Mosley MP-33-NW yagi antenna build at WX0V (similar to the TA-33-JR-WARC and others)

[@W1RMD]

You are an amazing instructor! If that was (or is) not your career it should have (should) be. A propane torch is your best friend when working with aluminum, especially corroded. Be care as aluminum will start to to melt without tuning red and stays hot longer after heating than you might think. Yeowww! If an electric heat gun will work, use that. Nylon melts easily in the presence of flames too. Destructions......PERFECT! I thought I was the only one who said that. 73.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you for your kind words. Yeah, I was told propane would melt it but should have tried anyway, as I ended up scrapping those sections, so your call there is a good one. "Destructions" is credited to Gary Huddleston (scroll through the comments here for the full story) 73! de WX0V

[@W1RMD]

@@SuburbanDXing Takes a LOT of heat from a propane torch to melt aluminium, especially a large tube like what's in an antenna. Even thin old tv antenna elements are hard to melt. You can straighten the elements surprisingly easy without a tubing bender. The split in the tubing makes it pretty easy to manipulate it with pliers while moving the torch around the element.

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@W1RMD I will definitely try that next time...73! de WX0V

[@nt4g1]

Have one in the garage, waiting on spring in Utah. Has to be one of the best build videos ever!

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you for the kind words. Glad to hear this video was of use to you. Enjoy your antenna (once it is installed) and 73! de WX0V

[@N4EVG]

Thanks for posting… just in boxed my new Mosley, TA - 33 M today, and your video helped me out tremendously! Hope to hear you on the air. 73’s N4EVG

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you. I think the two antennas are very similar so this video should assist a little bit, anyway. 73! de WX0V

[@mikeerstad3705]

Thanks for the video and entertainment....my only experience with a Mosley was a 32 JR. A friend sold it to me for 100 bucks, I spent hours cleaning it up and checking the traps then the day came to put it up on a telescoping pole with a rotator ....I got her up about 30' or so, and the weight of the antenna and rotator bent the telescoping pole right over and down she went....That Aluminum busted up into a crap load of pieces....she was out at the curb the next day for the trash man......but it was fun...

[@SuburbanDXing]

I thought I replied to this comment...didn't I? I thought it was a few days ago...right? Anyway...73 de WX0V

[@mikeerstad3705]

@@SuburbanDXing Opps, yes, sorry, though it was on a different KZbin channel.....Thanks Much...

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@mikeerstad3705 That's right...it was my other video on this antenna...thought I was losing my mind for a moment...ha! 😃 Thank you for your comments...73! de WX0V

[@timstanton6431]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Assembling the antenna is complicated enough without documenting it. Incredible the amount of internal and external element reinforcement. I see where the weight comes from. It occurred to me that the balance point might not be the center of the boom. The fuller-size elements should help with F/B directivity. You are right that the traps are much larger than the minis. Amazing! Given the markings to help tune to a portion of the bands, there is likely very little tuning needed. Perhaps some adjustments on the reflector to maximize the F/B ratio. Perfect time to enjoy your new beam. Cheers, de N8MGQ

[@SuburbanDXing]

I appreciate your comments, Tim. Thank you. Not only are the traps larger than the JR/Mini's, so are the radiators themselves. I didn't discover this until after I took the TA-33-JR down. Speaking of traps, just wait until you see the fried trap from the TA-33-JR/WARC on the SWR/install video...it's worth the price of admission! That video is almost set; I just need to add some stuff and tweak it. 73! de WX0V

[@Alexfazer600]

Think I bought one of these antenna's as scrap for £25 UK, I have been trying to build it thanks to this video but I have lots of parts to buy and 3D printed the end caps and spacers. The cleaning process is taking longer than the antenna build will, as everything was covered in paint and I need to clean. I have only 2 aluminium tubes left to buy for the director and reflector then it's build time well after the cleaning lol, again thanks for the great video Scott 73

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@Alexfazer600 Thank you for your kind words. Hope you can finish your build. 73! de WX0V

[@thork0tjt515]

Very nice job explaining the build. I just picked up an mp- 33 (no warc)from an estate. Can’t wait to give it a try. Maybe I’ll add the warc too it? 73

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you, Thor. Yes...get the WARC add-on...it gives you 2 more bands. 73! de WX0V

[@ZedBeeE]

Great job on the build! Man, that thing is a beast! How was the instruction manual? The one that came with my Mini was an absolute joke...Happy DX, Scott 73!

