Tarheel Antennas 100A-HP User manual

PROUDLY MADE IN THE
U
NITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tarheel Antennas, Inc.
Instruction Manual
for the
Model 100A-HP
Continuous Coverage
HF Antenna
18511 CR 304
St. Joseph, MO 64505
816-671-9409 / 816-364-2619 Fax
E-mail: [e-mail]
Technical Support
919-552-8788
E-mail: tarheelanten[email protected]m
www.tarheelantennas.com

Thank you for purchasing the
Model 100A-HP Tarheel Antenna
Package List for Model 100A-HP
Model 100A-HP Antenna
6 ft. Stainless Steel Whip
Up/Down Switch
20 ft. Control Cable
Ferrite Core
Matching Coil
Fuse Holder & Fuse
1 tube of Dielectric Compound
Manual
Deluxe Package List for Model 100A-HP
All of the above - - plus the following
MT-1 Antenna Bracket
Quick Disconnect for the Whip
21 ft. of RG-8X Coax with connectors installed
1 pack of Coax Seal
Model 100A-HP Antenna Specifications
Lower Mast Length – 3ft.
Frequency Coverage with 6’ whip – 3.2 to 28 MHz
Power Rating – 1.5 Kw P.E.P.
Typical SWR – 1.5 to 1 or less
Total Height with 6’ whip at 30 MHz – 9’4”
Total Height with 6’ whip at 1.7 MHz – 11’4”
Weight – 8.0 lbs.

Picture 1
–
MT
-
1 & MT
-
30FB
Installation
Before installation of this antenna there are a few
things you have to consider. To get peak performance you
need to try to mount the antenna in a location where the
decoupler (this is where the coil comes out of the antenna)
is at least as high as the highest part of the vehicle. Next,
and this is the most important is the vehicle ground must
be within 12 inches of the base of the antenna. This
ground path should be provided with ground strap at least
1/2 inch wide.
After installation if the SWR will not go below 1.5 on the
frequencies above 10 MHz it's because of the ground path
mentioned above. Again, ground close to the base is most
important with this and any other antenna.
This is a large antenna that will require heavy duty mounts
to withstand the pressure produced from the wind load. All
of Tarheel Antenna mounts are designed to take this load.
While we have a variety of mounts lay the antenna down
horizontally, it’s designed to be mounted vertically. While
using these mounts, just make sure the anti-rotation rib on
the antenna will be at the bottom while in the horizontal
position.
Picture 2
–
MT
-
1 & MT
-
5
Picture 3
–
MT
-
1 & MT
-
3FB
Picture 4
–
MT
-
1 & Automatic Lift & Lay
Picture 5
–
MT
-
1 & MT
-
3

The MT-1 antenna bracket is designed to make your antenna
mounting convenient and incredibly strong. Made to clamp to
standard 1” pipe (1.312 OD) or bolted to a flat surface.
(Picture 6)
There are a few steps to make sure you
install the MT-1 antenna bracket the way it is
intended. First you need to install the upper
half of the quick disconnect in the bottom of
the antenna tight (Picture 7). Be sure to use
the lock washer.
The MT-1 antennas bracket has 6 cutouts for the anti-
rotation rib that’s on the antenna. Be sure the rib goes
into one of these cutouts, there is no need to cut the
insulator, it will compress enough to tighten the antenna
down (Picture 8)
Don’t forget to tighten
down the top half plate
and the quick disconnect.
(Pictures 9 & 10)
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 6
Picture 9 Picture 10

Included with the antenna is a special mix
#31 ferrite core that needs to be mounted
on the control wire as close to the
antenna as possible. Loop the wire
through the choke at least 3 times.
(Picture 11) It is used to decouple the
control cable from the antenna. If you fail
to install this ferrite core acts like a single
radial and the antenna will be untunable.
The next thing is the matching coil. This coil must go
from the antenna base to the immediate ground.
The MT-1 antenna bracket provides this connection.
On a loaded mobile antenna below 10 MHz some form
of impedance matching is required. Pictured is the
matching coil on MT-1 bracket (Picture 12).
The up/down switch (Picture 13) that comes
with the antenna package will plug directly into
the control cable to the antenna, then there will
be 2 wires left on the switch. One will be white
with red dots and one red with black dots. This
system is designed for a standard 12vdc
system. Keep in mind polarity of these two wires
are not important. With the switch mounted up
(wire to bottom) you can wire the red wire with
black stripes to positive side of your 12vdc
system, and the white wire with red stripes to
the negative side. This will allow the antenna to
go up while you press the up button (this is
the way most wire up to their systems). Up
on the switch means the antenna is going UP in the band and DOWN in the bottom (this
is the way most wire up to their systems). Up on the switch means the antennas is
going up in height and Down in frequency. If you prefer that is reversed all you have to
do is reverse the connections. Be sure you add the fuse to the positive side.
Most installs:
Red with black dots – 12 volt positive
White with red dots – 12 volt ground
Picture 13
Picture 11

