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This is what Kio and NA4RR use, great stuff?
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On Jun 4, 2025, at 16:43, Steve via groups.io <skostlin@...> wrote:
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I will see if I can source something locally............likely will need to order online from hexbeam manufacturer.
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Thanks for the input
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73
Steve
al7fw
I will see if I can source something locally............likely will need to order online from hexbeam manufacturer.
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Thanks for the input
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73
Steve
al7fw
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Dacron is ok also. Dacron coat Kevlar great, also, I’m sure DXE has picked the correct rope for there antenna?
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On Jun 4, 2025, at 15:24, DOUGLAS WYMAN via groups.io <dkwyman@...> wrote:
? Paracord is quite stretchy and breaks down in sunlight (I can witness from personal experience that I won’t repeat). For ice cords and other hexbeam rigging, consider Dyneema for its superior UV resistance and strength/weight ratio.? This page offers insight on fiber selection for rope:
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On Jun 4, 2025, at 12:50?PM, Steve via groups.io <skostlin@...> wrote:
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Yes, planning on ice cords. Pretty sure they are not included in antenna parts, but I sssume they would just be accomplished by adding paracord between top of center post and midway on spreaders?
Paracord is quite stretchy and breaks down in sunlight (I can witness from personal experience that I won’t repeat). For ice cords and other hexbeam rigging, consider Dyneema for its superior UV resistance and strength/weight ratio.? This page offers insight on fiber selection for rope: | |
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On Jun 4, 2025, at 12:50?PM, Steve via groups.io <skostlin@...> wrote:
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Yes, planning on ice cords. Pretty sure they are not included in antenna parts, but I sssume they would just be accomplished by adding paracord between top of center post and midway on spreaders?
Steve?
Theresa are 2 per spreader. One from the top of spreader and one midway down between the 15-12 wires. Both connected from the top of the center pole. See photo.? 
John? W2JMU
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On Jun 4, 2025, at 13:49, Steve via groups.io <skostlin@...> wrote:
? Yes, planning on ice cords. Pretty sure they are not included in antenna parts, but I sssume they would just be accomplished by adding paracord between top of center post and midway on spreaders?
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That’s what I did.
Subsequently learned that K4KIO uses Dacron-covered Kevlar cord all around.I don’t know what the DXE uses but made a note to check that if/when a rebuild is required.
Scott ka9p
Yes, planning on ice cords. Pretty sure they are not included in antenna parts, but I sssume they would just be accomplished by adding paracord between top of center post and midway on spreaders?
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Yes, planning on ice cords. Pretty sure they are not included in antenna parts, but I sssume they would just be accomplished by adding paracord between top of center post and midway on spreaders?
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I’m guessing you already planned on ice cords? My used one has been up in Northern ?Illinois (with cords) for 11 years with not a single issue.
Good luck! Scott ka9p
I picked up a new, never assembled dx eng 5 band HB. Have painted the spreaders and filled the center post with wood dowel for additional strength. Will be placed atop 30’ aluminum tilt over tower.? Anything else ?I need to do for better longevity in the elements? ?
thanks and 73
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Steve ?al7fw
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I picked up a new, never assembled dx eng 5 band HB. Have painted the spreaders and filled the center post with wood dowel for additional strength. Will be placed atop 30’ aluminum tilt over tower. ?Anything else ?I need to do for better longevity in the elements? ?
thanks and 73
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Steve ?al7fw
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Hello to all those who provided information. ?
Thank you
I located some 2”OD, 0.375” wall 6061-T6 tubing (not pipe) at a metals shot in Dallas TX. ?It’s on its way but the shipping was terribly costly. ?It’s my hobby so who cares :-))
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WB4KTF, Glen, Austin, Texas
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I just ordered one today! With the optional top accessory for mounting a ground plane on top.
i have had two K4KIO HEXBEAMS that have been destroyed in Austin TX in extreme weather events that exceeded it’s specifications. ?So how will try the VHQ HEX.
My aluminum mast was also bent about 30-40 degrees from vertical, so I peered a10 ft long 6061-T6 2” OD tube with 0.375” wall thickness.
