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:

Fan Dipole for 80/40 Meters - 500/1500/5000 Options

SKU PAL-FD8040-500
$149.95
PEP Rating
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Fan Dipole for 80/40 Meters - 500/1500/5000 Options
Product Details

Palomar Engineers Fan Dipole kit for 80 and 40 meters. Choose 500, 1500 or 5000 watts PEP option. 135 feet wide for 80 meters and 66 feet wide for 40 meters. For best results install so end are 5 feet apart and as high as possible.

Dipole wire kits come assembled.

You can also add additional option dipole kits. Just add to cart in addition to this antenna. Be sure to space 3-5 feet away from the other dipoles. Tune the lowest frequency first, then next highest, etc.

If you want different band combinations, choose the dipole wire kits needed and then select the Bullet-1B-500, CB-1-150EB or CB-1-5000EB for 500/1500/5000 watts 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