XR3C 6 Element Triband Yagi

20/15/10M
Model: XR3C-MKII - Z08564-0133

XR-3 pictured

Rev. V1.6 - 25/10/2019

Weight: 22,0 Kg. Copyright 2018 InnovAntennas Limited
Max Power: 10 kW+
 Contents

Antenna Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Element mounting plates and construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Boom construction and Boom to Mast Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Boom to mast plates Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Element Joining Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Element diameters, taper schedules and measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Antenna layout diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Installation photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Construction Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Capacity loading fitting instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Parts list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 Antenna Overview

The XR3C is a unique multi-band HF & 6m directional beam Yagi antenna. Some of the features
which make this antenna unique include the following:

Full-sized 3 band HF Yagi covering 20/15/10

The XR3C is the only 3 band HF Yagi available with full-sized elements in each band, although this
makes the XR3C some 8.8m (29') wide, the optimisation for extended bandwidth means the
elements are closed spaced meaning the boom is only 3.5m (12') long.

Interlaced elements for each band with no more than 3 bands

The more bands that are interlaced on a given boom, the more compromised the performance
becomes. With this in mind, the XR3C was optimised with no more than 2 bands interlaced at any
one position on the boom. The antenna has at least two active elements per band. On the 20/15
meter bands a more traditional reflector and driven element arrangement is used. 10m uses a
driven element and director arrangement and are placed at the front of the boom in order the larger
elements of 20/15 (at the back of the boom) provide some directive properties to them too.

SDR-friendly Yagi

Unlike ‘active’ dynamic antennas, the XR3C can be used on ALL BANDS AT ONCE. This means if
using a radio such as a Flex 6700 which can have up to 8 operation receivers, 3 receiver slots on 3
bands can be used at the same time on the XR3C.

Wet Weather Stable

Being optimised with close-spacing and wide bandwidth the XR3C provides stable operation within
wet weather.

Computer optimised Electromagnetic and mechanical design

In addition to using computer optimisation for the electromagnetic design, the XR3C has been
mechanically optimised by computer too, to ensure long-term survival. Elements all taper quickly
with the center sections of the 20m elements being 35mm in diameter in the middle and 13mm at
the tips.

Check your Parts and Read the Manual!

Before doing anything else, check the parts list in the back of this manual against what you have
received and read the construction information fully before attempting to build this antenna. This will
ensure your construction will be trouble-free and you will spend less time building the antenna too.
 Boom Construction
The boom is constructed of 50mm diameter square tube (2mm wall thickness) in several
sections. A round joining tube is supplied and should be fitted as per the picture below.

Insert the M6 bolts into the holes and all the way through the boom secure on the opposite side
with an M6 nut and washer. It is advised that you insert the joining tube into one section of outer
boom, fully secure with the M6 bolts and then add the next piece of boom (also marked ‘A’ in
order the boom join now shows ‘A-A’ as in the below picture) and duplicate the finalisation
process with M6 bolts.

DO NOT over-tigthen the bolts and always oil or grease all hardware before joining to prevent
galling. Over-tigthening could weaken the join and lead to a shorter life length of your antenna
boom.

Below is one section of the XR 3 boom with the round joining tube inserted. The second square
section of boom should be slid onto the joiner and both sides bolted as shown in the photo below.

Boom Joining Tube

Shown without nuts and washers

 Boom to Element Plate Mounting

Element plates are bolted to the boom with the supplied M6 bolts.
fed dipole elements will use 4 insulator/plate arrangements while
all parasitic elements will use 2 insulator (shorter) plates.

Boom

Element insulators (white in shipped product)

M6 bolts hold insulators

in place

M6 nuts M6 nuts

Plate is counter-sunk for screw heads

DIN 7991 M6 x 70mm bolt

DIN 127 M6 nut

Centre hole has a bolt which screws into a RivNut
which is inserted into the boom.
4 holes in a square around this one, have bolts which
EA010085 go through them and sit either side of the boom, bolting
Bottom plate to a plate beneath the boom.
 Boom to Mast Plate Mounting

EA010320
Main boom to mast plate
150mm
EA010321
Rear boom to mast plate

Boom Boom
70mm
150mm

150mm

U-bolt and Saddle

DIN 912 M6 x 80mm

Square Tube Boom

Nut and Bolts

DIN 985 M6
DIN 127 M6

MAST
A-0163
50mm
50mm
U-bolt

23035.50
Saddle Clamp
Boom to Mast Plate Photos
 All Element held in place with hose clamps to ensure a constant contact patch around each join.

Hose Clamp 25-40mm Ø Hose Clamp 20-32mm Ø

35mm Ø 30mm Ø 30mm Ø 25mm Ø

Hose Clamp 16-27mm Ø Hose Clamp 12-22mm Ø

25mm Ø 20mm Ø 20mm Ø 16mm Ø

Hose Clamp 8-16mm Ø

16mm Ø 13mm Ø

Smaller tube over-laps into next tube by 150mm

Parallel Feed line fitment

The XR 3 is feed at the 20m dipole centre. However, a pair of parallel square tubes sit
on top of the 3 sets of feed point terminals and are bolted to them. This ensures that
the one, single feed line connected to the antenna will feed all 3 bands.

