G5RV/ZS6BKW Antennas

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.

PAL ZS68006 Ant Layout - G5RV/ZS6BKW Antennas

 

Here are several different 1:1 baluns you can use depending on power requirements:

50:450 ohm (9:1) CUBE™ Balun, 1.8-31 MHz, 5 KW, ladder line, ZEPP, T2FD

SKU CB-9-5000TS
$149.95
Bulk pricing available for quantities of 2 units or more
Output Connector
Input Connector
1
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50:450 ohm (9:1) CUBE™ Balun, 1.8-31 MHz, 5 KW, ladder line, ZEPP, T2FD
Product Details
MPN: CB-9-5000
Input ohms/Output ohms: 50 in / 450 output
Frequency Range < 2:1 SWR (MHz): 1-31
PEP Power Rating (watts): 5000

Model CB-9-5000 is a 9:1 multi-core, balanced output balun housed in a NEMA enclosure box (4″ x 4″ x 2″) with top studs (TS) used to translate a 50 ohm input up to 450 ohms at RF power levels up to 5000 watts PEP when used with a matched load. With matched 450 ohm load the SWR over the frequency range 1 to 31 MHz is less than 2:1 on the coax feed side.

All power rating are PEP, 100%, continuous digital modes are 30% duty factor rating of PEP, FT-8 digital mode rated at 1500 watts.

Application note: If using 450 ohm ladder line on the output of the balun top studs, make sure the impedance seen at the balun end of the ladder line is near 450 ohms since the ladder line acts as an impedance transformer, the impedance at the end of the ladder line may be different than the characteristic 450 ohms of the ladder line. For example a 1/4 wavelength of ladder line will transform a high impedance at the antenna feed point to a very low impedance at the other end connected to the balun thus placing a very low impedance load on a balun expecting 450 ohms and such a load may damage the balun. The impedance seen at the balun output should be near 450 ohms for full power rating.


 

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