How To Build Pre-Production Signature 9 - Build Tips and Tricks

Fascinating overview of the Pre-Production Signature 9. The 10m element MIGHT change in the future, as an option to achieve very slightly better gain on 10m. Else, this is the cut chart:
CUt chart has gone.. User Guide now updated here: dxcommander.co... so no cut chart here now.
Callum.

[@DonzLockz]

So easy to put up and down!😲 That foldback is a great idea for fast and easy tuning.👍

[@WaltKO4LFE]

I ordered a 100 meter of Callum Wire on Feb 10 and rec'd it today Feb 16!! Excellent service. Loki needs a raise 🙂. Thank you; Wallace KO4LFE, Powder Springs, GA USA

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great to hear!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

I really like the idea of being able to slip the mast over a ground pole so there is no need for guy ropes. The build detail was very useful too. Thanks for making this video. 😊👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Cool, thanks!

[@codywrites]

Looking forward to ordering mine soon! You do good work, Callum!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awesome, thank you!

[@M7BVV-Phil]

Hi Cal, just put an order in for the Signature 9 (at long last, hi) just in time for Christmas ...yippee!, Whishing you & yours a very happy one .

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Woo-Hoo!

[@seanwood8043]

Great design this antenna is with no guy lines sure to be a popular one ! Grand slam Calum !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hope so!

[@ZeroHarry]

Top marks, you have put in so much effort to improve the quality of an already great product. Love your work!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Much appreciated!

[@ABrashear]

My foldbacks are definitely longer on the Classic. I did trim them to tune that way. Can’t wait to try another version. Probably get the expedition for POTA next. Great product and love the videos.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Go for it!

[@m0aze611]

This is so interesting Callum, you’ve got the grey matter doing overtime. As you state it’s normally the quantity of radials that matter as my Classic at home. Out in the field I’ve had a couple issues due to difference in the ground I put a couple of tuned radials down and that fixed my particular issue but back home as I say it’s a different. Setup with the 32 radials. Great this radio stuff isn’t it. I can only wish you all the very best with your new product - no brainer really. You deserve the success. 73 de M0AZE Mike

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Hey Mike.. So I normally run around 80m of wire on a few small bunches and frankly, that seems to work anywhere.. CLearly, I have a slightly better / different ground for the 12.4, enough to know the 9 off. However, I can't "tell" there is any difference actually at the rig end of the coax.. So it's all really numbers rather than genuine differences.

[@dazedandconfused698]

Absolutely spot on! The pathetic attempt to be "different/clever" completely misses the point of using the accepted phonetic alphabet

[@2E0RXL]

Cheers for the info today C hope the fine tuning goes well the next few days. Hope to catch you again this friday M7RLL 73's

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I hope so too - thanks for the wishes!! You too :)

[@jameski5oeb668]

Got HUGE DX this weekend on FT8 at 100w on the DXC Classic! Best I've done 40-10m on every band!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!

[@AG7SM]

I cannot wait for mine to show up.

[@chrisbartlett6022]

With my 12.4 modification I tuned the 10 and 12m elements by trimming the length of fold back. Started off with more then you recommend then kept using the calculator to give me educated guesses as to how much more to cut. Still need to get the 12m one "right" but it is near enough for now. I remember back in the Day, top loaded mobile CB antennas were all the rage, might be on to a winner Cal 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Top loaded CB antennas? Well, I never heard of that!

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Fire stick?

[@MAV8865]

Cal.. arn't you glad that I sent you them clamps about year ago to test. Will I get a discount? hahaha.. only pulling your leg on the discount! - cracking video bud.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Martin! Yes, I was just thinking the other day.. "Who was that guy that sent me these"? Thank you so much! Hey drop me an email Martin so I can hook up properly..!

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Awesome Callum!!

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Were I live (HOA) I can have a DXCommander but no guys of any kind for it. This new Signature 9 just might be the ticket. I really like the design Callum. One question: If I get one of your antennas it will have to go next to a 4-foot Chain Link fence. When I say next I mean about 8-inches from it. Will that degrade the performance of the antenna? 73 Joe

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Joe, my old friend. Who knows.. Some energy might be absorbed but you know what will happen? It's be re-transmitted unless it has somewhere else to do. Don't worry about it.

