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:

3465681197 - G5RV/ZS6BKW Antennas
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End Fed Feed Line Choke for Non-Resonant and End Fed Half Wave Antennas

EFFLC-240
$10.00
In stock
1
Product Details
Type: 8-10 turns of RG-8X with Pl259 Connector, 3 turns of RG-213 cable
RFI Range (MHz): 1-300 MHz
ID-B (in/mm): 1.4"
OD-A (in/mm): 2.4"
Height-C (in/mm): 1/2"

Feed Line Choke

Each end fed antenna needs a feed line
choke at the radio end of the coax to stop the antenna common mode
current (on the coax braid) from getting into the radio when
transmitting and also to stop RFI common mode noise when receiving. The
simplest, most cost effective choke is a ferrite ring (F240 size)
installed as shown in the picture (at the transceiver end of the coax)

Add the Feed line choke (part # EFFLC-240) for $10 to your end fed
today and stop the pesky RFI from getting into your radio and causing
audio distortion or unexpected operation!


NOTE: Coax shown in picture is NOT INCLUDED and is shown as an installation example only. If you want a pre-wound choke check part# JC-1-1500-3 or JC-1-1500-6.


For non-resonant end fed antennas placement of the choke from 16-95 feet away from the antenna feed point to use the coax braid as the counterpoise (since these antennas are really off center fed dipoles with the short side using the coax braid as the counterpoise. Wind 8-10 turns thru center for an effective 3-30 MHz choke. See Bullet Antenna configurations for exact choke placement depending upon wire length.


For End fed Half Wave antennas place 1-3 feet from antenna feed point to act as short counterpoise for these voltage fed antennas. Use 8-10 turns.

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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