Maco Antennas FLAT 8 Assembly Instructions Manual - page 4

MACO LASER 500 

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 

Figure 1: General Instructions 

This drawing depicts an overall view of what the antenna should look like upon completion of assembly. 

Refer to Figures 2 through 4 for specific assembly details. All hardware should be coated with a silicon rubber 

sealant or similar compound to ensure that wind vibration does not cause it to work loose. 

Upon completion of assembly, install the red plastic cap (PL6R) on the director end of the antenna, and the 

black plastic cap (PL6) on the reflector end. This will allow you to determine at a glance the direction of transmit 

and receive.  

Figure 2: Boom and Guy Assembly 

Mark the center of the boom coupler (T36P) and slide both boom sections over each end so that they meet 

in the center. Next, mount the boom-to-mast plate (P04P) and the guy support (V02P) at the center of the boom 

using 3" U-bolts, saddles, and hardware as shown in detail 2A). 

The first step in assembling the guy cable is to cut 8 pieces of the following lengths off the roll of cable. 

2 pcs ...... 2' 0" Long 

2 pcs ...... 2' 10" Long 

2 pcs ...... 6' 1-1/2" Long 

2 pcs ...... 6' 10" Long 

Take both 2' 0" lengths and attach one end of each to an egg insulator (EG2) and the other end to an eyebolt 

(N18), so that the distance between the eyebolt and insulator is 1 foot. Make all your wraps and shown in details 2C 

& 2D. Attach both eyebolts to the vertical guy support with 5/16" hex nuts as shown in detail 2C. Run the outside 

hex nuts only a couple of turns onto ends of the eyebolts and leave the inside nuts loose so that you can take the 

slack out of the cable later. 

Now take one 6' 1-1/2" length and attach it to the cable and insulator on the vertical guy support that goes 

toward the driven element end of the boom. Fasten the other 6' 1-1/2" length to the end of the cable assembly with 

an egg insulator. Next attach the 2' 10" length to the end with another egg insulator in the same manner. 

You should have two 6' 10" lengths and one 2' 10" length remaining. Assemble and attach them to the 

vertical guy support on the other side in the same manner. (At this point it will be necessary to go on to element 

assembly and mounting before attaching the guy cables to the boom.) 

After you have mounted your elements wrap the ends of both guy cable assemblies around the boom at the 

5th director on one end and the driven element on the other end. Pull out as much slack as possible and make your 

wrap as shown in detail 2D.  

Take the rest of the slack out of the cables by tightening the outside hex nuts on the eyebolts. Lock them in 

place by tightening the inside hex nuts.  

This antenna is designed for mounting on a 2" OD heavy duty mast. Mount using 2" U-bolts, saddles, and 

hardware as shown in detail 2B. 

. 

CAUTION: TAKE CARE TO AVOID ANY CONTACT WITH  

OVERHEAD POWER LINES WHEN RAISING YOUR ANTENNA. 

SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY COULD RESULT. 

Maco Antennas - a Division of Charles Electronics, LLC 

302 S. East St. 

Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 

815-244-3500 

www.macoantennas.net