[@jackK5FIT]

I like the fold back idea. I've used longer fold backs on efhw to be able to tune 80 and it works great so your idea for the different bands should work great too. Thanks! I need to take my classic down and do some maintenance checks soon. I would like to mount it on a tube like you did with this one. Thanks. Jack K5FIT

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Right on

[@mmcampnl4535]

Well done. I think you should sell built plans for the models too, saves on shipment costs. And yes, I would pay for the details like the cutting charts, measurements for the plates and so on...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That's a good idea!

[@Kevin_KC0SHO]

My guess, its the smaller ground system. Reason, I moved my classic today and added a hot galvanized steel, 1/4" square, construction mesh in the shape of a cross, using around 130 square feet of mesh. I'm using the same radials as before, which are around 20 (some got damaged during the move). around 1/8 wavelength long, based on 40 meter, so 10 meters long. I plan to add some more mesh, test again, then add more radials, test again. Overall, the SWR is lower on all bands with the largest change in the lower bands. The bandwidth seems to be broader as well when tied to the SWR value. There's more of the band available, on all bands from 40m to 6m due to the lower SWR values. This is not conclusive, however the initial data is interesting. More testing is needed, such as. Move antenna back to original location, and establish a repeatable test routine checking each band's SWR and Smith Chart Move to new location and repeat tests with no ground mesh Test with ground mesh and same radials Add more radials Remove mesh, maintain radial config Change radials to non-insulated, tinned copper 14awg. (I've been wanting to test insulated vs non-insulated, and review the capacitance/inductance plots on the smith chart) I saw huge changes when playing with the 20m element using insulated 8awg, bare copper 6awg, 14awg insulated DX Engineering, and DX10. The 8awg insulated wire was 2.1 to 3.1 SWR across 20m. The bare copper 6awg was 1.2 to 1.55 SWR. Measure ground conductivity at both locations

[@Kevin_KC0SHO]

Sorry for the math mistake. The 1/8 λ radials are 5 meters long rather than 10.

[@Arndt_DC7OT]

I would think that c) the hinge is to blame for the SWR change, because the inner part of the radials are elevated directly on the mast. And that, as we know, changes the SWR. The more radials there are, the greater the SWR change. I am curious whether I am right with my assumption.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I am also curious!

[@duanebrumage5281]

I like the ideal of a longer foldback.

[@bassangler73]

Looks like an awesome antenna

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I love it :)

[@bassangler73]

@@DXCommanderHQ cool!

[@RobertJohnsonG0GFC]

Thanks for the tips Cal. The sale went well then 👍, all sold not long after the launch . May be a few weeks before I get mine built I'm waiting for some building work to be done.......hoping to get the builder to dig the post hole for me as well. One question would the radials be OK laid under artificial turf? I could get on with making them so they are ready for when its put down.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Radials fine anywhere. We must not overthink this stuff.. I know it comes naturally! :)

[@RobertJohnsonG0GFC]

@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks Cal

[@kirbymcd1]

Measure twice cut once becomes more like measure 7 times cut 4 with antenna tuning. I'll be leaving the elements a bit long on my build and I'll let you know how it goes. Do you use a soft or metal tape measure? I'll be buying a new one since I don't own a metric one.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I run both.. But the soft "landscaping" style works great for antennas. Get a dual one. All mine are inches and cm.

[@g4lmn-ron401]

Looking forward to getting mine. I have a TINY plot so a guyed antenna would not work, hopefully this one will be perfect.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fingers crossed!

[@g4lmn-ron401]

@@DXCommanderHQ It's arrived! Reading the instructions ...

[@ianxfs]

Possibly a bit of hinge (metal interacting plus base plate off the ground) and the reduction in radial volume…🤔

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, maybe both Ian..

[@DeanDubovac]

Hi Cal, congrats on great videos and antennas. Can you share more info on how to tune 15m independently? 3 turns around what diameter? Thanks. 73 from Croatia.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Just around that part of the pole. No overthinking here.. Just wind the element up past the top spreader and around 3 times but ONLY if your situation needs it.

