Bringing Excitement

to your QSO's

TAK-tenna tl o

Ham Radio's Newest

High Frequency
Antenna
 TAK-tenna LLC
PO Box E25, Clearfield, PA 16830 Tel 814 - Z9O - 4S39

Thank you for the purchase of your TAK-tenna. You can expect a lot of enjoyment using it.

As with any antenn4 it has its own'personality'and characteristics.

Here are some facts you should know:

1. TAK-tenna provides ldaximum performance when4ggg[g!--

therefore a resonated TAK-tenna provides Maximum Satisfaction!
2. TAK-tenna should be first resonated "inside" - on a non-metallic zurface to get
-
familiar with the resonating procedure - use operational coa.:r s-p-r-e-a-d out oi the floor.
3. Resonant frequency INCREASES with elevation - approximately 100 Kc from 5 feet
to 20 feet above ground -therefore, resonate about 100 Kc BELOW your frequency of
choice at 5 feet outside when going to a20 foot above ground installaiion.
'
4. A resonated antenna is optimum for two important reasons: maximum effroient and
much lower of,[-resonance impedance values: lower power loss in the cable!
5. Mast may be any material - keep TAK-tenna 3 feet from metal surfaces,
6. Do not use high power oflresonant frequency!
7. The hot spiral is the one connected to the coax inner conductor and its tap
location affects frequency change more ttran the cold tap;
8. The cold spiral is the one connected to the coax shield and its tap
position is mainly used to bring the SWR to minimum;
9. BOTH HOT AI.ID COLD TAp LOCATIONS AFEECT FREQUENCy;
10. Clockwise winding direction turns to the RIGHT starting at any outer notch
-
12:00 to 13:00....15:00 to 16:00 etc.
11. Moving a tap counter-cloclcwise increases frequency - REMEMBER TEIS.
12. We recommend at least 20 feet above ground for horizontal orientation: boom
parallel with Mother Earth.

TAK-tenna m_ay? work !"!t"" in vefticel orientation at your QIH... try it!...boom perpendicular
to ground...C0ll) spiral closest to Mother Earth...run mast through cold spiral righfalongside
boom and secure; run coax through the cold spiral down the rnast.

An antenna operated offresonance will exhibit IIIGH SWR and HIGH VOLTAGE and will reduce
both transmit and receive signal due to RF energy actually being turned into heat as it travels in the
transmission cable...Insertion Loss reduces RF energy in BOTH directions the Eansmitter RF TO the
-
antenna...and the signal RF FROM the antenna to the receiver!l

WARNING
Use the safety glasses provided to you when handling any TAK-tenna component or product.

Do not use or install TAK-tenna LLC products anyplace near power lines.

Do not use or install TAK-tennaLLC products indoor or inside AI{Y structure.

Do not use or install TAK-tennaLLC products for mobile use while vehicle is in motion.
 TAK-tenna
Should any parts be missing or damaged during transit.,.please
contact me for immediate replacement at no charge.

Parts List
1 Each Boom tube

4 Each End support tube

2 Each Gopper plated wire coil

I Each 14 gage connectorwire

Mast mount -

1 Each Ubolt
1 Each Saddle for Ubolt
2 Each T+ - 2A serrated lock washer / bolt
2 Each %inch split lock washer
2 Each % - 20 hex machine nut

For Goax connection -

2 Each #1O- 32 x 2 inch pan Phillip machine acrew
2 Each ffiA- 32 hex machine screw nut
3 Each #l0llalwasher
2 Each #l0lock washer
3 Each Ring terminal

Miscellaneous

1 Each Safety Glasses

2 Each Alligator clip

1 Each Bag, 100 count black nylon tie

1 Each TAK-tenna lnstruction Manual

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 TAK-tenna 40
fusembly Instructions

YERY IMPORTANT: the HOT connecting wire must NOT touch the spiral wire at any place other than
the tap locuion. .. RF will actually bum the connecting wire insulation and cause a short which will kill the
antenna!

When installation is complete, s@ure both coruecting wires to the boom using the locking lies aod have it
approach the wire spiral at a wide angle to prevent the connecting wire from touching the spiral...osp. duri4g
severe winds.

SAITTY GLASSES ARE SUPPI,IED - USE TffiM WEEITIEYER HAITiDLING TAK-tenna

CoMPoNENTS.AND COMPI,ETEp.ANTENNA.
1. Prepare the wire leads
Cut tb€ 14 gage connector wire in half.
On each connector wire, strip off % inch of insulation from one ead; % inch &om the other end.
Solder a nng lug to each % end- tin each /z inch end.
Alligator clips are supplied for use during the resonating process to make tap adjwtments easier.

