Had a G5RV for a number of years. When it was up high, but no center support, I called an inverted-inverted V antenna. :) Bad coax loss, tuner worked really hard--but it would tune 17m and it made a number of contacts. Back closer to the ground it wasn't quite the same performer--hardly any surprise there. Higher is better. Homebrewed a ZS6BKW and it is just a better antenna, unless if one operates 80m most of the time, and even then... it's better. But still. It's not like a G5RV is a trash antenna and "anything" is going to be better. Just been surpassed, but if one has one in the junkbox, or was given one, rock and make contacts. Tempted to homebrew an Alpha Delta DD. My antennas are using trees for supports, and as such, every couple of years a rope breaks. No harm in having more than one antenna up at a time! Lost a couple this past winter, so time to hang another antenna. At that point, one not have one of each kind?
DX-CC is a great antenna, bands can be tuned easily by adjusting the wires. I have used dozens of antennas and the DX-CC has been the best of all, for transmit and receive, it doesn't matter if it is 6 feet off the ground, or 60 feet, it always performs great. It does take time to assemble all the components the first time tho.
Thank you! VERY well done and informative! For MY limited space (lot is 65 Feet wide) the DX-CC 82' as Inverted Vee seems BEST solution for me, I am running Icom IC-718 with an LDG IT-100 Tuner. Thanks Again 73, "Doc" N7QBK
Feed-line Loss vs. SWR: This presenter neglected to point out that loss is frequency dependent. Losses for a given SWR on 10m will be unacceptable while the same SWR on 80m will be relatively negligible. The real long and short of this is that, if you have an antenna tuner, you might as well do what I've done (successfully!) for nearly 50 years: String up as much wire as you can manage, center-feed it with open-wire line, and use the tuner....and then you can forget nearly all the feed line and radiator length restrictions.
David Whittlesey A friend of mine used ZS6 and is a great antenna. The trick to make it perform better is avoid close obstacles or structures. And remember the higher the better.
John, can you supply the specs with which you home-brewed your ZS6? I know the total length of the antenna, but am interested in the dimensions between the 4 insulators.
order ZS6BKV now being made my Chris NI4L. can't wait. been off the air from hurricane losted everything. It would be interesting to use some of the programs. Have any links. nothing like starting over. the technology is killing me. any info you could share or link. Logging with HRD WOW. thank you 73 KQ4CD
there is a improved ZS6BKW! ZS6BKW moved to Great Britian, his call now is G0GSF. But because of the small spaces in England gardens he has made some changes where the end go out and the last part drops down. I hope you don't mind me putting some updates to this! Just though you may like to see this. In the past 7 years there has been some changes. Below is the video that I got the information. If I upset you for this you can beat me with a wet noodle! Sorry about that chief! ruclips.net/video/EypzupYh3uw/видео.html
The G5RV , made with ladder line, utilizes the ladder line as part of the antenna, when the antenna is put into bands that it normally would not work. Similar to and off center fed dipole, which can wipe the G5RV out of antenna history, if hams would understand it, and install it correctly, use the correct BALUN at the correct height .
How do you tune the ZS6BKW dipole I believe there’s a balun at the end of the ladder line, unless it’s not and just molded into an so239 connector, so if that’s the case, is that where it’s tuned ? Iow, tune it remotely at that coax connector ? I didn’t understand what he meant when he talked about tuning inductances L1 and L2 ?? Thanks for the video.
