Hexagonal Beam by K4KIO
Building the G3TXQ Broad Band Hexagonal Beam
Buy or build a hex beam
Six Steps to build it - Center post
Click these photos to enlarge
                                           1 Base plate        2 Spreaders        3 Center post        4 Wire Sets        5 Support Cords        6 Assembly        
  • The center post is for mounting the terminals that connect the
    various bands' driver wires to the coax feed line. It is made of
    basic one inch PVC plumbing that is a perfect fit into the baseplate
    described in Step 1.

  • The terminals are located on the center post and are European
    terminals. The terminals are connected with 50 ohm coax pieces
    from the bottom terminals to the top where they are connected to
    the feedline from the transceiver.

  • All bands are connected together via the coax links and are all fed
    by a single feedline.

  • The terminal spacing on the center post and the length of the post
    itself are set forth below along with steps for constructing the
    center post.
A vertical line to mark the holes for
the European style terminals should
be marked. The post should be 40
inches long. Mark a single hole for
each band using the measurements
here.
These jumbo size European style
terminal strips at Radio Shack can
be easily cut into 6 double terminals
to attach to the center post.
Drill a hole completely through the
post for each terminal at the marks
made in the first photo. You will be
using a #6-32 X 2 brass or stainless
steel bolt for each terminal. The bit
size should be 9/64 inch.

Install a double European terminal
for each band at the marks.
Here is schematically what you
will be doing with the terminals
on the center post. Only five
bands are shown here but the
sixth can be added below 10
meters.
Cut coax pieces for connection
between the center post driver
terminals.
Seal up the exposed coax braid with
liquid tape or silicone sealant to
keep moisture out. Apply it also to
the metal of the terminals as the
metal is steel and will rust if not
protected. Paint has been applied.
Here is how your coax connects to
the top of the center post to feed all
the bands.
Site publication date
12/2007

Page revision date
6/2010

Copyright 2009
Save yourself a lot of trouble and buy the air coax center post
used in the KIO Hexagonal Beam already built and ready to go.
It is an aluminum/stainless steel model. See details.