Variable element length Beam by Ultrabeam

On this page you will find:

• Controller
• Mechanics
• Ultrabeam Antennas
• Ultrabeam UB-50
• Ultrabeam UB-2-40 New
• Ultrabeam UB-40MX New
• Summary of special features of Ultrabeam antennas
• Technical Data

Ultrabeam from Italy offers beam, which element lengths are changed mechanically by a controller. This ensures that the antenna is always perfectly adjusted to the operating frequency, the design of the Yagi can be optimized to your location, taking height above ground and ground conductivity into regard. Did you ever try this with a conventional beam?

The Ultrabeam antennas are characterized by a very solid and careful contruction, both in mechanical and electrical respect. Here are some details of the components:

The Controller

Ultrabeam Controller

Ultrabeam Controller

Supplied with each Ultrabeam antenna comes a controller, with which you can operate the antenna. The goal of the development was extreme reliability and stability. This was achieved (among others) by oversizing several components. Each of the motor drivers uses a discrete transistor pair instead of integrated chips with higher failure rates. The peak current may be up to 10A, resulting in a very high reliability and robustness, even if there is an accidental short on the control cable. All drivers are built on plug-in cards and are easy to service, diagnose and exchange if required. The control signals to the stepper motors are generated with high precision by the built-in micro processor. Each motor is kept under current even when idle to assure a precise positioning of the elements in all circumstances (e.g. when the antenna moves in the wind).

Ultrabeam Controller

The actual operation of the controller is kept very simple. Each band from 40 to 6m has it's own push button with LED, showing it's current state. The large and backlit LC display shows the current status of the antenna. If the element lengths should be modified for an individual antenna design, the display shows the length accurately for each element. This makes testing different Yagi designs very easy. With the push of a button the antenna direction can be reversed in 2 seconds, very helpful in a contest. A 'bi directional' mode changes the antenna to transmit equally in both directions at the same time. A serial CAT interface is included in each Ultrabeam controller, and can be used for direct control fro ma transceiver or in conjuntion with a microHAM interface. The controller weighs 1.7kg, size is 190(W) x (100(H) x 210(D) mm. The 24V DC power supply is included.

The Mechanics

Ultrabeam VRS

Ultrabeam takes special care of the mechanical quality and solidity. When we visited the antenna manufacture in Italy we were very impressed by the care for details and the really solid construction. For example, the developer paid particular attention to the safe transport of the Copper-Beryllium (CuBe) band of the elements. The simple solution would have been to use just a spring in the reel to pull back the CuBe band. But Ultrabeam uses a new system called 'VRS', Variable Reeling System where the reel is driven by the stepper motor, as well as using a spring to assure a good tension. The changing diameter of the tape on the reel is compensated for by a clever mechanic system. The CuBe tape is always safe on the reel.

Ultrabeam VRS

The tubes, in which the CuBe tape moves, are made from light fibreglass and consist of three or four segments, depending on antenna model. These segments are assembled and fastened with self sticking tape. Since May 2010 these tubes are made from a special, nearly transparent and lighter material. This makes the antenna optically 'lighter' and less eye-catching, the material has a better UV resistance, and you can watch the CuBe tape move in the tubes. That makes diagnosing problems much easier.

Ultrabeam Element Support

All Ultrabeam directinal antennas (except the Rotary Dipole and the 2-Element antenna) come with a new system to support the element tubes. This new support plate holds the Element Housing Unit (EHU) plus has very solid aliminium blocks to hold the tubes. With the large 21.5m long elements the support is even larger and has two clamps for each tube on either side. This makes sure that the EHUs are noit subject to bending load.

Ultrabeam Element Support

The driven elements have two contacts with a surface om 10mm², providing reliable electrical contact of the feed line. This enables the Ultrabeam to handle a maximum power of 5kW PEP or 3KW CW key-down. The EHUs are made from ABS and coated with a special, UV and weather resistant varnish. Fed elements have a PL socket (female), each EHU has a water proof socket for the 4 conductor control cable.

With the larger Ultrabeam yagis, the boom is made from square tubes (6086 T6 aluminium. This assures that the elements are always installed absolutely horizontal on the boom. The 4-element antennas have a double boom for extra reinforcement, resulting in even lower torsion at little additional weight. Each element and the boom are colour coded, preventing any misunderstanding when assembling the antenna. The mast plate, fixing the boom to the mast is cut from stainless steel and very solid (the plate for the 4-element antennas use 6mm strong material!). The boom of the 4-element antennas uses additional trusses above the boom for added rigidity. The required installation material and nylon rope is included. All mounting hardware is made from aluminium or stainless steel (except boom reinforments), with metric screw threads.

