I built a number of ZS6BKW antennas 15 - 20 years ago, and yes, it is a way better antenna than the G5RV. However, my favourite all band wire antenna now is the EFHW 80-10 wire - a half wavelength wire on 80 meters with a 49:1 transformer fed at the end. Great performer, easy to install, low SWR on more bands than the ZS6BKW, fed at the end so short run of coax, better neighbour approval, less supports needed - only one at the end etc etc. I originally bought the Myantennas 80-10 EFHW made in Florida, but have since built many of my own.
Efhw are everything you mentioned but they are an unbalanced antenna. A zs6bkw, doublet etc is balanced and a lot quieter. My efhw was 2 units louder than my Zs6.
Hi As a new becomer to this hobby, I 've watched countless hours of videos, ranging from the most technical ones to the "just for fun". Let me tell you that this video is by far the one I've enjoyed the most, five thumbs up. My wife was looking me weird, while I laughed so hard when you discussed your theory to get younger people to the hobby. A big thanks for spending your time doing this videos. 73 "Soon to be" TI3WTI
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I think that trick could work too, don’t you? Especially the way Brain explains it too hahaha. I greatly appreciate this comment! Hope to see you in the log.
I watched this video with great interest. I have room to put up any antenna I want, but what impressed me ,was your ongoing monologue, free from "ums, errs, & incessantly changing audio levels, as well as measured, articulate speech, with appropriate pauses as required. In addition, your technical data was correct, & your visual presentation portion was first class. On behalf of those hams who may be new hams, or those who enjoy Ham Radio as one of a number of hobbies, & don't wish to festoon their home with towers, & arrays of wires draped here & there, please accept my "thanks ". My favorite antenna is my 160 metre full wave horizontal loop at 65 feet, which I feed with home brew 600 ohm line, & a home brew balanced tuner. I use it mostly on 160, 80, & 40 metres, but can tune & load it on all bands. I have several other antennas that I use, not counting VHF/UHF antennas, but my frequency excursions above 40 metres are few. I have two hobbies. Flying & Ham Radio , & I have done both for 64 & 65 years respectively. It is delightful to watch videos such as yours, when there are so many that are God awful, & many contain erroneous information.......mostly I think, people acting in good faith, but passing on what they believe to be accurate information, but which they have not bothered to validate. Vy 73, de Brian, VE6XX
Thank you for the kind words, Brian! They are very much appreciated! I need to get more content up so if there is anything you’d find interesting, please let me know
Awesome follow-up on the original video! Thinking of attaching Anderson power poles to the end of my current ZS6BKW as well as to the ends of 2 pieces of wire 1ft long to take with me for POTA or just in the field in case of limited space.... BTW on my original antenna i used a single piece of wire (86'6") for each side of the antenna AND homemade ladder line... seems to be working ok. Thanks for the ideas!!! You're growing the hobby!!
This really impressed me. A multiband wire antenna that is resonant on several bands without things like traps. I have a real bias for resonant antennas. I have limited space but could manage the 50 feet or so horizontal. But the best I can do on height is 20 feet. I liked the design and already had the latter line. At least I should give it a try. I build the antenna with the exact dimensions that you showed. But as you already figured out, I had 6 or 7 feet of wire bunched on the ground on each end. For lots of reasons this cannot stand. I tried several things but was not satisfied. Then I folded the ends back on the vertical wire about 6 feet. So now there is a loop about a foot above the ground. I guess I can live with that. To my amazement, it looks really good. I adjusted how much was folded back until I got great results. I also used the coax balun like you. Results 40 meters < 1.5:1, 20 meters
+Tom Hoflich Thanks Tom! And yes, a crappie antenna is better than nothing and I love the spirit you have! Experimentation is the essence of the hobby I believe. We need to see and hear more of that! Thank you so much for sharing what you tried and your results. It will greatly help others and could help open some minds. Great stuff Tom!
My ZS6BKW was thrown up as an evolution of a 40m dipole, just added 12ft to each end, the 450 ohm line is slightly too long. So I do have significant deviations from the design. The 450 ohm section reaches the shack where it meets the common mode choke. My somewhat non-optimal version surprisingly has a lowish SWR on 80m though I have worsened the match elsewhere. Very encouraging results, I need to engineer it more accurately. A very entertaining video, thank you.
