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:
The CB-4-1500 balun is a multi-core current balun with an enclosure box. Input is via SO-239 coax connector and output can be top studs (for ladder line) or side eye hooks (2) and top eye hook used as a halyard hoist for supporting your wire antenna. Rated 1500 Watts PEP Watts from 1.8-61 MHz (see SWR graph).
This transformer requires a feed line choke to isolate the coax feed line from the antenna. A coax noise filter at the radio end of the coax is also recommended to reduce coax cable common mode noise.is also recommended.
Useful on these type of antennas:
Dipole, double extended
Dipole, linear load, ladder line fed
Dipole, long, non-resonant
Dipole, off-center fed (OCF)
Dipole, snake type, ladder line fed
Long wire with ground system
Multi-band, remote balun
Useful out to 200 MHZ under 2:1 SWR (see swr graph)
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