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:
MINI-BALUN Features:
- Uses proprietary Multi-Turn ferrite technology for maximum choking (up to -38 dB common mode noise rejection) and maximum bandwidth
- 500 Watts PEP, 50 ohm SO-239 connectors In, Dual Side Stud Output, 1.8-61 MHz (usable to 100 MHz) - AKA 1:1 BALUN
- Works for all coax fed antennas from 1.8-61 MHz (160-6 meters) - excellent for multi-band beam interface, G5RV/ZS6BKW or Flag Pole OCF antennas fed with ladder line.
- 2-5 times more common mode noise rejection, wider bandwidth and higher power then competing isolators
MINI-CHOKER feed line chokes are used to suppress common mode current carried on the outside of the coax braid which is often responsible for receiver noise and RFI in the receiver/transmitter. These chokes are very useful for suppressing RFI common mode current at the antenna feed point, at 1/2 wavelength intervals along the coax feed line and also at the entrance to the radio station.
This choke has a SO-239 input and 1/4" top studs output.
For Higher Power needs use our MAXI-CHOKER with dual stud outputs in 1.5KW or 3KW version part# MC-1-1500LL, MC-1-3000LL
If you need a unbalanced output (SO239 output) instead of a balanced stud output, see MC-1-500 with SO239 output and input..
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