Always enjoy listening to Brian's experiences. I don't know why I didn't run across this one before. I built a ZS6BKW including the ladder line after watching your original video, while staying in ZS6 land for the winter (2020) lockdown. Easy to build, a few trips to the leg ends for tuning and I had a nice performer. Mine was deployed as an inverted V, btw. Oh yeah. If you want a hot ham, check out YL Raisa.
Hurricane Isaias knocked out my ZS6BKW after 335 QSO’s to 30 countries and most United States since March. In fact, it snapped one end loop, pulled down the opposite leg, and the ladder line got shredded under a fallen tree. I was able to salvage it, shortened and spliced the ladder line section about 3 inches, and after attempting to fight it back up into the now-leafy trees over my backyard swamp, I decided to bend those arms down and change azimuth about 25-degrees. Powered up, spun the dial, made the Coastal Carolina Emergency Net on 3.907 and heard France on an SFI 69 afternoon. When it quits raining I’ll fire it up and let you know how they compare. BTW, my ZS6 was still slightly ‘long,” so I think the shorter matching section pairs up AOK. 73 guys again from KN4HGI Alan in NC
Great chat with G0GSF and very interesting development of his ZS6BKW to reduce the size of the antenna. I only wish I had the QTH space to build one. Also interesting about the lack of young people interested in Amateur Radio. Also those who have gone QRT because of CellPhones etc. My interest was revived after I retired because of the new digital AR modes and like CW, FT8 is good when conditions are so poor and is also good for QRP working, except when some overdrive and give little attention to ALC which spreads and causes QRM. Digital, like home brewing kit especially antennas is all part of this brilliant hobby. Last point WSHTF or in emergencies cellphones are or will be worthless. G4PEY
I wonder if you could shorten it even more using linear loading (zig zag) and cap hats at the ends of the dipole legs - giving it more electrical length.
Does anyone know if this antenna's ladder line orientation to the 46'7" (14.2m) long lines needs to be perpendicular and/or 100% vertical toward the ground? I have a small yard that will fit the G0GSF from a tree in one corner to the edge of my 2-story house on the opposite side of the yard. The tree is just tall enough for the 24'7" (7.5m) downlead. Back to the 40' ladder line, can I have it not exactly perpendicular and coming back to my house at more like a 45° downslope?
Interesting. Appreciate the in depth detail of the ZS6BKW and the interview with its designer, G0GSF was marvelous as well. As I research alternatives for my first HF antenna I find that the 59 ft x 5 ft walkway behind my house has the horizontal distance to mount a ZS6BKW, but not the vertical. I have no trees to hang the wires from, and the neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate my hanging an antenna off their walls. As imperfect as it is, a shortened inverted V dipole will have to do for now. Can I do this, do you think, without sacrificing 40 meters? Is DX possible with such an antenna? My goal is to reach across the Pacific on 100 watts.
I understand your your challenge and it’s one that gets posted here often. The one think we say is something is better than nothing. If your looking for 40 meters, then your best bet may be a 40m dipole. If you have a tuner, either external or in the radio, you will most likely find a match on other bands. Sometimes, the best antenna is the one you have and we all have different limitations on what we have to work with. Don’t be discouraged and do the best with what you have to work with. Also, there is nothing wrong with do some experimentation.
What if you can't put an antenna up that high? Because of HOA restrictions and the fact that trees don't grow that high here in Arizona, what do you do?
I´m looking for the dimensions of the junior zs6bkw antenna. The horizontal part is 14,2m. I can´t find anything about the vertical feeding part. I only found a length of 12,2m which to me seems to be wrong. What is the correct length?
How far do I need to keep the ladder line away from the support using this as a inverted V? And what changes may be done for an inverted V? There may not be a big difference from the center to the ends. I have the space that I don't need to drop the ends. I have a 60 ft Ron tower and will put PVC to hold the ladder line away from the tower. My sister lives in Fort Mill. Not that far from you. She is studying for her license.
I do t know how well this antenna will work as an inverted V. If the angle isn’t drastic, it may work just fine. Just to confirm, you are asking about the G0GSF?
@@AE4VJ only drops about 10 feet from center to the ends. But I want to make things from 1/2 inch PVC to hold the window line away from my tower. I would like to know about how far I should hold it away from the tower. Does it need to be 12, 18, 24, inch from the Ron tower?