The photo across the page shows this arrangement on an XR 6 and therefore, there
are 5 dipoles connected in this example. On the XR 3, only three of these dipoles will
be joined by a much shorter pair of feed lines.

Capacity spokes for 20m elements

The 20m elements have capacity spoke elements fitted as per the above photo, 4 on
the tip of each 20m element. tighten until firm and do no over-tighten as this could
damage the capacity spoke or reduce its life length.

Final element tip adjustment

On most bands the XR3 will cover the majority if not all of the 3 bands it covers. However, as with most HF Yagis, proximity to ground, ground
type and nearby objects and antennas, may vary the point at which the antenna dips (lowest SWR). Therefore, the tips of each element on each
band can be adjusted in order that you can fine-tune your antenna for your working requirements.

Adjust the driven element of a given band for lowest SWR wherever that may fall, not where you want it to be. If the point of lowest SWR is
not in the band section you desire, adjust BOTH band elements by the same amount to move the dip to the desired point and then re-adjust
the driven element for lowest SWR dip.

For example, if after adjusting the 20m driven element for lowest SWR, the lowest point of SWR is 14.300MHz, then BOTH the 20m reflector
and driven element need to be made larger by the same amount. If you wanted your antenna at 14.100, add 10mm to each tip end on the
reflector and director 20mm to the total length of each element) and check SWR again. adjust the driven element in and out a few mm to
establish the final lowest dip and make adjustments accordingly. If the antenna dips on 13.9MHz rather than 14.1MHz then the reverse would
need to be applied, removing 10mm from each tip (20mm total from each element overall length).

The above examples are extremes and it is unlikely you will see the variants suggested above. Also note that 20m and 15m have a
reflector and driven element. 10m uses a driven element and director.

Note also that any fine-tune adjustments to each band should be done in this order - 20m, 15m, then 10m.
Element Layout on the boom 4 spokes in total at the end of each element,
(Not to scale) north, south, east ad west facing

20m Reflector

15m Reflector

Drop coax/balun 90 degress away

Twin feedline connecting from feed point
all driven elements
10m Driven
Feed point at 20m element
20m Driven

15m Driven

Perspex spacers held to elements

with cable-ties
10m Director

These parallel feed lines are made from square

aluminium tubing and are drilled to sit on top of
each feed point. Due to the variation in size of
each of the driven elements, the feed lines will
not sit flat on the boom and will need to be
fastened as per the photo (left).

Antenna Build Notes:

This drawing is NOT TO SCALE and the majority of elements in the drawing are far more widely spaced than on the
built antenna. This is in order to make the drawing clear for the constructor.

This antenna is better hung ‘upside down’ with all insulators and feedline facing towards ground. This will allow for
easy coaxial connection to the feed point and routing away form the antenna, towards and down the supporting
mast.

Element plates on antenna are NOT the same size as indicated in the drawing above, again this is presented this
way for clarity. the correct sized element plates for each band (and their respective size) can be found in the parts list
at the rear of this manual.

See photos on page 10 of a mounted antenna for the ‘ideal’ boom to mast plate mounting position and choke/1:1
balun/coax feedline routing.

Typically element placed on driven elements have four insulators, parasitic element plate holders have two while the
6M elements are held in place on the boom with one insulator and no plate.

For help and assistance: support@innovantennas.com

 20m
8780mm Reflector - 8020mm Driven @16mm diameter

7084mm @20mm

Capacity loaded tips 5388mm @25mm

20m elements 3692mm @30mm
1996mm @35mm
Centre element to
spoke tip 560mm

First spoke 20mm from end of element and 20mm spacing between remaining 3 spokes

End view of 4-spoke capacity hats for 20m elements

15m
7450mm Reflector - 7100mm Driven @13mm diameter
5388mm @16mm
3692mm @20mm
1996mm @25mm

10m

5420mm Driven - 5010mm Director @13mm diameter

3692mm @16mm
1996mm @20mm
 Capacity Spokes

ROD SPOKES

From the centre At the ends of the 14MHz element sections

of the 20m element (16mm diameter) there are holes to allow for 4
to the tip of each spokes (capacity hat elements) to be installed.
spoke is 560mm
These are bolted into place as shown.

Nuts and washers on

to a threaded shaft
(capacity spoke)

ROD / SPOKES
6mm diameter
20m Band

Capacity hat spokes installed at the

element tips of the 20m elements
 Installation Photos

The twin feed lines of the XR3C (XR6 pictured) can be

clearly seen above with the coax cable directly
connected and running down the mast away from the
antenna.