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WB4KTF, Glen, Austin, Texas
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Glen, i didn't realize Austin gets that severe weather, but I definitely believe the failure rate. I kept a NA4RR hex alive for 4 years through typhoons and one super-typhoon, ?taking it down off the tower more times than i care to remember and replacing or reinforcing everything that broke. Finally I gave up and went to a lightweight triband Yagi and rotary dipole for 12/17. That was slightly more successful, but i believe if i had just started with a heavy duty Yagi, I would have come out ahead in all ways. The old-timers here took one look at the hex and said it wouldn't last long. Oh well, live and learn.?
JS6TMW in Naha, Okinawa (aka typhoon alley)
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I live on top of an East Coast mountain, 1900’ above the average terrain.?
Because of the winds, typical 20-40mph with each rain storm. Gusts as high as 90-95mph I have been through lots of antennas. In the winter ?” to 3” ice buildup is very common.
All this is to say I have been through 3 Hex Beam manufactures products over 5 years. Only one has continued to survive more than a year, VHQ for me. The quality of design and materials for me justify the increased cost. The only thing I have done is paint the fiberglass spreaders to reduce UV weakening of the fiberglass over years. (Recommended for all Hex Beams)
There is also a difference in the SWR across the bands, VHQ is much flatter over the whole range of each band.
hope this helps,
? ?Watts
? ?K4QJZ
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Alan
You sure did.
interesting idea about adding inserts inside and outside of the spreader tubes but that will make them even harder to bend into the umbrella shape. ?I am contacting VHQ for a discussion.
Can you believe that here in Austin in less that 3 years I’ve had 2 destructive failures! ?In the first K4KIO the square tube feed column did bend but I attribute that to the 1” of ice on every wire and spreader, as soon as the two spreaders failed then the who thing went into a spiral the remaining parts pulled the center post to the side, off vertical. ?This second newer K4KIO has a round tube feed column, I’ve not gotten the antenna down yet to see if it bent any, that will happen in Oct-Nov.
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WB4KTF, Glen, Austin, Texas
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I thought I just said that.?
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On Jun 1, 2025, at 15:37, Dave N7DCF via groups.io <cnynrat@...> wrote:
? Again,? just because the fiberglass is weaker than some other component does not mean it's the root cause of failures under heavy weather conditions. The fact that other manufacturers have tried to improve their center post designs would indicate they also realize that is the root cause of the typical failure mode under heavy weather.?
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Dave (N7DCF)?
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Again,? just because the fiberglass is weaker than some other component does not mean it's the root cause of failures under heavy weather conditions. The fact that other manufacturers have tried to improve their center post designs would indicate they also realize that is the root cause of the typical failure mode under heavy weather.?
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Dave (N7DCF)?
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Don’t need analysis to say fibreglass is weaker then aluminum, a lot of failures related to the insulator between the feed and baseplate, also the thickness of the feed post, VHQ has addressed that issue but now most makers do use round pipe so with the likes of UK Hexbeam that is also taken care of. ?If high winds the fibreglass is now the weak point, with ice build up and a small amount of wind the fibreglass just breaks with all that extra weight, one item that can prevent the fibreglass moving to much is the installation of the struts.? For high winds areas struts definitely hold the hexbeam still. I have lost two hexbeam in the past and all due to the insulator and feed post. So again that is taken care of by most manufacturers with now using round tube, in VHQ’s case some solid piece of resin and thick walled feed post.? To try help the fibreglass not be as week you could double up the fibreglass with another tube inside the full length then at the attachment points add a outer tube were you can not double up at the 4” point were next spreader sits.?
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On Jun 1, 2025, at 12:39, Dave N7DCF via groups.io <cnynrat@...> wrote:
? Glen - Given what happened to your mast I'm? not sure any hexbeam would have come thru that event unscathed.? ?I do have a VHQ, but it hasn't seen any significant weather events yet.??
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Are there any reports of a VHQ failing due to heavy weather?? I searched this forum and the web and I didn't find any.? That doesn't mean they never fail, but it's easy to find examples of most other hexbeam designs falling under heavy weather.? An example or two of a VHQ failing in heavy weather would go a long way towards resolving the debate over whether they are worth the extra investment.?
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I know the common refrain is the fiberglass spreaders are the weak point, but those statements aren't accompanied by any? detailed analysis.? Just because spreaders have failed in heavy weather it does not mean they were the cause of the failure.? It seems when a hexbeam fails in heavy weather the center post has (always?) also failed.? ?IMO center post failure has to be considered as a potential root cause of the failure.??