Now You Need To Install The Top Whip
Whip Length versus Frequency Coverage
3 ft. --4.0 MHz to 32.0 MHz
4 ft.--3.7 MHz to 30.0 MHz
5 ft. --3.4 MHz to 29.0 MHz
6 ft. --3.2 MHz to 28.0 MHz
8 ft. --2.8 MHz to 20.0 MHz
10 ft.--2.5 MHz to 18.0 MHz
12 ft. --2.3 MHz to 15.0 MHz
CH-1 -- Capacitance Hat
Hat only -- 3.5 MHz to 30.0 MHz
Hat with 3 ft. whip -- 3.0 MHz to 25.0 MHz
Hat with 6 ft. whip -- 2.7 MHz to 21.0 MHz
Our standard whip is 6 ft. long; it can be cut to any length for the coverage you need.
Keep in mind that the longer your whip is the better the performance will be on the
lower bands, however you will loose your upper frequencies with the longer whip. As
and example, if your main frequencies are 17 meters thru 80 meters then the
capacitance hat plus the 6 ft. whip are a powerful combination.
Initial Tune Up
For the initial tune up a SWR analyzer is nice to have if you have access to one. If not, make
all your adjustments with low power. Now, lower your antenna until it reaches the end stop
and go to 10 meters (or your highest frequency depending on whip length) and check your
SWR, it should be low. Next, you can go to 15 meters and raise the antenna until you get
a SWR dip there. Then 20, then so on.
Keep in mind that 10-20 meters are close together. If the SWR doesn't go below 1.5 on
these bands the ground is probably too far away, remember the ground needs to be less
than 1 foot from the base of the antenna.
Do not try to twist or turn the bug shield on the outside
of the antenna, this is designed not to turn.

Now you need to go to the middle of 40 meters and check your SWR. Record that and then
go to 80 meters and do the same. Your standing wave should be below 1.5 on both bands.
If it is below 1.5 on both bands no adjusting is needed on the matching coil. However, if the
SWR is above 1.5 on 40 meters and low on 80 meters this means there is too much
inductance from the matching coil. This can easily be corrected by simply spreading the
matching coil (Example 7) a very small amount until a low SWR is attained on 40 and 80
meters. If you have spread the coil approximately 2 inches wide and the SWR has not
dropped on 40 meters then there is most likely a ground issue. However, keep in mind if
you had to go to this extreme to tune, your ground path is most likely
too far away or you have other antennas too close to this antenna.
If properly installed this antenna will have a standing wave below 1.5
from 3.5 to 30 MHz (coverage depends on whip length). We know
that every antenna installation is unique and it is
impossible to describe all the scenarios in this manual.
However, if you are having problems with this initial tuning please call.
With everything working and your ready to button this system up, then you need to put
a small dab of dielectric compound or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in the molex connector
at the antenna and also in the PL-259 at the antenna. Wipe off any excess and then seal
the molex plug and coax connector with Coax Seal or tape. We’ve seen this technique
used for years on installs in the northern states where a lot of salt is used on the roads
in the wintertime and when dissembled they look as clean and shiny as the day they
were installed.
Operation
Remember that when the coil is all the way in it's resonant on the high bands and all the
way out on the low bands. It will take a little time to get use to this style of antenna,
some mark the antenna with tape to mark the approximate location of the bands, some
just listen to the noise level increase on the radio's receive when it's close to resonant.
When you fine tune you need to transmit a low carrier (AM, FM, CW) at 5 to 10 watts
and watch the SWR meter until the dip. There are also several types of controllers on
the market, most are good in their own unique way.
Example 7
IMPORTANT: Don’t make any adjustments to the
matching coil until you read and understand the next
paragraph.
NOTE: Don’t use the Dielectric Compound or Coax Seal
until all testing has been done.

Relative Tuning Positions
The following photos will show you relative tuning positions of the
Model 100A-HP Tarheel Antennas.
Model 100A-HP -- full down position with 5 ft.
whip -- 29.0 MHz Model 100A-HP -- 21.2 MHz with 5 ft. whip @
1/2" of coil showing
Model 100A-HP --14.2 MHz with 5 ft. whip @ 1
1/2" of coil showing Model 100A-HP -- 7.1 MHz with 5 ft. whip @ 5" of coil showing

Model 100A-HP -- 3.9 MHz with 5 ft. whip @ 15"
of coil showing Model 100A-HP -- 3.7 MHz with 5 ft. whip @ 16" of coil showing
Model 100A-HP -- 3.5 MHz with 5 ft. whip @ 18" of coil showing

Maintenance
Very little maintenance is required for your Tarheel Antenna. You should have
years of trouble free service from this antenna. You've made a large investment for
a mobile antenna. Here is a tip to help take care of your investment.
We use an automotive finish on this antenna so whenever you wash and wax your
vehicle raise your antenna and wash and wax the shaft and the bug shield (Lexan
tube), with wax on your antenna the bugs will have a harder time sticking to it.
Warranty & Guarantee
The antenna comes with a one year guarantee for quality and workmanship. If for
any reason (other than damage due to negligence, improper use or unauthorized
disassembly) your Tarheel Antenna fails to perform due to quality or workmanship
Tarheel Antennas will at our discretion either repair or replace at no charge for parts or
labor. A return authorization number is required before warranty work can be performed.
The coil and contact assembly (fingerstock) have a lifetime warranty to the original
owner. Your antenna needs to be sent in to the manufacturer for any warranty
repairs.
If for any reason the antenna does not meet the advertised specifications or any
other reason you are dissatisfied with the antenna in the first 30 days of receipt of
the antenna you may return it for a full refund minus any shipping charges incurred.
You must inform Tarheel Antennas of your intention to return the antenna prior to
shipping. Once Tarheel Antennas receives your antenna a refund will be processed
within 30 days, only after it has been determined that the antenna has not been
altered, mishandled, disassembled or damaged in any way.
We here at Tarheel Antennas hope you enjoy one of the best performing, best built,
best looking motorized antennas available.
Please pass along any suggestions you may have to make our antenna better.
All suggestions are appreciated. Also when you have your antenna installed please
send us pictures.
Thanks,
Tarheel Antennas