International Antenna Company

Made Proudly in USA of Mil-Spec Components

STEALTH BAZOOKA

SB-10

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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WARNING:  DO NOT INSTALL THE STEALTH BAZOOKA WHERE ANY PART OF THE FLAGPOLE CAN COME INTO CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD POWER LINES DURING INSTALLATION OR IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL FLEXING AFTER INSTALLATION FOR SUCH CONTACT CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, BODILY INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. 

NOTE: PLEASE CONSULT THE A.R.R.L HANDBOOK FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY PROCEDURES WHEN WORKING WITH ANTENNAS AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED TO READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE PROCEEDING TO ASSEMBLY.

NOTE: FIRST SURVEY YOUR LOCATION TO SELECT THE BEST SITE FOR THE STEALTH BAZOOKA FLAGPOLE ANTENNA.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SELECT A LOCATION AWAY FROM OBJECTS WHERE PERFORMANCE MAY BE DEGRADED SUCH AS A HOUSE WITH ALUMINUM SIDING OR METAL FENCE. 

TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THE STEALTH BAZOOKA ANTENNA WILL REQUIRE A GROUND RADIAL SYSTEM EXTENDING OUT FROM THE ANTENNA 16 FEET IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

REQUIRED TOOLS

Flat blade screwdriver, Phillips blade screwdriver and pliers.  A 3/8 inch and 7/16 inch open-end wrench or nut driver.

PARTS LIST

Description                                                   Qty

Lower Base Factory Assembled (includes)

Antenna Element Assembly                               1                                

Tube PVC 5 Ft 2.000 ID                                  1

Tube Aluminum 3 Ft Base Assy.                        1

Middle and Top Assembly (includes)

Tube PVC 6 Ft 2.000 ID                                  2

Tube Aluminum 1 Ft Coupling Assy.                  2

Gold Ball Assembly                                           1

Eye Bolt with ¼ inch Locking Nuts                    1

Cleat (Pre-assembled)                                       1

Misc. Hardware and Assemblies

Tube PVC 4 Ft 2.000 ID Gnd. Section              1                    

Ground Radial System                                       1

# 8-32 X 1.250 Screw (Pre-assembled)            3

# 10-32 X 3.000 Screw                                    3

# 10-32 X 3/8 Screw                                      18

# 10-32 Hex Nut (Teflon insert)                         2

# 10 Flat Washer                                               4

# 10 Plastic Screw Cover Washers                   18

White Plastic Screw Covers Cap                      18

US Flag                                                              1

Rope 30 Ft                                                         1

Rope Clips                                                          2        

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UNPACKING

·        CAREFULLY REMOVE THE THREE (3) PLASTIC WRAPPING MATERIAL BANDS AROUND THE FOUR (4) PVC PIPES.

NOTE:  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PULL WIRE RADIATING ELEMENT RUNNING BETWEEN THE TWO (2) PVC PIPES.

·        THE RADIATING ELEMENT IS LOOSELY FED THROUGH THE SIX (6) FOOT MIDDLE PVC SECTION AND THROUGH THE SIX (6) FOOT TOP PVC SECTION DURING SHIPMENT.

FLAGPOLE ASSEMBLY

1.         Check to be sure that all parts are present. Some parts may be pre assembled at the factory.

NOTE:  NEVER USE EXCESSIVE FORCE OR OVER TIGHTEN # 10-32 X 3/8 INCH SCREWS.

2.                  Ensure the antenna element located at the top of the five (5) foot PVC base assembly is fed through the middle 6 foot PVC tube and coupler assembly.  The middle coupler is the one with the rope cleat attached.  

NOTE: The rope cleat should be toward the bottom of the middle PVC section for this step.    

3.                  Insert the middle 6 foot PVC section with the coupler end into the top of base PVC section.

4.                  Ensure the remaining antenna element is fed into the top six (6) foot PVC section.  The coupler end must be toward the middle PVC tube for this step.

NOTE:  Ensure tie wrap is not folded back over spring but straight forward while inserting antenna element.

5.                  Install eye hook into the single ¼ inch hole located 1 inch from the top end of the PVC tube and secure with two (2) ¼ inch hex huts.  Tighten securely.

6.                  Insert the top 6 foot PVC section with the coupler end into the middle PVC section.  Ensure eye hook is located on the same side of the flagpole as the cleat.

7.                  Using tie wrap pull tension spring toward end of tube and slip the loop at end of spring over the ¼ inch eye hook bolt.  Push excess tie wrap into PVC tube.

8.                  Align tapped mounting holes located at top of base tube and insert eight (8) # 10-32 X 3/8 inch screws with # 10 Plastic Cover Washers.  “DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN SCREWS” Install white plastic caps over the screw heads.

9.         Align the tapped holes and insert the eight (8) 10-32 X 3/8 inch screws with #10 Plastic Cover Washers into upper end of the middle six (6) foot PVC tube and tighten. “DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN SCREWS” Install white plastic caps over the screw heads.

10.       Insert the Gold Ball assembly to the top end of the 6 foot PVC top section.

11.       Align the mounting holes and insert two (2) # 10-32 X 3/8 inch screws with # 10 Plastic Screw Cover Washers.  (See figure 2)

NOTE:  DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN SCREWS INTO THE PVC TUBE.