This compact design gives me an idea of making a version from aluminium tubing ( dipole with an insulator in the middle with about 23 ft per side ) , then have the vertical ends made from wire hanging down .... This can be used if you only have a single mast at your qth or field day .....Just some ideas rolling around ........... de 9Z4BM
This is a great antenna, but unfortunately in modern day gardens in the UK... there is no way you would even be able to get that into the average space....and as one other person has said, you haven't shortened it you have simple bent it...which in my eyes is not correct, now if you had cut the actual antenna in half, then fair play, but a nice interview and a nice video...
OK, the antenna itself is still about the same length, but the horizontal length it fits in is the limiting factor. So yes, the 'length' of this antenna is shorter than the original. 🙂
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I built a number of ZS6BKW antennas 15 - 20 years ago, and yes, it is a way better antenna than the G5RV. However, my favourite all band wire antenna now is the EFHW 80-10 wire - a half wavelength wire on 80 meters with a 49:1 transformer fed at the end. Great performer, easy to install, low SWR on more bands than the ZS6BKW, fed at the end so short run of coax, better neighbour approval, less supports needed - only one at the end etc etc. I originally bought the Myantennas 80-10 EFHW made in Florida, but have since built many of my own.
Efhw are everything you mentioned but they are an unbalanced antenna. A zs6bkw, doublet etc is balanced and a lot quieter. My efhw was 2 units louder than my Zs6.
A hand drawn diagram would do wonders for some viewers who are visual learners.
Hi
As a new becomer to this hobby, I 've watched countless hours of videos, ranging from the most technical ones to the "just for fun".
Let me tell you that this video is by far the one I've enjoyed the most, five thumbs up.
My wife was looking me weird, while I laughed so hard when you discussed your theory to get younger people to the hobby.
A big thanks for spending your time doing this videos.
73
"Soon to be" TI3WTI
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I think that trick could work too, don’t you? Especially the way Brain explains it too hahaha. I greatly appreciate this comment! Hope to see you in the log.
I watched this video with great interest. I have room to put up any antenna I want, but what impressed me ,was your ongoing monologue, free from "ums, errs, & incessantly changing audio levels, as well as measured, articulate speech, with appropriate pauses as required. In addition, your technical data was correct, & your visual presentation portion was first class. On behalf of those hams who may be new hams, or those who enjoy Ham Radio as one of a number of hobbies, & don't wish to festoon their
home with towers, & arrays of wires draped here & there, please accept my "thanks ". My favorite antenna is my 160 metre full wave horizontal loop at 65 feet, which I feed with home brew 600 ohm line, & a home brew balanced tuner. I use it mostly on 160, 80, & 40 metres, but can tune & load it on all bands. I have several other antennas that I use, not counting VHF/UHF antennas, but my frequency excursions above 40 metres are few. I have two hobbies. Flying & Ham Radio , & I have done both for
64 & 65 years respectively. It is delightful to watch videos such as yours, when there are so many that are God awful, & many contain erroneous information.......mostly I think, people acting in good faith, but passing on what they believe to be accurate
information, but which they have not bothered to validate.
Vy 73, de Brian, VE6XX
Thank you for the kind words, Brian! They are very much appreciated! I need to get more content up so if there is anything you’d find interesting, please let me know
Awesome follow-up on the original video! Thinking of attaching Anderson power poles to the end of my current ZS6BKW as well as to the ends of 2 pieces of wire 1ft long to take with me for POTA or just in the field in case of limited space.... BTW on my original antenna i used a single piece of wire (86'6") for each side of the antenna AND homemade ladder line... seems to be working ok. Thanks for the ideas!!! You're growing the hobby!!
Thanks for the kind words Greg! That’s a great idea for making it POTA ready too! Thanks for the share!
This really impressed me. A multiband wire antenna that is resonant on several bands without things like traps. I have a real bias for resonant antennas. I have limited space but could manage the 50 feet or so horizontal. But the best I can do on height is 20 feet.
I liked the design and already had the latter line. At least I should give it a try.
I build the antenna with the exact dimensions that you showed.
But as you already figured out, I had 6 or 7 feet of wire bunched on the ground on each end. For lots of reasons this cannot stand. I tried several things but was not satisfied. Then I folded the ends back on the vertical wire about 6 feet.
So now there is a loop about a foot above the ground. I guess I can live with that. To my amazement, it looks really good. I adjusted how much was folded back until I got great results. I also used the coax balun like you.