The computer model has figured the specs. You don’t have to tune, it’s fine for you. Just follow the measurements on thee wires and the ladder line to a “T” and it will work as this videos charts show. You will have to tune 80 of course. 😉
question what frequency were you testing at for swr on the dx-cc im looking at getting one of those need to know if i need to use my tuner on it for phone portion in general coverage thanks
The whole G5RV story is seldom told? It isn't a multiband antenna by design. The purpose of it was to somehow work the UK on 20 meters. for hams in the UK. The so-called feedline or ladder line which likely was 300 ohm in the beginning WAS a part of the radiator and suppose to be mounted with it being straight down and to cause a vertical component to the antenna. Because it LOOKS like a doublet sellers found it easy to sell it when used with a tuner to be multiband. it was never that in the mind of its creator? To mount it correctly is no easy task if tower-mounted no amount of separation could remove the metal tower's influence. It was designed to make it easier for UK hams to work each other on 20 meters and is claimed to work well for that purpose. Like is said often all antennas work but some are better than others if correctly mounted its multiband ability is very limited but some will say it works well for them. My experience with the version I had was disappointing because it couldn't be correctly mounted on my property so it had wire added and more feedline to become a very long doublet.
Had a G5RV for a number of years. When it was up high, but no center support, I called an inverted-inverted V antenna. :) Bad coax loss, tuner worked really hard--but it would tune 17m and it made a number of contacts. Back closer to the ground it wasn't quite the same performer--hardly any surprise there. Higher is better.
Homebrewed a ZS6BKW and it is just a better antenna, unless if one operates 80m most of the time, and even then... it's better. But still. It's not like a G5RV is a trash antenna and "anything" is going to be better. Just been surpassed, but if one has one in the junkbox, or was given one, rock and make contacts.
Tempted to homebrew an Alpha Delta DD. My antennas are using trees for supports, and as such, every couple of years a rope breaks. No harm in having more than one antenna up at a time! Lost a couple this past winter, so time to hang another antenna. At that point, one not have one of each kind?
DX-CC is a great antenna, bands can be tuned easily by adjusting the wires. I have used dozens of antennas and the DX-CC has been the best of all, for transmit and receive, it doesn't matter if it is 6 feet off the ground, or 60 feet, it always performs great. It does take time to assemble all the components the first time tho.
Very good, no bla bla , no show and gadgetery, .. not myth´s , just Facts !
Thank you! VERY well done and informative! For MY limited space (lot is 65 Feet wide) the DX-CC 82' as Inverted Vee seems BEST solution for me, I am running Icom IC-718 with an LDG IT-100 Tuner. Thanks Again 73, "Doc" N7QBK
Feed-line Loss vs. SWR: This presenter neglected to point out that loss is frequency dependent. Losses for a given SWR on 10m will be unacceptable while the same SWR on 80m will be relatively negligible.
The real long and short of this is that, if you have an antenna tuner, you might as well do what I've done (successfully!) for nearly 50 years: String up as much wire as you can manage, center-feed it with open-wire line, and use the tuner....and then you can forget nearly all the feed line and radiator length restrictions.
Don't know how this doesn't have more views. This was extremely helpful. Liked and subbed.
You, Sir, ARE SO RIGHT! I don't know why, either, there are not more views!! THIS is a FANTASTIC ARTICLE!!
Thanks for the excellent overview.
Excellent video. Very informative. Thank you!
Thanks for the video. Just bought the ZS6 yesterday. Looking forward to comparing it to my Skyloop with AG6IF Talented Balun 73
David Whittlesey A friend of mine used ZS6 and is a great antenna. The trick to make it perform better is avoid close obstacles or structures. And remember the higher the better.
+David Whittlesey it will blow your mind its that awesome of a, antenna
thanks for the info guys.... tony t.. n0amy...
David
How does the ZS6 compare to the AG6IF?
de Joe ab5gc
I have been using a homebrew ZS6BKW for well over a decade. Flat top but drooped at the ends. Really performed well, even with the tuner at the radio.
John, can you supply the specs with which you home-brewed your ZS6? I know the total length of the antenna, but am interested in the dimensions between the 4 insulators.
Excellent presentation. Thanks for putting this together.
George, HP1EUA/VA2EU...Between G5RV and ZS6BKW, which works bette in 80m, please?
Very nice. I miss the windom ;)
I use the ZS6BKW and find is the best 40 thru 6 meters single wire antenna I have used in my 49 years as a ham. It alao does a good job o 60 meters.
