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Gemquad 1
Gemquad 1
FOR THE
GEM QUAD MULTI-BAND ANTENNA
GEM QUAD PRODUCTS
211 McCormack Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Canada
Phone: (306) 668-4226
Fax: (306)668-6344
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Please read all the instructions before starting to assemble.
You are now the proud owner of a genuine high performance Gem Quad multi-band HF antenna. The Gem Quad has
been made for over 40 years, has had minor refinements in components and in the assembly instructions. When
assembled properly, the Gem Quad antenna should provide many years of outstanding service.
CAUTION!
When handling fiberglass spreader arms protect your hands from cuts and abrasions by wearing gloves.
8
Tridetic Fiberglass Spreader Arms
6
Fiberglass Tie Back Rods 80 Long (2 spare)
5
Spools of 18 AWG Magnet Copper wire Measured for director MDband
5
Spools of 18 AWG Magnet Copper wire Measured for reflector MRband
16
Stainless Hose Steel Clamps
50
Nylon Tension Tubes
1
1:1 Current Balun
Packet of Small Hardware Containing:
1
Spool of Wire for Tuning Stubs MS
1
Length of Black Nylon Cord
10
Plastic Stub Spacers
1
Piece of Sand Paper
1
Packet of 100 Self-Locking Nylon Straps
1
Aluminum Spider Hub
1
Stainless Steel Bolt With Nut
20 METER NYLON
TENTIONING TUBE
The fiberglass arms have been marked with red, blue, black, yellow and green paint to make assembly instructions
easier. Lay all fiberglass arms on flat surface, making sure that all the colors show. Attach a nylon tension tube at
each black marks on the arms, using two nylon tie raps at the 10 meter, 12 meter, 15 meter, 17 meter and 20 meter
positions. When securing the nylon tensioning tubes in cold temperature they will not collapse and the nylon tie raps
cannot be pulled as tight as required. Insert a #14 gauge solid wire in each tension tube to act as a spacer. Attach the
tension tubes with nylon tie raps and pull tight with pliers. The tension tubes should collapse slightly and tighten on
the wire spacer. After the tension tubes are secured to the spider, remove the #14 wire spacer.
The 20 meter nylon strap encircles all three fiberglass rods. These straps should be pulled tight with pliers and the
end snipped off. Make sure the position is correct before permanently attaching to each fiberglass arm. Be sure that
you affix the straps in such a manner that the tube will lay flat against the triangular arm, on the side marked at the
base with a red or blue stripe of paint. The tension tubes themselves should cover the narrow stripes of black paint
used as markers.
Place two of the large stainless steel clamps over the large end of the quad spreader arm and tighten just enough to
hold them in place, without squeezing the three small fiberglass rods. Repeat the above with each spreader arm until
all eight are complete and properly prepared for installation on the spider hub support tubes.
Tie a piece of nylon cord to the center hole of the largest tuning stub spacer the loop end of the stub. See Figure
below. Then thread it through each successive stub putting a knot on every stub, adjusting the knot so that the proper
spacing between stubs is achieved. Proper spacing of stubs is easier to adjust if the nylon cord is installed after all the
director elements have been installed. Remember to place the stubs in the quadrant which will be nearest the ground
when the antenna is installed.
STEP 12: (OPTIONAL) TYING THE REFECTOR AND DRIVEN ARM TIPS TOGETHER
This step is optional. It is recommended that when the antenna is installed in a windy area to tie the tips of the
reflector and driven element together at each end of the fiberglass arms. The reflector and driven spreaders pair in the
same way as the tied back rods in STEP 11. Cut off 4 lengths of nylon cord about 10 feet long. Tie the cord at each
end of the spreader arms at the point where the 20 meter tensioning tubes for the reflector and director are attached to
the spreader. Tighten and tie the nylon cord at the antennas corners so that the 20 meter element wires start to
become tight. Do not over tighten the nylon cord. The distance between each 20 meter elements should remain equal
at about 8.5 to 9.
