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:

CUBE Feed Line Choke Unun, 5KW, 1.8-61 MHz, 20-38 dB Common Mode Rejection, Static Bleeder/Ground Option

SKU CU-1-5000SO
$129.95
Bulk pricing available for quantities of 2 units or more
Ground/Static Bleeder
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CUBE Feed Line Choke Unun, 5KW, 1.8-61 MHz, 20-38 dB Common Mode Rejection, Static Bleeder/Ground Option
Product Details
Brand: Palomar Engineers
Effective Frequency Range (MHz): 1-61 MHz
PEP Power Rating (watts): 5000
Estimated Insertion Loss (db): .10
Input Connector Type: SO-239 female
Output Connector Connector Type: SO-239 female
Ground Connector (Y/N): none
Enclosure Size (LxWxH inches): 4 x 4 x 2

5000 Watt rated 1:1 CUBE UNUN™

This higher power UNUN utilizes mil-spec coax cable for the windings on a extra large core toroid with coax silver shield and silver braid for low loss. The dielectric is Teflon® insulation for high voltage ratings of 1,900 volts. (A typical 5KW signal at 50 ohms impedance will have a voltage of 500 volts at 1:1 SWR). Wired as a UNUN (CU-1-5000) with SO-239 input and output connectors. Rated 5KW PEP/1500 Watts AM/RTTY/CW from 1.8-30 Mhz, less at 50 Mhz.

If you run RTTY contests or FT8 at 1500 watts output, this is the balun/unun you need – it won’t burn out at heavy 1500 watt duty cycles like other brands rated at 1500 watts (or more). We use these same chokes in our own RTTY station at full 1500 watts output and they have never failed. We use one at the amplifier output and another at each antenna feed point. Works very well on OCF antennas below the 4:1 balun to keep RF current on the antenna and off the feed line. Built like a tank, works like a charm, and priced under the competition – what more can you ask for? THIS IS OUR MOST POPULAR HIGH POWER UNUN!

Choose optional ground lug (on input connector shield) and static bleeder (on input connector center conductor) to bleed off static charges on a continuous basis. (Not a lightening arrestor)


 

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