[@SuburbanDXing]

The destruction manual was fine, but there was an issue that I noted here. For one part, the narrative called out for Part #9 screws, whereas the illustration showed Part#37 screws. At the end of the day it was not a big deal (I ended up with 2 extra #9 screws). Thanks for the view; I thought this might get like 10 views, since it is for a limited audience. However, if one is considering a TA-33-JR/WARC, they might want to look at this antenna for a little more money. Had I done that in 2007, it would likely still be in use. 73! de WX0V

[@waynefrancisfuneralbagpipe6551]

Great video- thank goodness I was not left to myself with the "destructions"~

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you. I got the term "destructions" from an old grizzled salesman named Gary Huddleston in the mid-1980's. A group of young guys were trying to assemble something and he walked in and barked "WHERE ARE THE DESTRUCTIONS?!" I loudly laughed and have used it ever since. So there ya go...73! de WX0V

[@paulkf5pv]

With your video and some black marker from the previous owner, I got my used one together. The documentation I had said it was a TH 33 JR W. And the box said Hygain. It was no where near a Hygain hihi. 73 de Paul KF5PV very much tnx also.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Well, this comment made my day! Glad to hear my video was of such help to you. Thank you and 73! de WX0V

[@joev7127]

What was the size of the larger U bolts used to mount to the mast???

[@SuburbanDXing]

That's a really good question as I didn't properly cover that in the video. I used 2 1/2" OD u-bolts. Mosley supplies 2" OD u-bolts but my mast was larger than that. The drill holes are there in the mounting plate for both sizes, as shown in the video. 73! de WX0V

[@joev7127]

Thanks for the information. I will be putting up a Mosley TA 53 & s-402 M here in the near future. That little piece of information is not listed anywhere on the Mosely site. GR8 Videos.

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@joev7127 ...and obviously, I blew it, too! 😀Thanks for the positive feedback and 73! de WX0V

[@kc8tyk86]

Is the "Holy Shit" a technical term used to describe the antenna at the end of the video? lol

[@SuburbanDXing]

Pretty much. 😆 I'm just glad you made it to the end...it's a long video. 73! de WX0V

[@LeeFahrner]

Excellent video. Could you offer info on where to buy the plastic caps? Thanks.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you for the compliments. I do not have any affiliate links here but just search for "1 1/4" Hole Black Nylon Locking Panel Plugs" (or whatever size you want) and you should easily find them. Mosley should source them and replace the poor-quality ones they supply with the antenna. It's an easy fix for an ongoing issue but they'll never do it. 73! de WX0V

[@LeeFahrner]

Great info. I just ordered from Amazon. Thanks again.@@SuburbanDXing

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@LeeFahrner Excellent! Yeah, they are easy to find, and you'll be glad you got them...73! de WX0V

[@davidray4128]

Thanks for the video. I have a TA 33M on order. Gives me an idea.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Yes, the two antennas are probably damn near identical in terms of assembly. YOU are the person I produced this video for. I was you before I got the MP-33-NW, and the existing You Yube videos on it were lacking substantially in terms of the build. Although not perfect, at least this one shows significantly more detail. Thank you and 73! de WX0V

[@davidray4128]

@@SuburbanDXing Mosley seems like the right choice after reading up on the latest Cushcraft quality issues. Ice took the hex beam down this week, so have decided to go with a robust antenna. 73 VE3WF

[@SuburbanDXing]

@@davidray4128 I have used Mosley since 2007, and the only reason my TA-33-JR-WARC failed is because I fired a trap (totally my fault). So yes, I am happy with Mosley, however, they are not perfect. Make sure to watch my video on testing and installing this antenna. 73! de WX0V

[@baldguyadventure]

Great video! By the way, I have the same tile in my upstairs bathroom lol.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Ha! My tile is quite old but I'm not picky. Glad you enjoyed the video...73! de WX0V

[@Ei2iP]

I would never buy a Mosley again, I have a mini beam and it broke my heart, ended up scrapping a new antenna, at a loss of a lot of money! BTW Balun or no Balun at the antenna?

[@SuburbanDXing]

Sorry to hear that. It always sucks when something doesn't work out . My Mosley TA-33-JR/WARC lasted 15 years (until I fried the traps; totally my fault) and worked over 1,000 DXCC Challenge slots. We'll see what happens with this one. No balun...I did wind a feed-line choke to it (you can see that in the first two images at the start of the video). Thanks for stopping by and 73! de WX0V

[@SuburbanDXing]

Correction; I made over 1,400 confirmed DXCC Challenge slots with the TA-33-JR/WARC (from 2007 to when it was dismantled in October of 2022).

[@AnthonyJones-vk6xq]

Nice......

[@SuburbanDXing]

Thank you...73! de WX0V