Panned view of the feed arrangement on the XR3C

(XR6 pictured) with all elements in place on the boom
 Installation Photos

The twin feedlines of the ( XR 6 pictured) can be

clearly seen above with the coax cable directly
connected and running down the mast away from the
antenna.

Panned view of the feed arrangement on the (XR 6

pictured) with all elements in place on the boom
PACKING LIST
BAG #1
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

A-0163 U-BOLT M8 x 50mm 2

23035.50 SADDLE CLAMP 50mm 2

DIN 127 WASHER

S127-98 M8 4

S934-98 DIN 934 NUT M8 4

S7991-9630 Flat Head DIN 7991 Screw M6x30mm 6

P0100026 Hose Clamp 25-40mm 4

P0100025 Hose Clamp 20-32mm 4

P0100023 Hose Clamp 16-27mm 8

P0100024 Hose Clamp 12-22mm 12

Hose Clamp 10-16mm 8

P0100033

BAG #2
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

S912-9660 Allen DIN 912 Screw M6x60mm 12

S912-9650 Allen DIN 912 Screw M6x50mm 24

S985-906 DIN 985 NUT M6 36

S7991-9470 Flat Head DIN 7991 Screw M4x70mm 6

S125-94 Washer DIN 125 M4 6

S9021-94 Washer DIN 9021 M4 12

S934-94 DIN 934 NUT M4 18

 BAG #3
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

S7380-9660 Allen DIN 7380 Screw M6x60mm 8

S9021-96 DIN 9021 M6 8

S985-906 DIN 985 NUT M6 8

BAG #4
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

EAHYP035 Plastic Blocks 35mm Ø 6

EAHYP025 Plastic Blocks 25mm Ø 6

EAHYP020 Plastic Blocks 20mm Ø 6

 BAG #5
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

Rear plate for BOOM to mast plate 50mm

EA010085 70 x 50 x 6mm 6

S7991-9670 Flat Head DIN 7991 Screw 70x6mm 24

S127-96 Lock washer DIN 127 M6 24

S985-906 DIN 985 NUT M6 24

BAG #6
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

S912-9680 Allen DIN 912 Screw 80x6mm 8

S127-96 Lock washer DIN 127 M6 8

S985-906 DIN 985 NUT M6 8

SPARE PARTS
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

EA010261 250 x 70 x 5mm 1

14 MHz. Elements plates DRIVEN

EA010267 200 x 70 x 5mm 1

14 MHz. Elements plates REFLECTOR

21/24/28 MHz. Elements plates DRIVEN 250 x 60 x 5mm 2

EA010252

21/28 MHz. Elements plates REFLECTOR/D1 200 x 60 x 5mm 2

EA010255

Boom to Mast Plate 150 x 150 x 10mm 1

EA010320

Boom to mast plate rear 150 x 70 x 8mm

EA010321 1

Driven element Spacer plates 375 x 50 x 3mm

EA010323 2

EA010313 410 x 15 x 15mm 1

FEED LINE SQUARE TUBE SET
 SPARE PARTS
PART # PART IMAGE
DESCRIPTION SIZES QUANTITY

XR3C .. BOOM A 1527,5mm x 50mm 1

A-A

XR3C .. BOOM B 1527,5mm x 50mm 1

A-B

EA0120502 BOOM JOINT 400mm x 45mm 1

20m Centrall part

XR3C 20#1 1996,0mm x 35mm Ø 1

.. DE 20m Central part

1996,0mm x 35mm Ø 1
XR3C 20#1A

XR3C 20#2 20m 2nd PART 998,0mm x 30mm Ø 4

XR3C 20#3 20m 3rd PART

998,0mm x 25mm Ø 4

XR3C 20#4 20m 4th PART

998,0mm x 20mm Ø 4

XR3C 20#5R 20m 5th PART

REFLECTOR 1048,0mm x 16mm Ø 2

XR3C 20#5D 20m 5th PART

DRIVEN 668,0mm x 16mm Ø 2

CAPACITIVE HAT
XR3C 20#6L 571,0mm x 6mm Ø 16

15m Centrall part

XR3C 15#1 1996,0mm x 25mm Ø 1

XR3C 15#1A .. DE 15m Central part

1996,0mm x 25mm Ø 1

XR3C 15#2 15m 2nd PART 998,0mm x 20mm Ø 4

XR3C 15#3 15m 3rd PART

998,0mm x 16mm Ø 4

10m Centrall part

XR3C 10#1 1996,0mm x 20mm Ø 1

XR3C 10#1A .. 1996,0mm x 20mm Ø 1

DE 10m Central part

XR3C 10#2 10m 3rd PART

998,0mm x 16mm Ø 4

XR3C 15#4R 15m REFLECTOR Final part

1196,0mm x 13mm Ø 2

XR3C 15#4D 15m DRIVEN Final part

1021,0mm x 13mm Ø 2

XR3C 10#3R 10m DRIVEN Final part

1089,0mm x 13mm Ø 2

XR3C 10#3D 854,0mm x 13mm Ø 2

10m DIRECTOR Final part