its entirety FIRST before installing your S9v. The S9v
is extremely easy to install and deploy, but reading through this guide first will
make it a painless and enjoyable experience.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED…
The S9v is shipped assembled with all the components and hardware you need
to install the antenna. You will need to furnish coax cable, an antenna tuner, a
balun/unun, a pipe or mast for the ground or elevated mount, some radials, and
weatherproofing material.
CoaxCable
For top performance, the S9v should be fed with a quality, low-loss 50-ohm
coaxial feed line such as RG-213 or LMR400. RG-8x is perfectly adequate for
short runs of 50 feet or less.

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Configurations
When used with a proper RF ground, the S9v is a serious 40 meter DX antenna.
The natural resonant frequency of the S9v is just above the top of the 40 meter
band - around 7.4 MHz - and the 2:1 SWR curve is broad. Depending on the
efficiency of your RF ground system and proximity to nearby objects, the S9v
may exhibit an SWR well below 2:1 in the upper, SSB portion of the 40 meter
band without an antenna tuner.
So, if you operate a lot of SSB on 40, you may be able to use the S9v on 40
meters without using an antenna tuner. In this configuration, the coax feed line
can be directly connected to the S9v. Radials and a 1:1 current choke balun are
strongly recommended. As a 40 meter monoband antenna, the S9v can be
mounted on the ground or as an elevated ground plane antenna on a pole.
If you want to use the S9v as a 40 meter monoband vertical in the lower, CW
portion of the band and do not own (or want to use) an antenna tuner, consider
our optional 40 meter monoband conversion kit – please see our web site for
details. The monoband conversion kit is also useful to tune the S9v to a specific
40 meter frequency when you want to phase two S9v antennas together on 40
meters for 3 to 4 dB of directional gain over a dipole.
Antenna Tuner
Internal rig tuners will easily tune the S9v anywhere on 40 meters. But if you
want to use the S9v as a multi-band antenna, you will need a more robust
antenna tuner. (Internal rig tuners typically do not have adequate range to match
the higher impedances presented by the antenna on bands above 40 meters.)
For multi-band use, we recommend the LDG Electronics series of auto tuners for
use with the S9v. LDG tuners easily handle the wide-range of impedances
presented by the S9v over the higher HF frequencies and also cover 6 meters.
Using a weatherproofed, remote antenna tuner at the antenna feed point ensures
absolute lowest signal loss and best overall multi-band performance. When a
remote tuner is used at the S9v feedpoint, a 4:1 unun is not required. A 1:1
current choke balun may be required between your transmitter and the antenna
(outside of the radial field) if you experience RF current in your shack. (Burying
your coax cable also helps minimize RF current from flowing back into your
shack.)

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Balun/Unun
For 40 meter monoband use, a 1:1 current choke balun is recommended. It
should be located outside of the radial field (between your transmitter and the
antenna) to isolate RF currents from flowing back into your shack over the coax
shield. There are several commercially-available 1:1 choke baluns (Balun
Designs offers some of the best – see them on-line at www.balundesigns.com) or
you can create a simple choke balun using your coax feed line.
To create a 1:1 choke balun using your coax feed line, simply wind 18 to 21 feet
of your coax feed line evenly around a 4-inch round form such as a PVC pipe.
You can use zip lock cable ties to secure the windings and to maintain the coil
form. Additional information about constructing an inexpensive 1:1 choke balun
using your coax feedline can be found on-line at:
http://www.hamuniverse.com/balun.html.
For multi-band use, a 4:1 “unun” from Balun Designs is recommended at the
antenna feed point. A 4:1 unun lowers the higher impedances presented by the
S9v on frequencies above 40 meters.
Balun Designs manufactures two 4:1 ununs specifically for the S9v, depending
on the amount of power you expect to run. These ununs may be purchased on-
line at www.balundesigns.com:
•If you are running 300 watts or less, use the Balun Designs “Model 4130sv
for S9 Vertical”.
•If you are running more than 300 watts, use the Balun Designs “4:1 Unun
for Verticals” (Model # 4134).

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In a multi-band configuration, expect excellent results on 40 through 17 meters
and very good results on 15 through 10 meters. If your tuner covers 6 meters,
your S9v will allow you to make local contacts and DX contacts during Sporadic
E openings.
Ground orElevatedMount
A pipe or mast is required for the S9v to be mounted on the ground or in the air.
For standard ground-mount installations, use a 40-inch long (minimum
recommended length), 1-1/4” (1-5/8“OD MAXIMUM) galvanized pipe. You can
also use our optional Portable Mount for temporary installations. Hardware
stores such as Home DepotTM and LowesTM stock1-1/4” galvanized pipein their
plumbing departments and this type of pipe is ideal for the ground mount. Most
hardware stores also have a pipe cutting machine and they will cut your pipe to
40 inches upon request.
The S9v base tube simply slips over the 1-1/4” pipe (or our Portable Mount) and
rests on the ground for an easy and elegant deployment. (A mechanical
connection from the antenna base tube to the ground mount is neither required
nor desired.) Do NOT use a pipe with an OD larger than 1-5/8” or it will be
impossible to slip the S9v base tube over the pipe.
The optional S9v Pipe Mount Clamp, shown below, lets you raise the S9v base
off of the ground for a professional installation.
S9v Pipe Mount Clamp