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Dave (N7DCF)
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Glen - Given what happened to your mast I'm? not sure any hexbeam would have come thru that event unscathed.? ?I do have a VHQ, but it hasn't seen any significant weather events yet.??
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Are there any reports of a VHQ failing due to heavy weather?? I searched this forum and the web and I didn't find any.? That doesn't mean they never fail, but it's easy to find examples of most other hexbeam designs falling under heavy weather.? An example or two of a VHQ failing in heavy weather would go a long way towards resolving the debate over whether they are worth the extra investment.?
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I know the common refrain is the fiberglass spreaders are the weak point, but those statements aren't accompanied by any? detailed analysis.? Just because spreaders have failed in heavy weather it does not mean they were the cause of the failure.? It seems when a hexbeam fails in heavy weather the center post has (always?) also failed.? ?IMO center post failure has to be considered as a potential root cause of the failure.??
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Dave (N7DCF)
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For wind struts will help a lot. The guy in UK has the struts and I made some myself.? Was windy here and Hexbeam did not move. Some pictures attached, probably be cheaper to buy with the struts then the price of the VHQ.
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On May 31, 2025, at 17:53, Gary via groups.io <gary_mayfield@...> wrote:
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It’s not mine, but my friend and neighbor, Dave, n0dl, has had nary a problem with his VHQ. The peak gust a couple days ago was 75 mph. The antenna was unfazed.
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73,
Joe n0sd
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We just had a microburst hit Austin TX on Wednesday afternoon with very high winds. Rain and some 2” hail. ?Well my second K4KIO failed in this weather. ?The wind even bent my 2” heavy aluminum mast to about 30 degrees off vertical.
This is not the fault of the K4KIO HEX, the extreme weather event did this damage. ?But this is the second one that I’ve purchased and need to find an antenna that can handle the Austin Ice and Wind events. ?So I am wondering is there are
any folks here that have the VHQ HEX and I would appreciate hearing from you how it has handled and survived bad weather.
The attached photo shows that at least 3 of rhe 6 fiberglass spreaders failed, the center wire connection stalk bent and the
<image001.jpg> mast is also bent.
My restriction is I cannot exceed 11-12 foot turning radius due to trees and overhead power lines. ?I am also asking for recommendations on what 2” aluminum mast to buy that has a higher strength than the stuff from a metals store. ?The
mast has to be 9.5-10 feet long, does go through a thrust bearing and down to the rotator that is inside my aluminum 3 section telescopic crank up tower. ?I need the 6 feet above the thrust bearing to allow separation between the 6m beam and the HexBeam.
WB4KTF, Glen, Austin, Texas
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It’s not mine, but my friend and neighbor, Dave, n0dl, has had nary a problem with his VHQ. The peak gust a couple days ago was 75 mph. The antenna was unfazed.
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73,
Joe n0sd
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Glen Jenkins WB4KTF via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2025 12:22 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [hexbeam] VHQ hexbeam?
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We just had a microburst hit Austin TX on Wednesday afternoon with very high winds. Rain and some 2” hail. ?Well my second K4KIO failed in this weather. ?The wind even bent my 2” heavy aluminum mast to about 30 degrees off vertical.
This is not the fault of the K4KIO HEX, the extreme weather event did this damage. ?But this is the second one that I’ve purchased and need to find an antenna that can handle the Austin Ice and Wind events. ?So I am wondering is there are
any folks here that have the VHQ HEX and I would appreciate hearing from you how it has handled and survived bad weather.
The attached photo shows that at least 3 of rhe 6 fiberglass spreaders failed, the center wire connection stalk bent and the
mast is also bent.
My restriction is I cannot exceed 11-12 foot turning radius due to trees and overhead power lines. ?I am also asking for recommendations on what 2” aluminum mast to buy that has a higher strength than the stuff from a metals store. ?The
mast has to be 9.5-10 feet long, does go through a thrust bearing and down to the rotator that is inside my aluminum 3 section telescopic crank up tower. ?I need the 6 feet above the thrust bearing to allow separation between the 6m beam and the HexBeam.
WB4KTF, Glen, Austin, Texas
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Alan Brown
DOUGLAS WYMAN
Glen Jenkins WB4KTF