Bill...did you homebrew your ZS6, or did you purchase it from a retail vendor? 73 de
What the hell is all the background noise
Very interesting tnx 73 de ve3hip in Welland Ontario Canada 🇨🇦
order ZS6BKV now being made my Chris NI4L. can't wait.
been off the air from hurricane losted everything.
It would be interesting to use some of the programs. Have any links. nothing like starting over. the technology is killing me. any info you could share or link. Logging with HRD WOW.
thank you
73 KQ4CD
there is a improved ZS6BKW! ZS6BKW moved to Great Britian, his call now is G0GSF. But because of the small spaces in England gardens he has made some changes where the end go out and the last part drops down. I hope you don't mind me putting some updates to this! Just though you may like to see this. In the past 7 years there has been some changes. Below is the video that I got the information. If I upset you for this you can beat me with a wet noodle! Sorry about that chief!
ruclips.net/video/EypzupYh3uw/видео.html
Thanks mate, thanks for the info!
I will study this video link, is quite long.
73s
@@kpappa it is a talk about the 2 antennas and how he came up with them. There are some other videos about it, but that is the one I found first.
I don’t have the vertical space for the zs
Parabéns pelo vídeo amigo muito bom
excellent video, thanks
Would you please post the specs for the loading coil
the g5rv with made for 75 ohm twin feed line not coax he may also have been radio a 75 ohm pa out like may Kw2000.
The G5RV , made with ladder line, utilizes the ladder line as part of the antenna, when the antenna is put into bands that it normally would not work. Similar to and off center fed dipole, which can wipe the G5RV out of antenna history, if hams would understand it, and install it correctly, use the correct BALUN at the correct height .
How do you tune the ZS6BKW dipole I believe there’s a balun at the end of the ladder line, unless it’s not and just molded into an so239 connector, so if that’s the case, is that where it’s tuned ? Iow, tune it remotely at that coax connector ? I didn’t understand what he meant when he talked about tuning inductances L1
and L2 ?? Thanks for the video.
The computer model has figured the specs. You don’t have to tune, it’s fine for you. Just follow the measurements on thee wires and the ladder line to a “T” and it will work as this videos charts show. You will have to tune 80 of course. 😉
went mounting on a tower how far should the ladder line be kept away from the tower legs
As far as possible. Keep every parts away from structures for optimum performance.
question what frequency were you testing at for swr on the dx-cc im looking at getting one of those need to know if i need to use my tuner on it for phone portion in general coverage thanks
What are the specs for the ZS using 450ohm LL?
Thanks 73
KM4VHB
Jason
Not enough to matter if you use the video for building this on RUclips. They are using 450 ohm ladder line.
It would be nice to see if you could do a test on the Western 10 HF dipole antenna. What do you think?
Cheers Steve
No ocf or doublet or efhw?
feedline 39.3ft antenna 97ft
Err 93 ft feed line 39 ft 3 in( say good bye to that g5rv) You tube vid.
where to buy the z6s?
+ae4xo ebay
he talks very fast,
The whole G5RV story is seldom told? It isn't a multiband antenna by design. The purpose of it was to somehow work the UK on 20 meters. for hams in the UK. The so-called feedline or ladder line which likely was 300 ohm in the beginning WAS a part of the radiator and suppose to be mounted with it being straight down and to cause a vertical component to the antenna. Because it LOOKS like a doublet sellers found it easy to sell it when used with a tuner to be multiband. it was never that in the mind of its creator? To mount it correctly is no easy task if tower-mounted no amount of separation could remove the metal tower's influence. It was designed to make it easier for UK hams to work each other on 20 meters and is claimed to work well for that purpose. Like is said often all antennas work but some are better than others if correctly mounted its multiband ability is very limited but some will say it works well for them. My experience with the version I had was disappointing because it couldn't be correctly mounted on my property so it had wire added and more feedline to become a very long doublet.