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™ Unun, 1.8-61 MHz, 1.5 KW, End Fed Long Wire

SKU CU-9-1500
$109.95
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50:450 ohm (9:1) CUBE™ Unun, 1.8-61 MHz, 1.5 KW, End Fed Long Wire
Product Details
MPN: CU-9-1500
Type: NEW
Input ohms/Output ohms: 50 in / 450 output
Frequency Range < 2:1 SWR (MHz): 1-31
PEP Power Rating (watts): 1500

Model CU-9-1500 is a 9:1 multi-core unun housed in a NEMA enclosure box (4″ x 4″ x 2″) with top stud/eyebolt output used to translate a 50 ohm input up to 450 ohms at RF power levels up to 1500 watts PEP when used with a matched load.

Great for end fed antennas - great for FT-8 and digital mode power ratings are approximately 30% of PEP ratings into a matched 450 ohm load. For non-resonant end fed antennas, you will need a feed line choke on the coax. See typical antenna configuration notes below for details.

Non-Resonant End Fed Antenna Configuration Notes


 

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