Diamond X300 Antenna - Build & Installation
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2019
- Diamond X300 2m/70cm Colinear Antenna. Showing constituent parts, build and installation.
Note: There is a weep/drain hole at the base of the antenna where you connect your coax plug. If you seal the male plug/coax with tape like I have done, make sure you don't accidentally block this hole which is next to the female connection on the antenna base. I haven't, and my installation has been fine for years now.
This is one of many amateur/ham radio themed videos on this channel. Feel free to browse 👀, like 👍🏻 and subscribe 🔔
73
Ian. 
Наука
This video saved my a$$ when installing my Diamond V2000 triband (6m/2m/440) antenna, which is of a similar design. I couldn't figure out what the "Gasket Holder" (Part #16002) and the "Gasket" (Part #16004) were until I watch this video (2:45). I was confused because the Gasket Holder is seated over the Gasket, and doesn't move due to the tight resistance of the Gasket and the instructions were sparse at best. I thought the Gasket Holder was some sort of a non-stationary stop, but I knew something was wrong after tightening the upper joint nut (part 16002) onto the lower joint and noted the Upper Element (part 16001) was loose. Once again, RUclips to the rescue. 73, Billy
Great Billy. Glad it helped 👍🏻
Just got my 1st ham antenna -- X300A. Sinking feeling it was missing parts. Then all seemed there except the element in the top. After watching you just pull it out I could see mine was further down so I tapped it on the floor lightly and the element came down to where I could grab it. All good.
Awesome video -- so right on to my project. Gave me lots more confidence. Thank you, kind Sir.
Great stuff. Glad you got sorted 👍🏻😀
Just a note: I did exactly what you did here and the antenna worked well. After a heavy rain, the SWR was all over the place. I spoke with Diamond who asked me if I sealed the connector, which I had. They told me to remove the tape from the coax connector. When I did, 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water ran out of the bottom of the antenna. They told me this was normal, and not to seal the coax connector because it has to drain. 😬 I must say, it has been up there and working now for 3 years
Hi Tom. How odd? Sealing the coax plug can’t trap water in the plug itself and I can’t see how it could block the base of the antenna to hold water inside. Weird that one, but glad you got sorted 👍🏻
ps. I wouldn’t seal the coax plug right up to the outer rim where the bolt holes are on the antenna base. I can see that holding water, but you’d just seal the plug itself, like on any antenna.
@@ianxfs yup, right on the diamond antenna site, under "connector guide for diamond antennas" you will see a "weep hole". If you block this with tape or coax seal, the antenna can not drain. I spoke to an engineer at Diamond who told me that water egress into the antenna is normal and expected. Hence, the weep hole near the connector to allow water to drain.
On a bright note, after clearing the weep hole, the antenna has been up for about three years without further incident.
Note: there is space for antennas with pl259 connectors, but not for antennas with N connectors, as seen on the Diamond website
Just the video I was looking for, putting up a x300 today.
Great! Don’t block the drain hole (see video description). Have fun 👍🏻
Many thanks Ian. I found the minimal instruction sheet in Chino-English to be incomprehensible, particularly concerning the mid-section coupling, which involves first recovering the essential connector block with long-nosed pliers, as explained clearly in your excellent video. Vendors of this antenna could do well to reference your video in their packing notes. So now I need to de-mount the antenna and attempt to re-assemble it properly. If at first...
73s and thanks again. Steve G4IHL
Great! I’m glad it was helpful Steve 👍🏻
Very nice antenna. Thanks for posting!
Well done! I live in southern Ontario Canada and have just purchased a Diamond 6000A which is a very similar antenna in the form of construction. I was beginning to get that sinking feeling when you feel that you are missing a part. After watching your video, to my relief, all is well.
Thank you and regards.
VA3FLC - Hamilton ON Canada
Mark Arnett Thanks Mark! Enjoy your 6000A 👍🏻
Thanks for the effort to make the video. Told me what I need to know about the X300.
Excellent!
I got the Diamond V2000a myself, feels well-built, so far has had no problems.
Great!
I just purchased the Tram-Browning 1481 (17') Dual band and this video will assist me in assembling. I wont have to scale a roof like yours (yikes!) As I have a 30' tower I will lay down for the Tram addition. Thank you for the video! Joe in Texas USA
Joe Craft Thanks Joe! Glad it helped 👍🏻
Thanks for posting, a helpful watch before my own installation. Cheers
Darren Male Hope it help Darren!
Ian - that's exactly what I have here - a great antenna and a lovely informative video. Thanks.
That’s an old video Tom! I bought another for /P FM ops 👍🏻
Cheers, a very professional how-to video. May get that model next upgrade. Added: Ordered it today for early upgrading of my 10m transceiver.
Larry Baker Thanks Larry!
