How to assemble icom AH-8000 discone antenna

[bgrattan]

Hello,
I have an AH-8000 discone antenna ready to assemble but am not sure about the placements of the elements. I know how they are connected but, from the instructions supplied, I can’t determine the order of the elements. For the cone, are they spaced long, short, long, short, etc.? For the top (disc) is it the same long, short, long, short, etc.? Are the short elements in the disc placed above the short elements in the cone, and long over long?
Maybe this doesn’t matter and I’m trying to complicate it. Once it’s up, I don’t want to have to adjust it.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Cheers,
Bob N4MRV
Ashland, VA

 

[mmckenna]

Short on top, long on the bottom.

 

[dave3825]

For the disc, looks as 13 3/8 (long) and 10 5/8 (short) alternate so short long short long.





For the cone, looks like they forgot the pic. But same thing. 40 1/32 (long) and 31 31/32 (short) alternating.






What's not clear is if a long disc gets aligned with a long or short cone.

Try both ways and see which works better.,

 

[trentbob]

I don't know how others feel but I like to use a drop of Loctite with every radial😉

 

[bgrattan]

"What's not clear is if a long disc gets aligned with a long or short cone."

Can anyone comment on this? It's hard to test without mounting the antenna on the chimney. That's what I don't want to do if I'm not sure of the setup.

Thanks, all.
Bob

 

[TGuelker]

Both my Tram and Diamond discones have the short radials at the top and the long radials at the bottom.

I don’t know why your brand alternates sizes.

 

[trentbob]

Both my Tram and Diamond discones have the short radials at the top and the long radials at the bottom.

I don’t know why your brand alternates sizes.

Good point, but they must have their reasons as they want the best performance from their product so as to be positively endorsed.. as much as it doesn't make sense, I would follow the written directions exactly.

The option of trying different ways to get the best results, if so inclined, is not a bad idea either. You know how it is, with conditions and location.

 

[vagrant]

1. Alternate the elements on the "disk" first. ( Upper part )
2. Put the "cone" elements on next and match short above to short below. Long above, long below. ( The cone elements angle down )
3. The antenna elements on this Icom discone are NOT typical of the bog standard Tram, Diamond / whatever discone.
( Just purchase a Diamond D130NJ discone and save $150 if you typically monitor 118-500 MHz instead of this Icom version )

Also, the manual has the answer with an image. It denotes the "cone" and "disc" difference with images along with sizes.



Alexey explains it and puts one together.

 

[dave3825]

Both my Tram and Diamond discones have the short radials at the top and the long radials at the bottom.

They all do, including his. What makes his different is his shorts are 2 sizes, 10 5/8 and 13 3/8, that alternate, and the verticals (long) are 2 sizes also, 31 31/32 and 40 1/32 that also alternate.

The info @vagrant found holds the missing info.





What I downloaded from Dx Engineering is incomplete as cone reference is missing. Also looks like something blacked out .

https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/ico-ah-8000.pdf?_gl=1*1pg8x0o*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3Mzk3Mzk3NjQuQ2p3S0NBaUF0c2E5QmhBS0Vpd0FVWkFzelFYS1NvaHFDaWZvdkx1S1RBNnJIdG5NUEhQU1ZjUUNQVURjNW9LZHF5aFRLOFNLRlJuSGdCb0MtYzBRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*NDM1MjQyODkyLjE3MzkzMTk0ODA.*_ga*MTExODc0MDY3OC4xNzM5MzE5NDgx*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTczOTczOTc2My4yLjAuMTczOTczOTc2NS41OC4wLjA.

 

[bgrattan]

Thanks, everyone, I think I have the info I need. There are two short sizes for the disc and two long sizes for the cone. I just need to space them, alternating sizes, the same way for top and bottom.
Much appreciated!
Bob