4
Tridetic Fiberglass Spreader Arms
6
Fiberglass Tie Back Rods 80 Long (2 spare)
5
Spools of 18 AWG Magnet Copper wire measured for director MDIR
8
Stainless Hose Steel Clamps
20
Nylon Tensioning Tubes
1
Boom-To-Mast Mounting Stub (Aluminum)
1
Boom 6 6 long for 3 element Gem Quad only
Packet of Small Hardware Containing:
1
Spool of Wire for Tuning Stubs MS
1
Length of Black Nylon Cord
10
Plastic Stub Spacers
1
Piece of Sand Paper
1
Packet of 50 Self-Locking Nylon Straps
1
Third Element Aluminum Director Spider Hub
4
Stainless Steel Bolt With Nut
POSTION OF SPIDER HUBS AND BOOM TO MASK FOR 3 ELEMENT GEM QUAD
Insert the unused end of the boom into the square opening of the director spider hub with the fiber glass arms sloping
outward from the boom and the rotational orientation the same as the Two Element Gem Quad. When the boom is
flush with the end of the spider hub, drill a hole through the middle of the spider hub and boom, and insert the
supplied stainless steal bolt and locking nut. Tighten until nut until the hub begins to deform and starts to clamp
spider up to the boom.
STEP 8: (OPTIONAL) TYING THE DRIVEN AND DIRECTOR ARM TIPS TOGETHER
It is optional to tie the driven and director fiberglass arms tips together like describe in STEP 12 of the Two Element
Gem Quad Instructions.
4
Tridetic Fiberglass Spreader Arms
6
Fiberglass Tie Back Rods 80 Long (2 spare)
5
Spools of 18 AWG Magnet Copper wire measured for director MDIR
8
Stainless Hose Steel Clamps
20
Nylon Tensioning Tubes
1
Aluminum Boom-To-Mast Mounting Stub
1
Boom 13 long for 4 element Gem Quad only
Packet of Small Hardware Containing:
1
Spool of Wire for Tuning Stubs MS
1
Length of Black Nylon Cord
10
Plastic Stub Spacers
1
Piece of Sand Paper
1
Packet of 50 Self-Locking Nylon Straps
1
Forth Element Director Spider Hub (Aluminum)
5
Stainless Steel Bolt With Nut
The following instructions are based on the fact that a Third Element Quad has already been assembled and installed,
and that a fourth element is now to be added. It will be necessary to remove the boom from the three element
assembly and to use the boom in the fourth element kit.
Both third and fourth element arms will incline away from the presently unused end of the boom. Tie wrap the tie
back rods at the yellow marked positions, linking the third and fourth elements like in STEP 11 of the Two
Element Gem Quad Instructions. It is optional to tie the element spreader tips together like described in STEP 12 of
the Two Element Gem Quad Instructions.
Put the mast to boom support on the boom, making sure that the stubs line up with the tuning stubs of the
elements. The mask to boom mounting bracket will be positioned at the side of the third element, but can be adjusted
for optimum balance and least weather cock effect. The proper element positions are with the two element spider
fitted to the boom at the end, the driven element is closest to the third element, and the reflector at the outside end of
the boom.
STEP 3: SODERING
Permanently solder a shorting wire across all the stubs when tuning position has been determined.
ELEMENT LENGTH
DRIVEN
3410
406
482
5511
707
REF
3510
4010
481
547
7211
DRIVEN
74
87
105
121
153
REF
78
90
107
119
161
DIR*
70
80.5
90
112
148
STUB
8
8
10
10
20
The Gem Quad wire lengths are designed for a one balun, common feed antenna using solid 18 AWG laminated
copper wires. The wire lengths were verified by experimentation, and may fluctuate by variables like wire size, type
of wire, number of elements, method of feeding the director elements, and the proximal effects on antenna due to the
installation location.
NOTE: TIE BACK RODS POSTION ARE MARKED WITH YELLOW PAINT AT 108
DIR*:
**
ARM POSTION LENGTHS ARE MEASURE FROM THE TIP OF THE LARGE END OF THE
FIBERGLASS SPREADER ARM TOWARD THE TAPPERED END.
10