Hex Beam by K4KIO
Site publication date
12/2007
Step Five - Installing the Feedline

  • The transmission line itself is 50 ohm coax and should be connected at the top of the post to the terminals for 20 Meters. Modeling has
    shown that top feeding is slightly preferable to connecting the feed line at the bottom.  RG 58 coax is recommended for the steps below
    as it is so much easier to work with but if you plan to run more than 5-600 watts, you should use RG 213 coax as I have done here. A
    single coax feed line serves all bands.

  • Each set of driver wires is connected via small pieces of coax as shown below.

  • After completing the installation of the feed line components it would be a good idea to do an ohm meter check to make sure there are
    no short circuits of coax braid to the inside wire.
Here is schematically what you
will be doing with the terminals
on the center post.
Make coax pieces for
connection between the
center post driver terminals
using #12-#10 ring terminals.
You will need to measure
between the terminals for each
piece to ensure that it fits.
Solder the lugs onto the coax.
The utility lighter is a great
tool for this. I like it better than
the soldering iron-- no wires.

If you are not going to be
running more than 500 watts of
transmitter power output, you
can use RG 58 coax instead of
RG 213 and it is much easier
to work with.
Apply liquid tape generously to
all exposed coax braid to
prevent moisture from getting
in.
Install the coax pieces
between the terminals. Also
install the coax piece from the
top as shown here down the
side of the post and through
the hole in the base plate. This
photo was taken after the driver
wires and radial cords were
installed.

Use stainless hardware. Lock
washers will help keep the
connections tight as the wind
tries to loosen everything. I
even put a bit of super glue on
the end of the screw.
Click these photos to enlarge
Building the G3TXQ Broad Band Hex Beam