2. lnsert one tube spiral support into one of the large holes at either boom end.
Ivlake sure the NOTCTIES FACE AWAY FROM TI{E CENTER OF THE BOOM.
Secure with nylon locking tie through the boom - center hole in support - out of other boom hole.
NOTE: sune folks want to put a metal bolt + nut here...frct is, these ties are NOT necossary
as'hothing is going nowhere" when spiral assemblies are complete.

3 . Insert other 3 tube supports this s3n1g way. .make sure the notches frce away fro4| the ceuter of the boom.
.

NOTE: these tubes inteitionally fit loosely to help remove ice buildup more quicHy and allow for
material expanriea with higb temperature.

4. Attachmastclamp
Make sure two serated lock washer/nuts are placod between the boom and the saddle - they
will be tightened to sesus &e saddle to the mast.
Now, put tho LJbolt legs through the boom.
futthe split lock washers on.
Put on the %-20 nuts...snug them to preveut falling off.

5. Insert the two #10-2 inch screws - used to connect the coa:r leads to the
contrector wires going to thc spiral coils tap locations.
They are inserled in the holes alongside the Ubolt.
Ivlake sure the screw heads are on the saddle side ofthe boom.

Insert one screw close,st to the Ubolt - this one is for the coax shield lead
and one connector wire ring terminal goiag to the cold coil tap.
Put m two #10 flat washers on this scre$, to better gnp the thick shield lead.
Put on one ring teminal wire end.
Put on a #10 split lock washers.
Put on a #10 nut...snug but do not tighten.

Insert the other #10-2 inch screw into the other hole...screw head on the saddle side.
This one is for the HOT coa:< cfft€r conductor ring terminat and the o&er connector wire ring termiral.
Put on one #10 flat washer.
Put on the other ring terminal wire end.
Put m one #10 lock washer.
Prtr on one #10 nut...snug it.
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6. Winding the HOT spiral - : put a '3tna*" or red tape so you can know later this is the HOT spinal.
The hot spiral is located closest to the coary'wire connector screws.

Place the antenna on the floor with &e Hot end up and thc cold end sitting on the floor.
Do you see the notches looking at you on the spiral tube supports?

Put one wire coil in the center on top ofthe criss-cross end elements.

The wire will be installed using a cLocKwIsE (to the rigbq right?) - REPEAT -
,OCKWISE direction... I 2:00 to I 3 :00... I 5 :00 to I 6:00 etc.
Try not to rrngle the wire coil turns...it happens.. just please take your time and deal
with it.

Take tho wire end aad place it into any outermost notch of qpg tube zupport.

Secure this wire/notch location with a nylon locking tie...then...making a 'T" hook end...bend about I inch of
wiro back over the locking tie to preved the wire .id frorn slipping o.:t a*iog Uign wina conditions.

Now...wind CLOCBSIrISE - inserting the wire into the other OUTER NOTCI{ES on the other end elements.
The notches are meant to provide a snug fit and they open up a little by bending the tube from the
outer end...gently.
Turn the antenna on its boom while you put the wire into the notches.

When all the outer notches are fiIled move to the next inner notch.
Fill all the second outer ndches on the spiral tube supports.
Continue to insert the wire to make a spiral as you fill the notches and move toward
the ceder and other wire end.

Use the notch spacing as a spacing guide... spacing between turns is NOT all that critical.
Because of the notch locations, the outer spiral wires will look more circular/rounded.
fu you get closer to the inner spiral end, the spiral will look more rectangular.
After you put the wire into the last inner notch - inspect your spiral - rounded outerVrectangular inners.
Yor will have unused wire in the center; him offwire leaving 4 inches on the far side of ttrJhst notch.
DO NOT CUT OFF MORE TIIAN 3 FEET OF\ilIRE-this IS criticat!

Securc the last wire/notch location with a nylon locking tie.

Use a nylon wire tie to secure each wire/notch location.

7. Windingthe COLD spiral.

Turn the antenna upside down with the COLD side up and the hot side siting on the floor.
The cold end is closest io the Ubolt.

This spiral is wound the exact same method as the hot spiral.

8. Assembly is done.

NOTE:
A ring terminal is included for the center coa:< Iead - solderltin the coa:r shield lead.

IMPORTANT:
Please do not to forget to seaUcaulk the exposed shield at the coax outer insulation
jacket
to prcvent wtter intrusion into thc coar cable and seaUcaulk the coelterminal locations to
prevent oxidation. Use only NON-ACID sealant - e"g. Performix *Liquid Tape.,

Also, make the coax end 'loop. down' to the terminals...as it is herd for water to travel up
lnto the end coax ends.
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 Resonating TAK-tennr 40

When you resonate an ant€nn4 you ilre performing one of Ham radios oldest traditions.

