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:
After many requests we have created a compact, special balun for single band loop (Sky loop or Delta loop) antennas with specific dimension that present a feedpoint of 70-75 ohms. The CB-1.5-1-1500/5000 is a CUBE(TM) enclosure containing a multi-core, broadband 1.5:1 impedance transformer (50 ohm coax input to 75 ohm balanced output) in series with a 1:1 current balun for extra common mode current choking to keep RF current off the outside of the coax braid and on the antenna where it belongs. The extra choking action also means that the coax feed line will not act as a radiator causing unnecessary RF interference (RFI). Rated for full 1500 watts PEP and 1500 watts CW (ICAS), 1KW Digital. 1.8Mhz – 61 MHz.
CB-1.5-1-1500EB is housed in a 4” x 4” x 2” waterproof housing with SO-239 input and stainless steel eye bolts on the side for ease of connection to your wire antenna (or top studs as desired). Top eye bolt acts as an antenna hoist. Also available with top studs for post or wall mounting (Model # CB-1.5-1-1500/5000TS). 5KW models are in a 4 " x 4" x 4" housing.
Loop antennas should be cut for 1005/F(MHz) in total length, where F (MHz) is the lowest frequency to be used. For 3.5MHz this equates to 288 foot perimeter (square, delta, multi-side ok). Vertiucal loops with pointy side up and longer bases and fed 1/4 wavelength down one side have a feedpoint impedance near 75 ohms for which this balun is well suited. A very good DX antenna!
For unbalanced 50 ohm input to unbalanced 75 ohm output use the CU-1.5-1500 or CU-1.5-5000.
Display Note: Product picture is 2:1 balun, 1:1 Unun but actual delivered product is CB/CU-1.5-1-1500/5000 as selected.
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