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:

HF Loop Antenna Wire Kits (160-10 meters)

SKU LWK-40
$54.95
Loop Lowest Band
1
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HF Loop Antenna Wire Kits (160-10 meters)
Product Details
Brand: Palomar Engineers, Inc.
Model: LWK-NNN, NNN = band
Frequency Band(s): 160-10 meters
Type: Horizontal or vertical loop

Full Wave Loop Antenna Wire Kit for vertical or horizontal loops (square, rectangle or delta shaped) from 160 meters to 10 meter. Includes end insulators, #14 Insulated stranded copper wire and spade lugs for attachment to an optional balun

Insulators are a very stealthy, strong, 4 PVC, 2 1/4" long. 1" wide. 1 1/8" hole separation wire antenna insulators and may be black, gray or white depending upon inventory.

Typical size id 1005/F(MHz) and cut for lowest frequency in band segment.

For multi-band capability use 4:1 balun such as our Bullet-4BEB-500/1500 or CB-4-1500EB/5000EB with a feed line choke below it or best bet is to use the Hybird 4:1 + 1:1 balun, CB-4-1-1500. For single band use a 2:1 balun such as a Bullet-2B-500/1500 or CB-2-1500/5000EB. with a feed line choke below it or the hybrid CB-2-1-1500EB with built in 2:1 and 1:1 balun.


 

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