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For portable ground-mount operations and DXpeditions, use our optional
Portable Mount, shown below. The Portable Mount is a heavy-duty mount with
an integral stake that makes ground mounting the S9v in temporary (or
permanent) locations fast and easy.
S9v Portable Mount
For elevated installations, mount the antenna on a mast. Do not use a mast
with an OD larger than 1-5/8”. To create a mount for the S9v on the mast, simply
install the optional S9v PipeMount Clamp 15” from the top of the mast. The S9v
will slip over the mast and rest on the flat portion of the clamp assembly. In this
elevated configuration, the S9v functions as a ground plane (GP) antenna and
four radials are required for each intended band of operation, as discussed below.
Radials
For optimum performance, the S9v should be used with an RF ground system
consisting of radial wires.
For ground-mounted installations, use at least 16 radials (32 preferred), with
each radial at least 0.2 wavelength at the lowest operating frequency (7 MHz)
which is 26.75 feet (26 feet, 9 inches long). A ground rod is not an effective RF
ground. 14 – 16 AWG stranded insulated copper wire is recommended.

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There is no precise formula to calculate the length of ground-mounted radials
because everyone has different soil and soil tends to change the electrical length
of the radials. However, a general rule of thumb for radials is: “as many as
possible” and “some are better than none”. Also, multiple short radials are better
than a few long radials. If you have the time and resources, 32 or more radials at
least 26 feet, 9 inches in length (or longer) should be considered.
It is highly recommend that you use ring terminal connectors and a radial plate to
connect and organize your radials. The optional S9 Radial Plate (or our PRO
plate) has 36 radial mounting holes and includes 20 sets of stainless steel
hardware – enough to connect 40 radials to the plate. Additional, detailed
information on ground-mounted radials can be found on page 24.
S9 Radial Plate
For elevated installations, use four, ¼ wavelength radials for each intended
band of operation. For example, you should have four ¼-wavelength radials for
40 meters, four ¼-wavelength radials for 20 meters, and so on. Attach the
radials to the optional S9v PipeMount Clamp below the base of the antenna and
try to position the radials equidistantly around the S9v base. The radials may lie
flat or droop up to a 45-degree angle down from the base of the antenna. Attach
insulators to the ends of the radials. Connect your coax shield to the clamp and
radials. Do NOT run a wire from the radials/clamp/coax shield to an earth ground.

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S9v 31’ MK II – HARDWARE
Hook Tool Used to Retrieve
Antenna Wire
One Spare Vinyl Cap
for Antenna Tip
Two Ring Terminal
Connectors and Hardware for
Coax Center and Shield
Eight Polymer Tube Rings

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INSTALLATION – QUICK REFERENCE

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HOW TO INSTALL THE TUBE RINGS
-The polymer tube rings are not clamps – they are “stops” and are used to
keep the associated tube section from collapsing downinto the tube
immediately below it.
-Slide a tube ring over the tube and use your thumb and index finger to
loosely latch the ring about 15 to 20 inches above the adjoining, lower tube.

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HOW TO INSTALL THE TUBE RINGS (Con’t)
-Next, slide the ring down the tube to see if it fits tightly against the top
edge of the adjoining lower tube.
-If the ring is not tight, slide the ring back up the tube, use your thumb and
index finger to advance the latch ONE MORE CLICK. Repeat the previous
step and this step until the ring fits tightly against the top edge of the lower
tube section as shown above.
-Once a tube ring is properly latched, there is no need to unlatch or change
the ring latch setting – simply slide the rings on and off the tubes each time
you assemble or disassemble the antenna.

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HOW TO UNLATCH A TUBE RING
Unlatching a tube ring is easy! Use both hands. Push forward on one tab
while pulling back on the other tab to free the latching mechanism, as
shown below.

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INSTALLATION – DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
1. Select the Site. Try to use a clear and open area to deploy the S9v. Even
though the S9v is completely insulated, you absolutely MUST locate the
antenna site at least 46’ away from power lines (1.5x the length of the
antenna). In fact, an ideal installation site would be a least 46’ away from any
other large object such as a house or trees.
2. Install the Mount. The S9v requires a mount. The elevated mount was
discussed earlier. For ground-mount installations, you will need a large
hammer, a spare piece of wood and a level.
IMPORTANT!
Place a piece of wood over the top of the pipe or Portable Mount to
protect the top edges from becoming deformed. Hammer the piece of
wood in a straight downward direction. Do NOT directly hammer the
pipe or Portable Mount metal – hammer the wood to protect the
pipe/mount.