The Ultrabeam Antennas

Ultrabeam 2-Element 6 - 20m
	2 Elements, one driven Boom length: 1.62m Element length: 11m Round boom tube No truss
Ultrabeam 3-Element 6 - 20m
	3 Elements, one driven Boom length: 4.85m Element length: 11m Square Boom tube 60x60mm No truss
New Ultrabeam 2-Element 6 - 40m
	2 elements, one driven. 2 element fullsize on 6-20m, Rotary Dipole on 30 and 40m Boom length: 1.62m Element length: 11m Square Boom tube 60x60mm No truss
Ultrabeam 3-Element 6 - 40m
	3 Elements, two driven, including switching relay Boom length: 4.85m Element length: 21.5m Sqaure boom tube 80x80mm No truss on boom With truss for the elements With the beam antennas which have elements with different length (3-Elem. 6-40m and 4-Elem. 6-40m) and with the UB-50 beam, the driven element (the radiator) is switched when operatinf on 30 and 40m. This makes these antennas work as 1-, 2- or 3-element fullsize beams on 30/40m, as well as 2-, 3- or 4-element fullsize on 6 to 20m. The switching relay is included in the shipment and is selected automatically by the controller, depending on operating frequency.
Ultrabeam 4-Element 6 - 20m
	4 Elements, one driven Boom length: 9.7m Element length: 11m Square Boom tube 60x60mm With truss for boom
Ultrabeam 4-Element 6 - 40m
	4 Elements, two driven, including switching relay Boom length: 9.7m Element length: 21.5m Square Boom tube80x80mm With truss for boom With truss for elements With the beam antennas which have elements with different length (3-Elem. 6-40m and 4-Elem. 6-40m) and with the UB-50 beam, the driven element (the radiator) is switched when operatinf on 30 and 40m. This makes these antennas work as 1-, 2- or 3-element fullsize beams on 30/40m, as well as 2-, 3- or 4-element fullsize on 6 to 20m. The switching relay is included in the shipment and is selected automatically by the controller, depending on operating frequency.
Ultrabeam UB-50 3-Element 6 - 40m kompakt
	3 Elements, two driven, including switching relay Boom length: 4.8m Element length: 10.6m Square Boom tube 60x60mm No truss With the beam antennas which have elements with different length (3-Elem. 6-40m and 4-Elem. 6-40m) and with the UB-50 beam, the driven element (the radiator) is switched when operatinf on 30 and 40m. This makes these antennas work as 1-, 2- or 3-element fullsize beams on 30/40m, as well as 2-, 3- or 4-element fullsize on 6 to 20m. The switching relay is included in the shipment and is selected automatically by the controller, depending on operating frequency.
New Ultrabeam UB-40MX 3-Elements 10 -30m and 2-Elements Moxon 40m
	3 Elements for 30-10m 2 Elements Moxon for 40m Boom lenght: 5.5m Element lenght: 15m Square Boom tube 60x60mm With the beam antennas which have elements with different length (3-Elem. 6-40m and 4-Elem. 6-40m) and with the UB-50 beam, the driven element (the radiator) is switched when operatinf on 30 and 40m. This makes these antennas work as 1-, 2- or 3-element fullsize beams on 30/40m, as well as 2-, 3- or 4-element fullsize on 6 to 20m. The switching relay is included in the shipment and is selected automatically by the controller, depending on operating frequency.
Ultrabeam Vertical 6 - 40m
	10m high Guying recommended 6kg weight
Ultrabeam Vertical 6 - 20m
	5m high Guying recommended 3kg weight

The Ultrabeam UB-40MX

Ultrabeam UB-40

This new antenna model operates in the following configurations : Three-element full-size yagi on the 10-12-15-17-20 and 30 meter bands; Two-element full-size moxon on the 40 meter band. The new UB-40 MX is the first dynamic antenna system adopting the "Moxon" system. It is the only possible solution to dimension-reduction without performance-loss. Despite a dimension reduction of 30% , the UB-40 MX still shows very similar performances as a common two-element full-size yagi for the 40 meter-band.

There is no other Yagi design capable of reducing the dimensions of the UB-40 MX any further without inevitable losses in terms of forward gain and F/B ratio. The UB-40 MX has been especially dedicated to those Hams who have always dreamed of a dynamic antenna operating with at least two elements on the 40 meter-band, but with reduced dimensions than those of the bigger full-size "sisters" which, space restrictions, very often do not permit to install.