Larry, this antenna is a 2 meter and 70 cm not a 10 m 😉
Well done. Excellent photography, pertinent narration and tips.
Thanks Bill!
Lucid, step by step! Exactly what you need if to avoid digestion of manual ;-)
That’s what I like. Someone to show me 👍🏻😀
Bought a v2000 and this was useful regarding joining two halves together, cheers.😁
Great Mark. Glad it helped 👍🏻
I just purchased this antenna. Thank you for the tutorial.
LadyWeasel Great! Something to go with the written instructions. Hope it helps 👍🏻
@@ianxfs I haven't opened it, yet. Still don't have a mast. My chimney is freakishly short (we don't use the fire place because of that), a tower is out of the question. I'll figure it out.
Thanks for the info Ian nice vlog 👍
Thanks Russ!
Nice video, gives first time installers, the confidence to tighten that middle joint. I did find it easier to install the radials last though. 73’s G4SQJ.
Geoff Turner Yes thanks Geoff.
Thank you for the tips as I’ve just bought an X200 and will be putting that up in the next week or two.
Phillip Siviter Good one Phillip!
@@ianxfs will x300 work for. commercial pmr 464mhz. or will it need retuning , is trimming needed on all 5 separate. 5/8waves or just at one end ,, mine is uk bought. x300. not A version , could you test for me what swr is on 464.000
@@keelanfay2811 Hi, I don’t have an analyser that works at UHF and I have no means of transmitting out of band on 464MHz to test on the rig. Tolerances are small at these higher frequencies, so I’d expect it to be too far from 432MHz to be tuned? Trimming would be more than just an end cut.
Another great vid Ian. I have an X-200 and I'll get round to putting it on the chimney at some point.
Thanks Malcolm. You’ll have to get a spurt on and get one of yours up 👆🏻😀
Thanks for the great video - my instructions were in Japanese and I wasn't clear on how to connect the wire inside to the top half - really nice to see what to do in action. de OG7D.
Great, glad it was of use Joseph 👍🏻
Thanks for the video Ian, I have an X50-N to go up soon and your tips will be useful. Cheers, Steve (G6JEF)
Steve Wardley Great Steve! Have fun 👍🏻
Thanks for this. Helpfull in installing my Diamond V2000 triband
de VE6GK
Great. Glad it helped 👍🏻
Thanks very much, good on the details!
C Heston No problem 👍🏻
Nice watch, man. Great video too.
Karl Krogmann Thanks Karl!
Good video, like the idea of the white insulation tape
C Ad Thanks! One year on, it’s still up there and all tape still in place. Getting hammered by 50mph winds at the mo 😮
@@ianxfs put mine up today :)
C Ad Brilliant. Have fun!
Nice job! Thanks.
PNWcruiser Great! Thanks 👍🏻
Smart to add the self-fusing tape with a top layer of white electrical tape. Gaskets always leak sooner or later. Would do the same on the connector.
These quality "white stick" antennas can last many years unless there is water ingress.
Agreed Louis 👍🏻
@@boblatkey7160 It’s in the description Bob. Don’t block the drain hole, which I didn’t. Been up years now 👍🏻 Thanks for the heads-up.
I have bought the Diamond X6000, which is tri-band, but otherwise very similar. Where you join the radiating element sections, mine had foam just to the left of the screw on the upper section which I thought to be packing material and pulled off. It was stuck on very well and basically ended up in bits. As I slid the rest of the upper element out to check, there was more. I realised it's function is to cushion the element in the shell to stop it banging in wind. I wish I hadn't removed that section, but I'm hoping there won't be any impact.
Really useful upload as the instructions are crap.
Many Thanks,
John
M7JHA
John Ratcliffe Yes John, just some cushioning material. With the rest in place further up and down, I’d guess it’ll be ok. Enjoy working the three bands 👍🏻
@@ianxfs Just a quick update, my X6000 is up and singing. Great reports and very happy with it. Went for M&P UltraFlex 10 as feedline. The Diamond X series are excellent antennas and I'm very pleased that I saw your video! Thanks again 😊👍
Excellent John! They are built to last I think. Glad the video was useful as that’s what they’re for 👍🏻
The threads in the screw to join the elements were too soft, so I had to replace it. Else it was easy. I have WX protected the fibre glass using electrical tape on the whole antenna. It will make it durable for a long time.
Ok. Strange the radial threads failed? I think they’re stainless-steel rod? Hopefully yours it sorted now 👍🏻
@@ianxfs I had some umbraco/allen screws spare, so all is well now. Just got to mount it in the chimney tomorrow. I have a 5/8 lambda vertical there now, so should get +3dB.
Perfekt
Thanks!
Very nicely done, Ian. Thank you. A quick question, though. How did you ground this? The manual tells me the antenna is DC grounded. Do you know how that's done? Via the mast? Thank you.