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NOTE: Use a level while you are installing the pipe or Portable Mount to
ensure that it is as straight as possible in the vertical plane.
Drive the 1-1/4” (1-5/8” OD MAX) x 40-inch long pipe into the ground leaving
15 INCHES MAXIMUM above the ground. If you have purchased the
optional S9v PipeMount Clamp, mount it on the pipe an inch or two above
the ground.
If you are using the optional Portable Mount, drive the stake into the ground
until the bottom of the mount is flush with the ground.
3. Install the Radial Plate. After you have installed the pipe or Portable Mount,
install the radial plate. (The S9 Radial Plate simply slips over the pipe or
Portable Mount and rests on the ground.)
15 inches
maximum from
ground to top of
pipe

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4. Assemble the S9v.
a. Lay the S9v on the ground near the ground mount and unwind the vertical
element wire from the base tube. Now, “walk the wire” away from the
antenna base tube in a straight line. Don’t pull unnecessarily on the wire –
the idea is to just un-roll the wire to its full length. Once the wire is
completely unrolled, pull small sections of the wire through your hands to
straighten the wire. NOTE: The wire does NOT have to be perfectly
straight, so don’t spend a lot of time trying to straighten the wire!
b. Next, remove the TOP rubber plug. Do NOT remove the BOTTOM plastic
end cap where the wire exits. Put the top rubber plug in your pocket so
that it will not be lost inthe grass.
Pull
wire s
traight out from
base tube until it is fully
extended along the ground

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c. Now we are ready to extend the antenna sections. The S9v should still be
laying flat on the ground. To extend the antenna, grab a section of the
wire near the bottom end cap and push the wire into the base tube. This
action should cause the top, thinnest section of the antenna (it has a cap
on its tip) to pop out of the top of the base tube. (If this doesn’t work, pick-
up the base tube and shake it slightly while pointing the top part of the
tube downward.)
d. Gently pull the top, thinnest section straight out of the base tube (pull the
section, not the cap) until it catches and pulls the next, lower section out.
Gently twist the top section to lock it into the lower section. Now, pull the
lower section straight out until the next section appears. Repeat this until
you have extended all the sections from the base tube. Pull and twist the
sections to friction-lock them but don’t overdo it as it may be difficult to
collapse the sections later on if they are over-extended.
Grab
top
section
here (not the cap)
and pull straight out
to retrieve the next
section. Repeat until
all sections are
extended from the
base tube.

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e. As shown below, each upper tube section (except the top, tip section)
requires a polymer tube ring to prevent the tube from collapsing down into
the larger diameter tube immediately below it.
f. To install a ring, slide it over the top of each upper section and use your
thumb and index finger to squeeze the ring tabs until the teeth click
together, as shown below.
g. Next, slide the ring down the tube toward the lower, larger tube section.
All tube diameters are tapered, so the goal is to have the ring fit tightly
against the top of the adjoining lower tube section. You may have to slide
the ring back up the tube (where the diameter is smaller) to advance the
ring latch another click and then slide the ring back down the tube before
you find the perfect fit. No pliers or tools are needed! This process is
easily done by hand. Use common sense to determine when a ring is
tight enough to keep the associated tube from collapsing.
NOTE: Unlatching a tube ring is easy! Use both hands. Push
forward on one ring tab while pulling back on the other tab
to free the latching mechanism.

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h. The top tip section does not require a tube ring. To secure the top section,
hold the section below it with one hand and firmly twist and pull the tip
section with your other hand until it is firmly friction-locked in place.
NOTE: The antennashould now be fully extended and laying on the
ground and all sections (except the top section) should have
the tube rings installed.
i. Now, let’s retrieve the vertical element wire from the base tube. Rotate the
base tube until you see the wire exit hole.
j. Use the supplied hook tool to grab the wire and pull a small U-shaped
portion of the wire through the exit hole, as shown below.
Once you get a small U-shaped portion of the wire out of the exit hole, you
can gently twist the tool, if needed, to help retrieve the wire. Now STOP
and carefully remove the tool. Next, hold the top part of the wire firmly in
one hand while you use your other hand to pull the lower, loose end of the
wire out through the hole. Do not pull on the top part of the wire – just pull
on the lower, loose end!

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1.
Hold top part of
wire firmly. Do
not pull on this
partof the wire.
2. Use
your
other
hand to pull the
loose end of the
wire out of the
base tube
Top of AntennaBottom of Antenna

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k. Before we raise the antenna, unscrew the bottom end cap. This cap
consists of a center piece and plastic ring. Remove the center pieceand
put it in your pocket. Now screw the ring back onto the bottom of the base
tube. The ring will protect the base tube bottom cap threads while the
antenna is deployed and it also creates a drain path for any moisture that
accumulates inside the fiberglass sections.
5. Raise the S9v. This is the fun part! To raise the S9v, simply grab the base
tube with one hand and the next section with your other hand and raise the
antenna. Next, center the antenna directly over the pipe or Portable Mount
and then gently lower the S9v down until the bottom of the base tube rests on
the ground or the optional pipe mount clamp.
1. Remove cap center piece
2. S
crew
plastic ring
back
onto the base tube