I bought a ZS6BKW to replace an end-fed wire antenna and the difference was astounding. I could hear stations better and I could get out a lot farther without having the annoying RF in my shack! It's been up for over 3 years now and I would highly recommend it over the G5RV! Warmest regards and 73, NF8Q.
I feel the ZS6BKW is a really good first choice beginners antenna. I use an external tuner and this antenna is useable on every band 80 through 6 It really shines on 40, 20, 12 1nd 10. All the others use a tuner. Honestly if you have 90 ft available horizontally and at least 30 ft high it is a great choice.
Love my G5RV for what it is. Can tune 10, 20, 40, 80 with the internal tuner only on my FTDX-10. SSB contacts from New Zealand to Eastern Europe and FT8 contacts covering almost all of the globe.
My full size G5RV works great, mounted off of my 60ft tower in inverted V config with an Air Wound Balun at he 50ohm coax connection. I use an MFJ-993B Auto Tuner with mine.
Hi Dave, I tried a ZS6BKW antenna here at my QTH here in New Zealand, as this this was the only wire antenna that I could reasonably fit on my section. The antenna itself was great, however the biggest problem was the ladder line that doesn't seem to like strong winds (which there are a lot of here) and one of the wires of the ladder line broke one night. I repaired it and used some 400lb nylon shark fishing line in a vain attempt to stop the wires from flexing in the wind, this didn't work and the antenna was removed. It's a shame you can't really support ladder line near any metallic objects, especially when the length of this is 30 + ft. I made some really good QSO's with that antenna, but it wasn't mechanically up to the task. 73 de ZL3XD.
Dave got some complaints in the past that he was only grubbing for money and he's proving he only spends a few seconds each video asking for support. He has proven his point and the complainers are just that.
Dave, the G5RV when built to Varney's specs shows around 100 ohms impedance for 20 Meters with little to no reactance at the feed point of the ladder line. The G5RV does not show a 50 ohm impedance on any amateur band. The ZS6BKW was a design that took the G5RV and adjusted the antenna to work on 5 amateur bands with a 50 ohm impedance. It seems that the G5RV will forever be misunderstood......
Open wire and ribbon line have problems with snow, ice and rain just for a start. Its hard to beat EFHW or trap dipole for a single element multi band antenna. Now, if you want to build a Lazy-H or Colinear stack, open wire makes a simple combining network. Also, even with a full power station, one must consider the bands and type of DX one wants to do and select antennas and supports to do it.
@davecasler Dave you should list your past live stream videos in with the regular videos. Many people might go to your channel and not realize there is a LOT of past live stream videos hidden behind the "live" tab and miss them.
Hello Dave you know it's sad when they give a license to a child operator radio Giada up and just calling your call-sign to block a frequency to keep anyone from using 10 m radio he keeps saying Cq Cq KC4TVZ over and over when someone tries to use the frequency of 28..425 then someone is playing music so it can't be used
I bought a ZS6BKW to replace an end-fed wire antenna and the difference was astounding. I could hear stations better and I could get out a lot farther without having the annoying RF in my shack! It's been up for over 3 years now and I would highly recommend it over the G5RV! Warmest regards and 73, NF8Q.
I feel the ZS6BKW is a really good first choice beginners antenna. I use an external tuner and this antenna is useable on every band 80 through 6 It really shines on 40, 20, 12 1nd 10. All the others use a tuner. Honestly if you have 90 ft available horizontally and at least 30 ft high it is a great choice.
Love my G5RV for what it is. Can tune 10, 20, 40, 80 with the internal tuner only on my FTDX-10. SSB contacts from New Zealand to Eastern Europe and FT8 contacts covering almost all of the globe.
Thanks!
Thank you for your financial support of this channel! It is greatly appreciated! 73, Dave, KE0OG.
I have a carbon fiber telescoping mast, if the ladder line rubs against it does that impact the antenna in a negative way?
ZS6BKW -- what would happen if you changed the driven element from a dipole into a closed loop (quad/diamond/rhombic)?
Interesting video Dave, on either antenna does the matching stub radiate RF and needs to be clear of metal objects? Tnx and 73, K6SDW
Yes, if I recall from the instructions when I installed mine, it said to keep at least 9 inches from metal.
My full size G5RV works great, mounted off of my 60ft tower in inverted V config with an Air Wound Balun at he 50ohm coax connection. I use an MFJ-993B Auto Tuner with mine.
Hi Dave,
I tried a ZS6BKW antenna here at my QTH here in New Zealand, as this this was the only wire antenna that I could reasonably fit on my section.
The antenna itself was great, however the biggest problem was the ladder line that doesn't seem to like strong winds (which there are a lot of here) and one of the wires of the ladder line broke one night.
I repaired it and used some 400lb nylon shark fishing line in a vain attempt to stop the wires from flexing in the wind, this didn't work and the antenna was removed.
It's a shame you can't really support ladder line near any metallic objects, especially when the length of this is 30 + ft.
I made some really good QSO's with that antenna, but it wasn't mechanically up to the task.
73 de ZL3XD.
Great video dave!!! Thanks so much
Thank you.
What’s with the timer?
patreon time
Dave got some complaints in the past that he was only grubbing for money and he's proving he only spends a few seconds each video asking for support. He has proven his point and the complainers are just that.
It's RF in the shack you're talking about. Not RFI. RFI is what is an undesirable signal that your receiver is hearing.
Dave, the G5RV when built to Varney's specs shows around 100 ohms impedance for 20 Meters with little to no reactance at the feed point of the ladder line. The G5RV does not show a 50 ohm impedance on any amateur band. The ZS6BKW was a design that took the G5RV and adjusted the antenna to work on 5 amateur bands with a 50 ohm impedance. It seems that the G5RV will forever be misunderstood......
@5:00. Commonly called a doublet ..
Perfect timing Dave !...
Why do you calculate in feet? In science and physics, you should use the normal system and calculate in meters.
Says he doesn’t like a G5 RV, but then recommends you use one that he’s never used?
Open wire and ribbon line have problems with snow, ice and rain just for a start. Its hard to beat EFHW or trap dipole for a single element multi band antenna. Now, if you want to build a Lazy-H or Colinear stack, open wire makes a simple combining network. Also, even with a full power station, one must consider the bands and type of DX one wants to do and select antennas and supports to do it.
@davecasler Dave you should list your past live stream videos in with the regular videos. Many people might go to your channel and not realize there is a LOT of past live stream videos hidden behind the "live" tab and miss them.
I’ve never heard anyone use a 9:1 balun at the start of the feed line to a G5rv.
Hello Dave you know it's sad when they give a license to a child operator radio Giada up and just calling your call-sign to block a frequency to keep anyone from using 10 m radio he keeps saying Cq Cq KC4TVZ over and over when someone tries to use the frequency of 28..425 then someone is playing music so it can't be used