Thanks Gary! I didn’t see anything about grounding, I just assembled and installed following the general order of instructions. It’s worked great for years now. Even SSB summer-DX across Europe which was great considering it’s not a horizontal yagi 👍🏻
Hi Gary! Yes, grounding the antenna is a must! It violates electric code to not ground ANY antenna and you MUST use a lightning arrestor BEFORE the feed line enters any dwelling!! If you don't do this and, God forbid you Get a lightning strike that damages your home or even worse burns it down, your insurance company will pay you absolutely nothing on your loss, including your entire home!
The spanners needed for the centre coupling are oddly enough 23mm across the flats.
Tony Ling Ah right Tony. That might help others 👍🏻 Thanks.
I plan to purchase one of these Antennas. Can you tell me what size pole you have mounted the Antenna onto please. Thanks. Enjoyed the video and great tips especially the self amalgamating tape.
adrian lamb Glad it was useful Adrian! If you’re in the UK, the Pole was standard TV aerial mounting pole from B&Q. Not sure of the diameter, but you could look it up if you’re not shopping there. The Diamond does take a range of size masts though 👍🏻
👍👍👍👍👍👍💎
Great video. Just wondering if you have had any water issues with the antenna since putting the algamating and electrical tape round the main joint. I've heard some say water may hang on the tape and work itself in. Regards Rich
No, all fine this end Rich 👍🏻
@@ianxfs Great. Just ordered the 510 so was thinking of doing the same to the 2 joints 😎
Ian. Great video. It doesn't look like you formed the feeder into a coil fixed to support mast....would be interested to know why not. Also what coax did you use ? Tnx John
John Pitfield Hi John. You’re right, I didn’t make a loop in the coax. Apparently the loop shown in any pictures is a service loop to give you enough slack to lift the antenna back off the pole so you can access the coax plug. It can also reduce the downward strain caused by the coax weight pulling down. I don’t think it’s meant to be a choke as the radials should decouple the antenna.
The coax I used is Westflex 103. Low loss at high frequencies. Similar dimensions to RG213 I use for HF, but air-spaced and a solid core.
Hope this helps!
Ian.
ianxfs Thank you certainly does help a lot ....now just need to find a man to go on my roof !
Hello Ian, just revisiting this upload as I picked up a new X300 from MLS yesterday, together with a Yaesu FT2980. How waterproof is the silver connection on it's own do you think? The reason I ask is because I have tried self-amalgamating tape and white electrician's tape over the joint and I have to say that I really don't like the look visually. I wonder if the joint, suitably tightened, would be sufficiently waterproof on its own? Could I please have your thoughts? Many Thanks, John 2E0SVB
It should be ok John. I went for belt & braces. It’s still up there and the taped area you don’t see as it’s all white from the ground. If you’ve got easy access then you’ve got options to try. Mine’s inaccessible without an aerial-fitter, so had to make sure it would last. Good luck 👍🏻
@ianxfs Many Thanks Ian.
Just curious what SWR you get across the 2m band? We work Simplex often in the lower 145 range, so it would be helpful if the SWR is pretty flat there. Thanks.
3qdx I’m sure it was flat right through. I’ll pop in the shack and double-check. Hang on a mo....
Flat right across 144.000 to 146.000 👍🏻
@@ianxfs Wow...that's awesome. I have a Cushcraft AR-270 but not much Gain at 3.0 (on 2m), so I need more. You sold me on the X300. Thanks!
Hello Ian, great video. Did not realise this was a Colinear antenna, thought it was a Ground plane. Question- How high do you put this antenna up...what height for the mast. 73 de Geoff vk3sq
Hi Geoff! Yes this is one of the Diamond Colinear range. With VHF the main thing at home is to get above the top of the houses if at all possible. Once it’s above the roof ridge and in the clear the performance (as with all antennas at these frequencies) will be much better. Not the end of the world if you can’t, but it all helps. If it’s in a clear area away from buildings, then I think 5m and up is a good height to aim for? In all cases, the highest you can get it 👍🏻
would Diamond Antenna X300A work good on 70cms UHF 462.575
Hi Ricky. The A model is the same as the N, just different coax socket. In the UK the 70cm band doesn’t go that high, so you’re best checking the Diamond website for your own country’s specs for your bands. Good luck 👍🏻
good evening I'm Angelo I'm Italian you can send the site where you bought the antenna x 300 I'm looking for this same as the video thanks
Moonraker in the UK, but they are out of stock. Waters & Stanton have them in stock. Surely there’s a shop/supplier of Diamond products in Italy Angelo? Good luck 👍🏻
Howmuch range
Hi John, it depends upon conditions. Flat band at home I can get say 50 miles? With sporadic E I’ve had contacts over 1,000 miles.