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:

Hybrid 4:1 Balun + 1:1 Current Balun in one enclosure, 1.8-61 MHz, 1.5/5KW PEP - Loop, OCF Antennas

SKU CB-4-1-1500EB
$139.95
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List price $189.95
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Hybrid 4:1 Balun + 1:1 Current Balun in one enclosure, 1.8-61 MHz, 1.5/5KW PEP - Loop, OCF Antennas
Product Details
MPN: CB-4-1-1500TS/EB , CB-4-1-5000TS/EB
Country/Region of Manufacture: USA
Input ohms/Output ohms: 50 in/200 out
Frequency Range < 2:1 SWR (MHz): 1.8-61 MHz for 1.5KW
PEP Power Rating (watts): 1.5KW/5KW
Input Connector: UHF SO-239
Output Connector(s): Side Eyeboplts (EB) or Top Studs (TS)
Enclosure Size: 4"x4"x 2"(1.5KW), 4"x 4" x 4"(5KW)
Weight (pounds): 2# (1.5KW), 4# (5KW)
Antenna Compatability: OCF, Loop, BBTD, T2FD, ZEPP


After many requests we have created a compact, special balun for Off Center Fed (OCF) , loop (Skyloop or Delta loop) , BBTD, T2FD, folded dipoles antennas. The CB-4-1-1500 is a CUBE(TM) enclosure containing a multi-core, broadband 4:1 impedance transformer 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 1000 watts CW (ICAS). 1.8Mhz – 61 MHz.

CB-4-1-1500 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. Top eye bolt acts as an antenna hoist.

5KW are in 4" x 4" x 4" enclosure. 1.5KW is 2 pounds, 5KW is 4 pounds.

For an 80 meter OCF antennas we recommend a (95 feet/79.5% and 40 feet/29.5% offset for best all band results. If you use 66%/34% offset, do not use on 15 meters as the impedance mismatch may damage the balun at high power levels. 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 feet.

We highly recommend a feed line choke (MC-1-3000) or coax noise filter (CMNF-1500) at the radio end of the coax feed line to reduce common mode noise picked up by the coax braid.

CB-4-1-5000EB/TS are custom made to order - please allow 7-10 days ARO before ship.

Customer testimonial:

Callsign: NE5U Your CB-4-1500 +1:1 Choke made my homebrew, hail mary, 3 times folded 75m resonant attic dipole into a functional antenna from 6m to 160m. Most bands I can operate with no RFI. I've installed ferrites at all of the usual locations but still have some problem bands. Considering that the antenna is, at best, an NVIS antenna, I have made a lot of DX contacts (SSB, FT8 and other digital modes, and CW). Happy customer here. 73


 

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