12.       Install White Plastic Screw Cover Caps to the Plastic Screw Cover Washers.

13.       Align the mounting hole located in the middle of the five (5) foot PVC base tube and insert a  # 10-32 X 3.000 inch screw with a  # 10 Plastic Screw Cover Washer so that it come out of the opposite side of the PVC tube. (See figure 1)

14.       Install flat washer and # 10-32 Hex Nut with Teflon insert to the # 10-32 X 3.000 inch screw protruding through the opposite side of the PVC tube and tighten securely.  (See figure 1)

15.       Install a # 10-32 X 3.000 inch GROUND SCREW at the bottom of the PVC Base Tube Assembly.  Insert the screw through the PVC tube from the side away from the coax input.  The PVC hole has been enlarged to recess the screw head thus allowing it to make contact with the metal base pipe.  (See figure 1)   Do not install a # 10 Plastic Cover Washer over Ground Screw head.

16.       Install a # 10-32 Hex Nut to the # 10-32 X 3.000 inch screw protruding through the opposite side of the PVC tube directly below the coax input connector and tighten securely.  Install two (2) flat washers and another #10-32 hex nut.

(See figure 1)  DO NOT TIGHTEN SECOND HEX NUT AT THIS TIME. 

17.       Open rope package and lay straight on ground.  Attach plastic Flag clip as shown below.   Measure             space between brass grommets on flag and space second plastic clip to this measurement.  Feed             rope through top eye hook and tie ends together.

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MOUNTING / SETTING TUBE INSTALLATION

1.         Prepare a hole in the ground 12 inches in diameter and 47 inches deep.

2.                  Place the four (4) foot PVC Ground Setting Tube into the hole allowing approximately 1 to 2 inches to extend above ground level.

NOTE:  ENSURE FLAG POLE BASE ASSEMBLY MOUNTING HOLE IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE GROUND LEVEL

3.                  Fill the bottom of hole with 4 inches of loose gravel.

4.                  Next fill the hole with 12 inches of sand.

5.         Using a level ensure the 4 foot PVC Setting Section is perfectly level (Straight Vertically).

6.         Plumb Setting tube and brace so that it will not move during the pouring of the concrete.

7.         Fill the hole half way with concrete.

NOTE: Recheck the tube level. Make adjustments as required.

8.         Fill the remaining portion of the hole with concrete to within 2 inches of ground level.  See Installation Detail figure below.

9.          Again recheck the level of the mounting tube. Make any final adjustments at this time.

NOTE:  BE SURE THE GROUND SETTING TUBE IS PERFECTLY LEVEL (STRAIGHT VERTICAL) AT THIS TIME.  FAILURE TO ENSURE A LEVEL MOUNTING TUBE WILL RESULT IN THE FLAGPOLE NOT BEING STRAIGHT.

10.              Once concrete has hardened (approx. 48 hours) fill hole with top soil.

DO NOT INSTALL FLAG POLE BEFORE 48 HOURS.

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FLAGPOLE MOUNTING

1.               Install a 6 foot ground rod as close to the mounting tube as possible.

2.               Drive the ground rod into the ground using a heavy metal hammer so that only 1 to 2 inches extends above the ground level. 

3.               Place Flag Pole into ground mounting tube.  Insert # 10-32 X 3.000 inch screw with # 10 Plastic Screw Cover Washer through the top end of the mounting tube.

4.               Install flat washer and # 10-32 Hex Nut with Teflon insert to the # 10-32 X 3.000 inch screw protruding through the opposite side of the PVC mounting tube and tighten securely.

5.               Connect the ground radial assembly to the # 10-32 antenna GROUND SCREW located directly below the coax feed point connector.  (See figure 1)

Note: Refer to Ground Radial Section for proper placement.   

  6.       Connect a ground wire (# 10 gauge or larger) to the ground rod.

7.       Connect the other end of the ground wire coming from the ground rod to the antenna GROUND SCREW.  (See figure 1)

  8.       Secure both the ground rod wire and the ground radial assembly to the GROUND

          SCREW with #10-32 hex nuts.

NOTE:  A good ground connection is extremely important to achieve low VSWR and proper antenna performance.

9.       Connect a 50 ohm coax feed line (RG-58, RG-8 or RG-213) to the recessed SO-239 connector located at the base of the flag pole.

          NOTE:  The coax connector must be tight to ensure proper antenna performance                                   and low VSWR.          

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CHECKOUT AND ADJUSTMENT

1.       The STEALTH BAZOOKA is pre-tuned from the factory and should produce  relatively low VSRW readings over the entire 17 and 20 meter bands and 950 kHz of the 10 meter band.  

2.       For measurement checks a simple VSWR indicator may be used with a minimum of power for  accurate readings.  An analyzer may also be used for this test.  NO MORE THAN 10 WATTS IS  RECOMMENDED TO CHECK THE VSWR.    

  3.  Determine the frequency at which VSWR is the lowest on 10 and 17 meters.  

       NOTE: Factory settings should produce resonance at 18.1 and 28.3 MHz..      

       However different ground conditions and antenna location can result in higher VSWR readings or a            possible shift of the resonant frequency. 

GROUND RADIAL PLACEMENT

1.        Ensure GROUND RADIAL KIT is connected and tightened securely to the ground terminal of the base tube assembly.        

2.               Fan out radials as shown in figure 9.

  3.               Make sure radials are equally spaced as shown below in figure 9.

            NOTE:  Do not leave radial wires on the ground.  It is recommended to bury the wires to              prevent damage to the radial kit from pedestrians and lawnmowers.

4.               Split the earth 1 to 3 inches with a square shovel or similar tool to provide a straight line along the path of each radial wire.

5.               Press ALL radial wires into the split earth being careful not to cut or damage the wire.

 6.        Always keep radials in a straight line.  Do not bend.

            NOTE:  ADDITIONAL RADIALS KITS CAN BE ADDED IF GROUND CONDUCTIVITY IS  POOR. 

                                                                Figure 9

This is only a representative layout of the ground radials.

Variations of figure 9 will still provide good performance.

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