I've had several questions about DX Commander vs 6BTV. Currently the DX Commander *masts* hold up my 80M end fed antenna incredbly well, but for low maintenance the 6btv means I spend more time on the air, and not fixing antennas. Currently the 6BTV is in use for WSPR, and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future as the end-fed does all the HF bands. You can see how good the performance of the 6BTV is via my WSPR website here webtechnologies.alanknipmeyer.science/html/WSPR/ or use WSPR's own website and search for 2E0FWE. Current radio on the 6BTV is an IC705 running 1W of power, it will in time be switched to a uBitX.
Thanks for the video. I am considering this antenna. I have been told by other owners that it can handle high winds very well and they seem to last. I think it is good value compared to many others and performs well on the lower bands.
Oh yes ! its very robust. I have mine guyed down just as a precaution. The centre pipe its mounted on goes down about a meter and sunk with concrete, so it wont go over from the base. The fact it has 3 very good strong anchor points just ensure it only ever comes down when i want it to, and when it does, it doesnt break. Rugged and well built.
@@alzeNL Thanks for the reply. I am not sure how I will mount it yet. I have a chain link fence around the backyard and it would be easy to mount it to that and make it fold down along the top rail with a swivel mount or I could mount it near the center of the yard. I considered buying a surveying tripod and mounting it that way. I am renting so I can't do anything permanent. I have some big trees and plan on putting up an 80M dipole as well.
@@davidbrennan5 Renting as well - the point is I can put everything back as I found it. I did ask the landlord first they, they are very cool about it, in fact they are interested in my hobby ! Others have used a bucket filled with cement to put a scaffold pole in. Beware of the chain fence, anything metallic will effect the performance of the antenna. If you mount it above the ground, i.e. the radials in the air, then you need to cut the radials to the required lengths, compared to the raidal plate close to the ground, where you can just lay them straight down at random lenghts (although I do have many down for specific frequencies, more as a test). What ever you do, the Hustler antennas are tried and tested and work well up high or close to the ground. You will enjoy this antenna. Be sure to use the DX Engineering documentation.
@@alzeNLThank you for your answers, that helps me out a lot. I think I could get away with 23 meters of coax, not sure if I should get RG213 or LMR400? I have a Yaesu FT1000MP radio.
@@davidbrennan5 I'm not a coax expert, but being HF the amount of losses are going to be less important than for VHF/UHF (That I do know !) I run a length RG213 and its been fine on matching up into the IC7300. I dont think I have done a video or pictures of the performance the shack end using the rigexpert, so will incorporate that into tomorrows video. Thanks again for interesting questions and watching the channel, I really appreciate it ! 73 2E0FWE
Hi Philbou - I started with the DX Commander classic - really good antenna that taught me about folder fan dipoles, liked it so much went all the way to the Nebula, I then faced due to a series of bad weather frequent issues, hence I went with the 6BTV. Comparisons - well, the 6BTV is very old design and a trapped vertical, I've not done an exact performance test against the DX Commander, but against the harsh UK Weather, the 6BTV has just been 100% rock solid. I currently use the 6BTV for WSPR and you can find my webtechnologies site where I put 1W of power into a 6BTV and a set of good ground radials how well the antenna is working. (search for 2E0FWE on WSPR) - so to answer your question, because I wanted an antenna that is low maintenance and good enough performance, the 6BTV worked well for me, but the mighty Nebula and DX Commander classics are good antennas as well, but I dont have the time to fix them each time a wire snaps or have to take it down due to the high winds. -Edit - what I would say is a better on the DX Commander is that you can get a much wider length on 80M than you can with a 6BTV, my 6BTV is tuned for WSPR and FT8, where as the DX Commander in either classic with a folded wire to get on 80 will give you the whole band, and the Nebula will - its a massive mast tho !
Few questions about the coax. What type / size. Why didnt you bury the coax. Do you have pictures of the hook-up or installing the coax to antenna and jumpers.
