The ZS6BKW antenna is a better match for our bands than the G5RV. The method of construction and tuning is essentially the same for both antennas but the dimensions are different.
Here is the ZS6BKW antenna installed at AK6R fine tuned for the CW/FT8 frequencies on 40-20-17-12-10 meters. An excellent antenna when installed at 30 feet or higher and no tuner required avoiding the tuner losses and constant retuning. If you want to work all bands from 80-10 install an antenna tuner between the 1:1 balun and the amplifier and ignore the 39/40 switch.
Is this the best FT8 antenna? – I think so as I has made over 70,000 contacts and it still is a proven winner -Good world wide DX, easy to install, no tuner and takes full legal limit.
Here are several different 1:1 baluns you can use depending on power requirements:
5000 Watt PEP Rated 4:1 CUBE Baluns™
Th CB-4-5000 balun feature dual core ferrites configured as a current balun with a weather resistant enclosure box. Input is via SO-239 coax connector and output can be top studs or side eye hooks (2) and top eye hook used as a halyard hoist for supporting your wire antenna. Rated 5000 Watts PEP Watts from 1.8-31 MHz. Enclosure is 4″ x 4″ x 4″. Multi-core technology is excellent for high duty cycle modes like RTTY, Digital, AM, etc at 5KW PEP.
It is recommended that a feed line choke to isolate the coax feed line from the antenna. A coax noise filter is also recommended.
Need a 4:1 and 1:1 HYBRID balun? Check out our CB-4-1-1500/5000 with feedline choke built into same box as impedance transformer for ease of installation!
Here is the Coax Noise Filter used to suppress coax common mode currents (works for all type of antennas)
PDF of ZS6BKW at AK6R Construction Article HERE: My ZS6BKW Antenna