Y991QY wish to forego resonating as the suggested tap locations will enable you to rrse your
OUTBOARD "antenna_hrner" onthe primary band as well as on the other bands. If youorperienc€ poor
signa.l reception and/or have poor RST reports, or 'high' noise lwel, resonat-ins ard iiigheielevation is
reouired at vour QTIL

Wb€n y.ou "resonate your anteirna" - you are resonating with the SYSTEM IMPEDAI{CE...connectors,
transmission line at its ACTUAL length, coa:r swirches and of course the antenna itself.

The only ant€nna having pure resistance at resonance is the one in the handbook...'all' art€mas have
some amount ofimpedance and this srnall amount is influexrced by the qystem oomponcrfs.
Thus, any changes in the SYSTEM COMPONENTS will change the system impdanc€ and the resonant
frequency/SWR.

We recorrneird 50 or 75 ohm characteristic impedance coa:r cable.

Do NOT expect to resonate your TAK-tenna with a short piece of coax outside...then install it with the
actual operational coan...and e:cpoct to still be at resonance in the shack! Two differeot systems here!

IMPORTANT: perform resonance with the antenna analyzer IN TIIE SHACK...using the actuat
coar transmission linc from the shack to TAK-tenna..do NOT have your *mtenna tuner" in the
line...do NOT substitute another trrnsmission line.

Users have resonated TAK-tma using their rig on LOW PO\VER and its SWR meter.
lggg spiral tap Iocations as shown then sweep the VFO itcross 40 m€ters to find the frequency where
SWR is minimum. Adjust the taps to your &eErency with an SWR less than 1.8 or less.

COnfifm feSOnanCe: plug coar + TAK-tenna ( nothing else in line ) direcrty into your rig -
set rig to resonant frequency- the rig SYYR had bctter match analyzer readings !!

Get acouainted and eet resonance thg e4sv wav...befor,e nuttine it un tEerc!

DO YOUR FIRST RESONA}.iCE OPERATION AT A CONVEN.IENT AND EASY IIEIGTIT...SAY 6

to l0 FEET...before you place it in ttrc final location...which may need re-resonating at that final location.

wE RECOMMEND THAT You Do IMTIAL RESoNAl.tcE TLTNING FoR 7.2 MHz

The task is-to now find the SWR lVtrllIM ,[IM - freoucnw and move it to 7.2 at less thon 1.8 SWR!!!
TTIE SPIRAIJTAP DIAGRAM SHOWS TAP PLACMENTS FOR STARTING THE RESONATING
PROCESS...cold tap on cold spiral...hot tap on hot spiral.

RESONANCE = FINAL TAP LOCATIONS DEPENDS T]PON SEVERAL FACTORS TIIAT

VARY WITH EACH ATID EVERY AI\ITEIYNA INSTALLATION...TIIE PRIME FACTOR
BEING ELEVATIgN ABOVE TTIE GROTIND CONDUCTTYITY AT YOUR SITE.

The resonating process is to sweepthe freqtrencv range 6 - 8 MHz. with your analyzer hming control or
4q 4g VFO seeking the frequency with minimum SWR while rnoving the hot and cold taps to get the
SWR<1.8 at7.?MIlz. Put your rig in CW or RTTY mode...NOT SSB...as you need an RF carrierl

It is possible that your antemna will show TWO SWR minima readings - one at a lower frequency, say 6.8
and one at a higher frequenry, say 7.6 - both in/around the 40 meter band...work on the fower
SlVBi/frequency minima
 Tap locations:
Please look at the diagram of the spiral.

The cold tap is on the coLD sPIRAL....the hot tap in on the HoT spIRAL.
lhen doing initial resonating - - take BIG steps with those taps...that is, move each tap at
least 6 to t inches at a time. Rule of thumb is 20 Kc. +/- per inch.

If the measured minimum SWR frequency is high when you swe€p...say 7.3lvfrlz....not 7.2...move the
HOT tap clockwise ( to decrease frequenry )...again at llast y, rot*ion.

When you get close to.7.2 reading. . . adjust the cold tap for low SWR moving the cold tap about 4 inches
-
either way...all the while sweeping freque,nry to aid in moving those taps in thi correct direction.

ItE
swR.
SWR goes up...move the cold tap the other direction...and keep going until you m€asure minimum

Ptguiog th9 mld tap also changes frequency... so readjust the hot using I inch movement...then move the
cold tap with I inch movements to get back the low SW& if necessary.

lindingresonance with hot and co{lan locations is a "see-saw" procedure.. just like wheir you were a
child balancing on a real see-saw with your ftend.

As TAK-tenna is a dipole ant€Dna, you will get a 'good appreciation' about dipole antenna "d5mamics',
-
when changes are made...which is not so easy as linen unmovable tress are noHing up a full
s-t-r€-t-c-h one-half wavelength wire dipole up there!

QLTESTION: moving a tap what direction INCREASES frequency?????