Hello Clifton ! Thanks for your excellent question on coax. Since this video was made I do run the coax under the radials via plastic tube. The weather is nice tomorrow and I have been re-comissioning my 6btv this week, so I will make a new video tomorrow showing you how its hooked up. Thankfully the shack is quite tidy now, and I made some changes so will do an shack and antenna end video. Thanks for your interest in the channel and great comments ! 73 2E0FWE
Hello ! The antenna is supported by a standard piece of scaffold pole. I used Steel Fence Post Hole Auger to make the hole and fill with cement - measurements of how much to allow for the top-side are in the installation instructions. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D847FYY
Hi Chris, I personally havent done it, but I have known and read of people who have the 6btv on a roof on a mast. Where in it is on a mast, it is then required to use accuracte counterpoises vs radials as the counterpoise(s) will need to match the bands. Please see the *excellent* DX Engineering manual here static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-btv-inst-ins_gg.pdf and it will guide you !
@@Chris-tx9ou Thanks Chris, its really great to have input and good questions. I'll put up another video on the 6BTV tomorrow as I've recently started using it again. 73 2E0FWE
The Classic was a good antenna, so much so I still have two of them, but not in use (as antenna). The Nebula is a great antenna, just needs plenty of space. Now, the 6BTV, it gets me out on PART of 80 (very small) and 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10. Its a fantastic antenna and I'm just making it better and better with more radials and tuning. TL/DR If you was to ask me what antenna would of I bought 1st, yes the 6BTV, but its not as cheap as the DX Commander, and the Nebula is a beast, but fantastic on 80m (I've replaced it with UK Antenna End fed for full 80M but as an inverted L). Get the best antenna you can afford is the best advice.
Hi Jeffrey ! Thanks for the kind words on my videos - i'm very new to trying to make content on here ! Now 'grab the wind' not 100% sure exactly what you mean, but 1) When its windy it doesnt make any noise 2) Its pretty flexible and stays up there well. Ironically I've not tuned it to the part of the band I want to use it on (FT8), so dont the 80m band currently. I have 2 more kits to add to the 6BTV so I'll be doing the VSWR adjustments then for 80 (and all bands)
I've had several questions about DX Commander vs 6BTV. Currently the DX Commander *masts* hold up my 80M end fed antenna incredbly well, but for low maintenance the 6btv means I spend more time on the air, and not fixing antennas. Currently the 6BTV is in use for WSPR, and will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future as the end-fed does all the HF bands. You can see how good the performance of the 6BTV is via my WSPR website here webtechnologies.alanknipmeyer.science/html/WSPR/ or use WSPR's own website and search for 2E0FWE. Current radio on the 6BTV is an IC705 running 1W of power, it will in time be switched to a uBitX.
Thanks for the video. I am considering this antenna. I have been told by other owners that it can handle high winds very well and they seem to last. I think it is good value compared to many others and performs well on the lower bands.
Oh yes ! its very robust. I have mine guyed down just as a precaution. The centre pipe its mounted on goes down about a meter and sunk with concrete, so it wont go over from the base. The fact it has 3 very good strong anchor points just ensure it only ever comes down when i want it to, and when it does, it doesnt break. Rugged and well built.
@@alzeNL Thanks for the reply. I am not sure how I will mount it yet. I have a chain link fence around the backyard and it would be easy to mount it to that and make it fold down along the top rail with a swivel mount or I could mount it near the center of the yard. I considered buying a surveying tripod and mounting it that way. I am renting so I can't do anything permanent. I have some big trees and plan on putting up an 80M dipole as well.
@@davidbrennan5 Renting as well - the point is I can put everything back as I found it. I did ask the landlord first they, they are very cool about it, in fact they are interested in my hobby ! Others have used a bucket filled with cement to put a scaffold pole in. Beware of the chain fence, anything metallic will effect the performance of the antenna. If you mount it above the ground, i.e. the radials in the air, then you need to cut the radials to the required lengths, compared to the raidal plate close to the ground, where you can just lay them straight down at random lenghts (although I do have many down for specific frequencies, more as a test). What ever you do, the Hustler antennas are tried and tested and work well up high or close to the ground. You will enjoy this antenna. Be sure to use the DX Engineering documentation.
@@alzeNLThank you for your answers, that helps me out a lot. I think I could get away with 23 meters of coax, not sure if I should get RG213 or LMR400? I have a Yaesu FT1000MP radio.