Results 40 meters < 1.5:1, 20 meters
+Tom Hoflich Thanks Tom! And yes, a crappie antenna is better than nothing and I love the spirit you have! Experimentation is the essence of the hobby I believe. We need to see and hear more of that!
Thank you so much for sharing what you tried and your results. It will greatly help others and could help open some minds.
Great stuff Tom!
What a great interview! Many thanks for doing it. 👍
Thanks James!
My ZS6BKW was thrown up as an evolution of a 40m dipole, just added 12ft to each end, the 450 ohm line is slightly too long. So I do have significant deviations from the design. The 450 ohm section reaches the shack where it meets the common mode choke. My somewhat non-optimal version surprisingly has a lowish SWR on 80m though I have worsened the match elsewhere. Very encouraging results, I need to engineer it more accurately. A very entertaining video, thank you.
Thank you for the kind words! It’s great to hear about just trying something out.
Excellent interview .... simple can still be best !!! But variety counts.
Thanks John!
What a great interview!
+Jim Willis thank you sir!
Always enjoy listening to Brian's experiences.
I don't know why I didn't run across this one before. I built a ZS6BKW including the ladder line after watching your original video, while staying in ZS6 land for the winter (2020) lockdown. Easy to build, a few trips to the leg ends for tuning and I had a nice performer. Mine was deployed as an inverted V, btw.
Oh yeah. If you want a hot ham, check out YL Raisa.
Awesome video man!
Thanks @ptsmonvideo
Hurricane Isaias knocked out my ZS6BKW after 335 QSO’s to 30 countries and most United States since March. In fact, it snapped one end loop, pulled down the opposite leg, and the ladder line got shredded under a fallen tree. I was able to salvage it, shortened and spliced the ladder line section about 3 inches, and after attempting to fight it back up into the now-leafy trees over my backyard swamp, I decided to bend those arms down and change azimuth about 25-degrees. Powered up, spun the dial, made the Coastal Carolina Emergency Net on 3.907 and heard France on an SFI 69 afternoon. When it quits raining I’ll fire it up and let you know how they compare. BTW, my ZS6 was still slightly ‘long,” so I think the shorter matching section pairs up AOK. 73 guys again from KN4HGI Alan in NC
Nice work Alan! Stay safe
Excellent video, thanks.
Thank you, sir!
Great chat with G0GSF and very interesting development of his ZS6BKW to reduce the size of the antenna. I only wish I had the QTH space to build one. Also interesting about the lack of young people interested in Amateur Radio.
Also those who have gone QRT because of CellPhones etc. My interest was revived after I retired because of the new digital AR modes and like CW, FT8 is good when conditions are so poor and is also good for QRP working, except when some overdrive and give little attention to ALC which spreads and causes QRM. Digital, like home brewing kit especially antennas is all part of this brilliant hobby. Last point WSHTF or in emergencies cellphones are or will be worthless. G4PEY
+Ralph Wilmot thank for the comment! I did a video on wsjt-x and ft8 and specifically talk about alc levels. 0 alc deflection is what you want.
On the shortened GOGSF how long was the 450 ohm ladder line section?
I wonder if you could shorten it even more using linear loading (zig zag) and cap hats at the ends of the dipole legs - giving it more electrical length.
This was published in the RSGB's Radcom magazine in the UK.
But the interview wasn’t.
Is the coax length critical to the operation of the antenna?
+Frank Mooney it does not. Just make sure you have enough coax for a choke at the antenna feed point.
Would you guys try out the Mogan (Morgain) antenna.
Does anyone know if this antenna's ladder line orientation to the 46'7" (14.2m) long lines needs to be perpendicular and/or 100% vertical toward the ground? I have a small yard that will fit the G0GSF from a tree in one corner to the edge of my 2-story house on the opposite side of the yard. The tree is just tall enough for the 24'7" (7.5m) downlead. Back to the 40' ladder line, can I have it not exactly perpendicular and coming back to my house at more like a 45° downslope?
I think that will be fine. It’s almost impossible to get a wire antenna 100% perpendicular.
Great video. Thanks. Question: Did you cut the ladder line to match the length of the verticals or did you keep it the length of the original ZS6BKW?
The ladder line length is the same, I think. Had to extend the radiators. Thanks for the comment! It’s a cool antenna
Might want to give a look at the G7FEK antenna...from Bill WA4BVK
I’ll take a look at it.
