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.
Here are several different 1:1 baluns you can use depending on power requirements:
Ferrite Ring Combo Pack, FT240 - 1.4" ID, 10 Rings - Mix 31(4), 61(3), 75(3), RFI Range .15-2000 MHz
The Ferrite Ring Combo Pack is a convenient solution for troubleshooting RFI/EMI from unknown frequencies or multiple frequencies that require multiple suppression mixes. Included in this combo pack are ten 2.4″ OD/1.4″ ID ring toroids as follows:
Mix 75 effective from .15-10 MHz including AM Broadcast band – quantity: 3
Mix 31 effective from 1-300 MHz for general purpose – quantity: 4
Mix 61 effective from 200-2000 MHz for cell phone, WIFI, HDTV, Cable TV interference – quantity: 3
Individually wrapped and labeled with effective RFI frequency range for easy identification
The ring toroids are useful for AC/DC common mode choking with multiple turns as shown below
AC Cable on F-240 Toroid – 7 turns |
DC Cable on F240 – 4 turns |
The ring toroids can also be used on coax or signal lines as shown below:
RG58 12 turns on FT240 |
Ethernet Cable on F-240 Toroid – 7 turns |
For RFI/EMI wrap as many turns as possible (usually 6-12) for higher choking (under 30 MHz). For over 25-100 MHz, 1-3 turns om Mix 61 is usually sufficient. Chokes can also be cascaded in series to offer a broader frequency range.
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