The Ultrabeam UB-50

Ultrabeam UB-50

A special antenna model is the Ultrabeam UB-50, a compact beam which covers 7 to 50MHz. This antenna works as a 3-element fullsize beam on 6 to 20m. From 30m on the two front elements are completely retracted, only the rear element is used as a rotary dipole. To accommodate the required length of the radiator, the CuBe tape is bent by 90° at the end of the tubes and is directed in parallel to the boom. This results in a good SWR and a high efficiency, nearly the same as with a normal dipole radiator. Yet the rotating radius of this antenna is only 5.6m! The element support plates are constructed to support the additional weight of the outer tubes.

The UB-50 can be extended with an optional 6m passive element (1220.63). As 3-element beam (without the 6m option) the UB-50 has a gain of approx. 6dB on 6m, and a front/back ratio of 18dB. With the optional, passive 6m element the UB-50 reaches 8.2dB gain on 6m, at a F/B ratio of approx. 20dB.

Ultrabeam UB-2-40

Ultrabeam UB-2-40

Finally QRV on 30 and 40m!

A small 2 element fullsize beam for the bands from 6 to 20m, and a fullsize rotary dipole on 30 and 40m! And all that without causing too much distress for the neighbours... Ultrabeam changed the matching circuit for the driven element to achieve always a perfect 50 Ω match. This results in a high efficiency also on the 30 and 40m band. On the bands 6 to 20m this yagi achieves the same excellent results as the classic 2 element Ultrabeam.

Like the other 'large' Ultrabeam antennas, the UB-2-40 uses a square boom for high stability. And it uses the same super massive boom plates for the motor units and the elements, resulting in a superb mechanical stability. Like with all Ultrabeam antennas the controller is included. The control cable must be ordered separately, reference number 1224?. Please note that the cable article 12240.2 cannot be used with this antenna. Other cable lengths on request.

Summary of special features of Ultrabeam antennas

Ultrabeam antennas offer the following special features:

• The antennas (starting with the 3-element models) have a square boom. This fixes the elements always horizontally on the boom, even after a storm.
• The newly developed VRS Variable Reeling System makes sure that the retracting force for the CuBe tape is always constant, independent of of the position of the elements.
• All mounting hardware (except boom reinforcements) are made from stainless stell or aluminium and have metric sizes.
• The controller have discrete transistor drivers for the stepper motors. These drivers can handle up to 10A current and are short-circuit proof and protected against errors in wiring.
• Software updates for the controller are available free of cost via Internet.
• The controller has a large matrix LC display with menu oriented use. A serial CAT interface is installed with every controller.
• The control wires are connected with water protected connectors to the EHUs. No more simple terminal strips.
• Ready made control cables are available as an option (state required length, 30m is standard). Just plug into the antenna, into the controller - and go!
• Direct interface with many microHAM devices: microKEYER-II, MK2R/MK2R+ and Station Master. See below for details.
• Manufacturers warranty is 4 years.

Ultrabeam 3el. Yagi

Technical Data

**UB-50 max. 1500 Watt on 30 and 40m!

[1] Control Cable 30m - other lengths on request.

Included in Shipment

All Ultrabeam Beam antennas are supplied including controller. The control cable needs to be ordered separately, standard length is 30m, other lengths on request.

The Ultrabeam Verticals are supplied without control cable, the required connectors are included. You will need a 4 wire cable.

Ultrabeam 4el. Yagi

Ultrabeam EHU

Weather proof connectors

UltraBeam and microHam

With the partnership between UltraBeam and microHAM it is now possible for the products MicroHAM micro KEYER II, MK2R/MK2R+ and Station Master to communicate with Ultra Beam controller in native mode. Native mode control has two advantages over control based on transceiver frequency only:

• Protects the antenna while elements are moving (retuning). Transmission can not be initiated using PTT while the antenna is retuning. When using VOX or PTT over CAT, interface will not activate PAPTT to prevent a power amplifier from operating when Ultra Beam is tuning.
• When operating in split frequency mode, the transmit frequency is sent to the UltraBeam to prevent retuning between transmit and receive when operating with wide splits.
• A PS/2 keypad attached to interface permits suspending/resuming Antenna control, selecting 180° mode and/or selecting bidirectional mode. Using the keypad allows manual control while keeping interface and Antenna controller in sync.