( if you have not answered in I second...please re-read...you NEED to remernber...)

usins TAK-tenna offresonance with an ourBoARn "antenna tuner,

Mg[iland operation requires a quitabte "antennatuner". Most built-in/inboard rig antenna'tuners do

NOT have the impedance matching range capability necessary for multiband operaltion.

We recommend GOOD QUALITY 50 or 75 ohm coan cable for off-resonance/multiband operation.

By *good quality" we mean that the cable should have a low attenuation loss value as the Rt energy
traveling in the transmission line will see less power loss using that coa:r cable witt the lowest valui of
atte,nuation loss.

Note on automatic tuners: some automatic tuners need a *little help'with getting impedance matchiqg.
It_qglqfryosary to_find a frequency on which the tuner 'automaies' ( try-ends of Uana )...ttren
SLOWLY change VFO frequency so that the tuner can 'digest' the 'bite size' impedance value changb
across the band.

Solder the tap connections at final installation location.

Last note: all antennas are sensitive to the physical parameters of the installation
environment...the most important being the change of the antenna-capacitance-to-ground
value as antenna height changes.

Thus, as the antenna capacitance value changes so do the capacitive reactance A]\lD the
feed point imoedance of the antenna which determines SWR!!
 Antenna "Facts of Life,

TAK-tenna is a dipole artenna.

A dipole antenna provides maximum performance when made resonant.
It will also perform better when operating multiband.

Operating any non-resonant antenna at low elevation or with long coa:r line is a poor combination!

High SWR produces signal enerEy logs in the transmission line...in BOTH directions.
High SWR trensforms a portion of transmit power into heat going to an antenna.
High swR reduces the enerry of a received signal coming from an antenn&

For maximum satisfactlon, we Stronqlv recommend you operate a resonant TAK-tenna!!

We recommend at least 20 feet elevation for installation height with horizontal orientation.
TAK-tenna in vcrtical orientation can be operated as close as 2 feet above gtround with cold spiral
closest to ground.

Using an unbalanced line = coa:r with a balanced antenna = dipole may generate 'antenna
current on the outer coa:r shield...especially when operating off-resonance wittr high SWR.
some folks use baluns and RF chokes...most do not...this ii Ham Radio...try it.
Some folks use ferrite beads over the coax at the antenna feed point to reduce antenna current that
may be present on the outer coa:r shield.

TAK-tenna is 1/60th wavelength in physical size on 40 meters...please keep this fact in mind when
making comparison with other antennas.

l. Antenna feed point impedance changes with elevation - so will SWR;

2. Impedance voltages change with transmission line length shortening or lengthening the line
-
can improve matching at the station - and SWR
3. Re-positioning and changing layout ofthe coor transmission line changes the SWR because
ofthe RF antenna c-urrent on the outer side ofthe coa:r shield;
4.
5.
{ one spiral is wound in the wrong direcrion - TAK-tenna is TNOpERABLE;
Ground conductivity may prevent less than 2:I SWX|;

PORTABLE OPERATION

Make sure yoY- have a very good RF ground at the rig tuner and especially
BEFORE the line enters the vehicle.

It may be necessary to employ ferrite RF eliminator on mike cable just next to

mike plug on rig to prevent stray RF pickup from causing audio distortion.

PAINTING

TAK+enna can be painted - including the wire - after soldering spiral taps.
We recommend "vinyl paint", *plastic paint' - tradename "Fuslon" as sold for painting plastic
materials...auto stores also carry vinyl paint for painting plastic parts.
Do Nor usE PRIMER as primers af,e porous and wilr iusort water.
Black paint absorbs the zun's heat most...and assists in melting ice buildup.

Any Questions?....ca11, please!

Use the safety glasses provided to you when handling any TAK-tenna component or
producL

Do not ure or install rAK-tenna LLC products anyplace near power lines.

Do not usc or install TAK-tenna LLC products indoor or insidc ANY structure.

Do not use or install TAK-tenna LLC products for mobilc usc while vehicle is in
motion.

Do not touch any TAK-tenna LLC product or component while it is connected to

any electricd appliance or device.

All TAK-tenna LLC products are sold to Amateur Radio operators who have
demonstrated technical comp€tence sufficient to be provided a government operating
license.

Such technical knowledge includes - and not restricted to - the proper handling operation
and safety precautions will ALL matters associated with operating equipment,
accessories, managing a radio station and specifically an understanding of antenna
behavior, performance and installation.

TAK-tenna LLC warrants its products to be free from material defect and will replace
any antenna components found to be defective.

TAtr(-tenna LLC assrmes neither responsibilrty nor liability for any event, action or
occulrence through to use of its product or when in the possession of any customer, user
or person not directly employed by TAK-tenna LLC.

TAK-tenna LLC requires that all of its products be used in accordance with informatio4
techniques and methodology as provided in The Radio Amateur's Handbook published
by the American Radio Relay League.