@@davidbrennan5 I'm not a coax expert, but being HF the amount of losses are going to be less important than for VHF/UHF (That I do know !) I run a length RG213 and its been fine on matching up into the IC7300. I dont think I have done a video or pictures of the performance the shack end using the rigexpert, so will incorporate that into tomorrows video. Thanks again for interesting questions and watching the channel, I really appreciate it ! 73 2E0FWE
Good job. I'm in the process of installing the very same setup.
Hey thanks penzman ! hope it goes well ! Hopefully get you in the logbook :)
Hi,
i see in the background a DX commander. How do you compare the BTV to the dx Commander?
Hi Philbou - I started with the DX Commander classic - really good antenna that taught me about folder fan dipoles, liked it so much went all the way to the Nebula, I then faced due to a series of bad weather frequent issues, hence I went with the 6BTV. Comparisons - well, the 6BTV is very old design and a trapped vertical, I've not done an exact performance test against the DX Commander, but against the harsh UK Weather, the 6BTV has just been 100% rock solid. I currently use the 6BTV for WSPR and you can find my webtechnologies site where I put 1W of power into a 6BTV and a set of good ground radials how well the antenna is working. (search for 2E0FWE on WSPR) - so to answer your question, because I wanted an antenna that is low maintenance and good enough performance, the 6BTV worked well for me, but the mighty Nebula and DX Commander classics are good antennas as well, but I dont have the time to fix them each time a wire snaps or have to take it down due to the high winds.
-Edit - what I would say is a better on the DX Commander is that you can get a much wider length on 80M than you can with a 6BTV, my 6BTV is tuned for WSPR and FT8, where as the DX Commander in either classic with a folded wire to get on 80 will give you the whole band, and the Nebula will - its a massive mast tho !
Few questions about the coax. What type / size. Why didnt you bury the coax. Do you have pictures of the hook-up or installing the coax to antenna and jumpers.
Hello Clifton ! Thanks for your excellent question on coax. Since this video was made I do run the coax under the radials via plastic tube. The weather is nice tomorrow and I have been re-comissioning my 6btv this week, so I will make a new video tomorrow showing you how its hooked up. Thankfully the shack is quite tidy now, and I made some changes so will do an shack and antenna end video. Thanks for your interest in the channel and great comments ! 73 2E0FWE
Hi there , good video, I have just bought the same antenna, how long was your mast before going in the ground ?
Hello ! The antenna is supported by a standard piece of scaffold pole. I used Steel Fence Post Hole Auger to make the hole and fill with cement - measurements of how much to allow for the top-side are in the installation instructions. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00D847FYY
Thankyou 👍🏽
could you mast mount this antenna for any performance gains
Hi Chris, I personally havent done it, but I have known and read of people who have the 6btv on a roof on a mast. Where in it is on a mast, it is then required to use accuracte counterpoises vs radials as the counterpoise(s) will need to match the bands. Please see the *excellent* DX Engineering manual here static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-btv-inst-ins_gg.pdf and it will guide you !
@@alzeNL Fantastic thank you so much for the information and guide - best to you and the channel
@@Chris-tx9ou Thanks Chris, its really great to have input and good questions. I'll put up another video on the 6BTV tomorrow as I've recently started using it again.
73 2E0FWE
How do you like it compared to the DX Commander ?
The Classic was a good antenna, so much so I still have two of them, but not in use (as antenna). The Nebula is a great antenna, just needs plenty of space. Now, the 6BTV, it gets me out on PART of 80 (very small) and 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10. Its a fantastic antenna and I'm just making it better and better with more radials and tuning. TL/DR If you was to ask me what antenna would of I bought 1st, yes the 6BTV, but its not as cheap as the DX Commander, and the Nebula is a beast, but fantastic on 80m (I've replaced it with UK Antenna End fed for full 80M but as an inverted L). Get the best antenna you can afford is the best advice.
Very clear and helpful photography, nice work! Does wind grab that 80m trap much?
Hi Jeffrey ! Thanks for the kind words on my videos - i'm very new to trying to make content on here ! Now 'grab the wind' not 100% sure exactly what you mean, but 1) When its windy it doesnt make any noise 2) Its pretty flexible and stays up there well. Ironically I've not tuned it to the part of the band I want to use it on (FT8), so dont the 80m band currently. I have 2 more kits to add to the 6BTV so I'll be doing the VSWR adjustments then for 80 (and all bands)