ALPHA ANTENNA J-POLE JR 6-160M 34ft Antenna User Guide
- June 8, 2024
- ALPHA ANTENNA
Table of Contents
ALPHA ANTENNA J-POLE JR 6-160M 34ft Antenna User Guide
Introduction
Thank you for your support of the Alpha Antenna line. We hope that you will
enjoy using this product, as we continue to receive written testimonials from
Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) on how easy the Alpha Antenna systems are to
deploy, how well they work, and how each antenna system that is deployed has
made each person’s operating experiences positive and enduring.
The Alpha Antenna is a Civilian Military system that is easy to deploy, has
acceptable SWRs, and is extremely durable. The antenna system is composed of
building blocks that used to construct a large variety of deployable
solutions. No supports are necessary to deploy the systems, however, several
varieties of deployment options exists if natural supports are available. If
space or privacy is a premium, the Alpha Antenna is deployable for covert
operations. This antenna is so efficient that it is also deployable indoors,
from a porch or balcony.
Product Overview
With proper deployment, the Alpha Antenna system is designed to operate continuously from 6 through 80 meters, with only the use of your wide-band (external) antenna tuner.
Additional Product Details
- Antenna Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Antenna Configuration: Horizontal, or Sloper
- Maximum Frequency Coverage: 3.5 MHz to 54 MHz
- Maximum Power Rating: 250 PEP SSB, 125 CW, or 25 watts for digital modes.
Safety Tips
When installing or operating this antenna, please observe the following safety
tips.
NOTE – High voltages are present when transmitting, no matter how much or
little power is applied. Do not touch any part of the antenna while
transmitting.
WARNING: INSTALLATION OR OPERATION OF THIS PRODUCT NEAR POWER LINES IS DANGEROUS! FOR YOUR SAFETY, FOLLOW THE ENCLOSED INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS. THOUGH THIS ANTENNA IS CONSTRUCTED OF INSULATED WIRE, PROPER CARE MUST BE TAKEN DURING INSTALLATION. INSTALLER ASSUMES ALL LIABILITY FOR PROPERTY AND LIFE SAFETY.
YOU, YOUR ANTENNA, AND SAFETY
Each year, hundreds of people are killed, mutilated, or receive severe and
permanent injuries when attempting to install an antenna. In many of these
cases, the victim was aware of the danger of electrocution, but did not take
adequate steps to avoid the hazard. For your safety, and to help you achieve a
good installation, please READ and FOLLOW the safety precautions.
- If you are installing an antenna for the first time, please, for your own safety as well as others, seek PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE.
- Select your installation site with safety, as well as performance, in mind. REMEMBER: ELECTRIC POWER LINES AND PHONE LINES LOOK ALIKE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, ASSUME THAT ANY OVERHEAD LINES CAN KILL YOU.
- Call your electric power company. Tell them your plans and ask them to come take a look at your proposed installation. This is a small inconvenience, considering YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.
- Plan your installation procedure carefully and completely before you begin. Successful raising of a mast or tower is largely a matter of coordination. Each person should be assigned a specific task, and should know what to do and when to do it. One person should be designated as the leader/coordinator of the operation to call out instructions and watch for signs of trouble.
- When installing your antenna, REMEMBER: DO NOT USE A METAL LADDER. DO NOT WORK ON A WET OR WINDY DAY. DO DRESS PROPERLY: shoes with rubber soles and heels, rubber gloves, long sleeved shirt or jacket.
- If the assembly starts to drop, get away from it and let it fall. Remember, the antenna, mast, cable are all excellent conductors of electrical current. Even the slightest touch of any of these parts to a power line completes an electrical path through the antenna and the installer.
- If ANY PART of the antenna system should come in contact with a power line, DON’T TOUCH IT OR TRY TO REMOVE IT YOURSELF. CALL YOUR LOCAL POWER COMPANY. They will remove it safely. If an accident should occur with the power lines, call for qualified emergency help.
Antenna Parts List
| Item | Description | Qty | Representation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpha Antenna JPole Jr | 1 | Image 1 |
Deployment Recommendations
For maximum effectiveness, keep your feed point as high as possible and run
the antenna as a sloper for good NVIS and DX results, or a flat top for good
NVIS results. An optimum installation would be where the antenna is deployed
as a sloper with the high (feed point) end at 30 feet or higher and the low
end at 10 feet or higher.
We do not recommend installing this antenna as a Vertical due to verticals
being inherently prone to high noise (RFI) and unpredictable radiation
patterns due to proximity of coax, which also allows for common mode feedback
to increase.
For the initial installation, we do not recommend a Balun or air choke coil be
used at the antenna. We recommend that you ground your tuner and rig. Your
equipment has a ground bolt on the back of it, and manufacturers (and we at
Alpha) do recommend a RF ground be connected on it to balance the circuit. We
only recommend that a RF Choke be used if you find one is needed, as would be
the case if you hear feedback through speakers, etc. when you transmit.
However, a Grounded Counterpoise would be the first option for any common mode
current that might exist. If you find that common mode exists after you
install the antenna, a Grounded Counterpoise wire can then be attached to the
barrel connector at the antenna‘s feed point, which can be secured with a
stainless steel hose clamp.
Support Contacts
If you have questions about your antenna, please feel free to email us at alphaantenna@gmail.com
Antenna Installation
PLAN YOUR DEPLOYMENT
There are 2 basic methods to installing the antenna. One enhances NVIS (Near Vertical Incident Sky wave) and the other DX (Long Distance) communications. For NVIS deployments, install the antenna closer to the ground, at a minimum height of 6+ Feet on either end. For DX (Long Distance) deployments, install the antenna higher, sloped at a height of 1/2 wavelength or higher for maximum results. The most effective method for deployment is to position the antenna so that it is horizontally and sloped, where the Antenna Element is placed at a height of 6+ Feet and is deployed free from other obstructions per Image B. Please refer to Image B when installing the antenna, where the Balun should be supported with a Rope, which can be run through both the Balun’s eye-bolt and Insulator 1 as represented in Image C. The other end of the Antenna Element should be supported at a height of 6+ Feet using a Rope run through Insulator 2. Next, the Red terminal on the wire element attaches to the shorter Lug marked with Red on the Balun, and the Black to the Black. Then attach your Coax to the Balun and note that the weight of the Coax can be supported (tied off and up) with the loose end of the Rope to your mast as is depicted in Image C. We suggest using a ‘halyard bend’ type knot (Ref. Image A) to tie the coax off to your mast. Once the antenna is deployed, connect your equipment between the Coax and the Ground Stake.
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