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:

Bullet 50:100 (2:1) HF Balun, .1-61 MHz, 500/1500 Watts PEP, Loop Antenna

SKU Bullet-2B-500EB
$89.95
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Bullet 50:100 (2:1) HF Balun, .1-61 MHz, 500/1500 Watts PEP, Loop Antenna
Product Details
MPN: Bullet-2B-500/Bullet-2B-1500
Country/Region of Manufacture: USA
Type: NEW
Input ohms/Output ohms: 50 in, 100 out
Frequency Range < 2:1 SWR (MHz): .1-61 MHz < 2 SWR
PEP Power Rating (watts): 500/1500
Input Connector: SO-239
Output Connector(s): Side Eyebolts
Hardware Type: Stainless Steel
Weight (pounds): 1
Antenna Compatability: Full Wave Loop

New improved version now goes down to 100 KHz and up to 61 MHz < 2:1 SWR!

The Bullet-2B is a multi-core balun with a compact enclosure (looks like a bullet) enclosure that is lightweight and easy to transport for your portable loop antenna solution. Halyard hoist at top of balun for convenient attachment point. Input is via SO-239 coax connector and output with side eye bolt output. Rated 500 Watts PEP Watts from .1-61 MHz. DC grounded to coax shield for static bleed off.

This transformer requires a feed line choke at the balun to isolate the coax feed line from the antenna. A coax noise filter is also recommended at the radio end of the coax..

Loop Antennas

Loop antennas are some of the best radiating and receiving antennas you can make. They can be in a triangle (called a delta loop), square or rectangle or even a circle. Horizontal loops can be fed anywhere that is convenient. Vertical delta loops(circumference length=1005/f(Mhz) are best fed 1/4 wavelength (length=246/f(Mhz)) from the top point down one side.

We offer pre-configured loop wire kits for your antenna building convenience. Just choose the band you need - see related products.

Want multiple bands from a loop antenna, consider the 4;1 Bullet (Bullet-4BEB in 500 or 1500 watts versions).

NOTE: We rate our Bullet baluns (and ununs) VERY conservatively at 500 watts PEP with a 50% duty cycle. Some manufacturers selling low cost baluns may use a 5% duty cycle for their PEP rating to make it appear you get a higher rated balun for a lower price, but you may in fact be getting be getting less. Their 1500 watts PEP really means 75 watts continuous or 150 watts at a 50% duty cycle compared to our 250 watts at 50% duty cycle. Our baluns typically cover a larger frequency range under 2:1 SWR which make your transceiver happy and probably will last longer with less electrical stress.

Remember we over engineer our products, to out perform our competition - just compare the weight of our baluns to theirs and you will know we put much more into our products so you don't have to worry about failure at a critical moment.



 

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