Interesting. Appreciate the in depth detail of the ZS6BKW and the interview with its designer, G0GSF was marvelous as well. As I research alternatives for my first HF antenna I find that the 59 ft x 5 ft walkway behind my house has the horizontal distance to mount a ZS6BKW, but not the vertical. I have no trees to hang the wires from, and the neighbors probably wouldn't appreciate my hanging an antenna off their walls. As imperfect as it is, a shortened inverted V dipole will have to do for now. Can I do this, do you think, without sacrificing 40 meters? Is DX possible with such an antenna? My goal is to reach across the Pacific on 100 watts.
I understand your your challenge and it’s one that gets posted here often. The one think we say is something is better than nothing. If your looking for 40 meters, then your best bet may be a 40m dipole. If you have a tuner, either external or in the radio, you will most likely find a match on other bands. Sometimes, the best antenna is the one you have and we all have different limitations on what we have to work with. Don’t be discouraged and do the best with what you have to work with. Also, there is nothing wrong with do some experimentation.
What if you can't put an antenna up that high? Because of HOA restrictions and the fact that trees don't grow that high here in Arizona, what do you do?
Then you have to get creative. The ARRL has a whole book dedicated to stealth antennas. This could be a good topic for a future video.
I´m looking for the dimensions of the junior zs6bkw antenna.
The horizontal part is 14,2m. I can´t find anything about the vertical feeding part. I only found a length of 12,2m which to me seems to be wrong. What is the correct length?
The numbers are 14.2m (46'7") long, 7.5m (24'7") tall, 12.2m (40') ladder line. My source: wireantennas.co.uk/zs6bkw-jr.html
@@jroysdon Thanks. That´ll help me
How far do I need to keep the ladder line away from the support using this as a inverted V? And what changes may be done for an inverted V? There may not be a big difference from the center to the ends. I have the space that I don't need to drop the ends. I have a 60 ft Ron tower and will put PVC to hold the ladder line away from the tower. My sister lives in Fort Mill. Not that far from you. She is studying for her license.
I do t know how well this antenna will work as an inverted V. If the angle isn’t drastic, it may work just fine. Just to confirm, you are asking about the G0GSF?
@@AE4VJ only drops about 10 feet from center to the ends. But I want to make things from 1/2 inch PVC to hold the window line away from my tower. I would like to know about how far I should hold it away from the tower. Does it need to be 12, 18, 24, inch from the Ron tower?
Nice vid again chaps!
+g4okt thank you!
when mounting on a tower how far should the ladder line be from the tower legs
I’d get it several inches away
@@AE4VJ thank you 73
Can you feed the bottom of the 450ohm ladder matching section with 75 ohm twin feeder back to the shack / transmitter? …. If using a Z- match atu ?
The 450ohm is to match the antenna to 50ohms.
This compact design gives me an idea of making a version from aluminium tubing ( dipole with an insulator in the middle with about 23 ft per side ) , then have the vertical ends made from wire hanging down .... This can be used if you only have a single mast at your qth or field day .....Just some ideas rolling around ........... de 9Z4BM
How about a double size ??
Not sure how that would work. Most people don't have the room for that, but if you try it please let us know your results.
AWESOME
Thank you again! Brian is a real cool guy and I can’t thank him enough for doing this interview.
How Will this antenna perform with the horizontal legs in an inverted v?
Some characteristics may change a bit, but should work ok.
Is this applicable for NVIS?
That's ok, but I can't get both ends of the antenna 30 feet high.
How high can you get them?
Sitting chatting on either side of a magnetic-loop antenna jig...
G0GSF ANTENNEA,HOW ABOUT RUNNING THIS UPSIDE DOWN, FOR ME, I DON'T HAVE TREES G0FBR
This is a great antenna, but unfortunately in modern day gardens in the UK... there is no way you would even be able to get that into the average space....and as one other person has said, you haven't shortened it you have simple bent it...which in my eyes is not correct, now if you had cut the actual antenna in half, then fair play, but a nice interview and a nice video...
You can go way smaller, but you’ll need a tuner.
OK, the antenna itself is still about the same length, but the horizontal length it fits in is the limiting factor. So yes, the 'length' of this antenna is shorter than the original. 🙂
Don't worry guys, someday our American friends will catch up with the rest of the world. ft?
50 feet tall, that I can hang a wire in.....not on my place... sorry..... you did not shorten it, you just bent it... sorry to sound snarky....