[@riaanzs1zarconradie291]

My guess is the radial field and ground conditions. On my classic I have 7 bunches of FIVE 3m radials = 105m Total in 360 degree config. (2,625 wavelength of 40m band?) All elements were done exactly according cut chart. WITH MY GROUND CONDITIONS AND RADIAL SETUP: 40m Was at 7.32 (SWR 1.16). 30m Was at 10.426 (SWR 1.01). 20m Was at 14.291 (SWR 1.14). 17m Was at 17.985 (SWR 1.08). 15m Was at 21.49 (SWR 1.14). 12m Was at 21.556 (SWR 1.10). My guess would thus be that ground conditions and radial field has substantial influence on element lengths to get perfect tuning. All readings with RE650Zoom

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fascinating. We will do some deeper experiments.

[@riaanzs1zarconradie291]

@@DXCommanderHQ My apologies. I forgot to mention that my feedline is 16m of RG213. (Feedline length might also play some role I think, and mine is much shorter than yours 🙂)

[@eddieMurphy11111]

it really looks a good antenna and well thought out i hope you sell many of them I only wish i needed one ,thanks for the video g0VVT

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha.. Yeah, it's super neat.

[@pthithic]

Since he's in the UK, can I assume a lot of rain isn't a problem?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I don't know, ask the guy that made the video.. LOL! Yes, it's generally pissing down all the bloody time.

[@pthithic]

@@DXCommanderHQ thanks! We get some rain, nothing like the UK, and I didn't know if this is an antenna I can leave out as a permanent.

[@pthithic]

@@DXCommanderHQ how do those plates at the bottom not rust? What are they made out of?

[@edcozart9916]

ahhhh its getting closer boys qro++++

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA

[@garyh8315]

Hi Cal, looks great, but would the ground mount pole also work for the Classic to add more stability? Cheers, G

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Erm.. Well, the thing is the pole wall thickness always worries me about the Classic and having them guy themselves.. Some people have done it - but I have a feeling our "warranty department" would run in overtime :)

[@garyh8315]

@@DXCommanderHQ In addition to the guys perhaps..... mmmmm.... fully understand your predicament and the issues it could cause.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

What is your professional opinion of the CB version of the 'COMPACtenna' ? Hot or not?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so I don't know - BUT according to Maxwells equations, there MUST be loss if it's small. If it has a power rating, it has to heat up. Hence the loss. On CB & 10m band, it's quite easy to get almost a quarter-wave pretty easy which will have a LOT Less loss.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

@@DXCommanderHQ So magic ;-)

[@lyfandeth]

A couple thousandths? Will there be a problem with thermal expnsion if you cut them in winter, and the antenna is baking at 40°C in an Arizona summer?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Maybe. But since everything will get a bit bigger (including the hole) it shouldn't matter. Actually, the plastic will get a tiny bit softer. I was more worried about everything freezing.. Funny how our minds work overtime on risk assesments..!

[@genoa1979]

Good job

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks

[@louisblock1006]

sire , what will happen if you place the antenna on a metal sheet roof?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It'll work!

[@TheGoose81]

Hi Callum, I have a question regarding a 40m horizontal sky loop. It relates to when you wanted to get your own onto the 80m band and you chopped out a 6 foot section at the rear end of the loop to make a Halo loop 1/2 wave for 80m. A friend of mine has suggested I could use Vacuum Relays to electrically switch in and out this 6 foot section, via a simple "switch" in the shack. To easily go from 40m and 80m. My question is, have you ever delved into this/or know of anybody having success in this idea? Thanks Mike

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I often thought about it - but it seemed a hassle.. I was happy running outside and using croc clips :) PS - any old automotice relay would do this, I am sure.

[@HowardKlein1958]

In this day and age it would be easier to have tx and rx at base of aerial and just use control signals from shack. From point of view of user, the rig would appear exactly the same, with all the control and metering and tuning as with the full tx/rx in the shack, but the big advantage is no long coax runs. More power into aerial and better signal to noise for rx. Surprised this isn't done, unless anyone knows otherwise?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

So put all the expensive electronics in the field? Yeah, do it :)

[@nasanction]

What do you recommend for us CBer's?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Gain Master.. Make one for wire and string it up a tree..

[@ColinBoath]

Where does someone get decent fibreglass pole from.. Tempted to try an old fishing rod !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well, that is the question..!

[@kenluning909]

Fence