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:
Model # PA-SWL-1 includes MLB-2 Long Wire antenna matcher, 50 feet of insulated wire and 25 feet of support cord and a end insulator for the antenna. Great for short wave listening and works as a bent antenna, sloper, inverted “L” antenna (Vertical and horizontal) or as a straight vertical antenna. For best results use a counterpoise for the lower frequencies.
Palomar Engineers Magnetic Longwire Balun has been redesigned for shortwave listeners and others needing to match a long wire antenna to 50/75 ohm coax feed line cable.
Specifications: Frequency: 100 KHz – 30 MHz. Input: 50/75 ohms for coaxial cable. Output: High impedance. Connector: SO-239 (for cable) wingnut/solder lug for wire lead (for antenna). Mounting: Stainless steel eyebolt. Size: 2.5” diameter. Case: White PVC sealed weatherproof. External ground bolt with wing nut for external counterpoise or separate ground.
The long wire antenna often has a high impedance in the 500-1000 ohm range and the MLB-2 transforms this high impedance close to 50/75 ohms efficiently coupling the received signal to the receiver. A long wire antenna with a matching unit such as the MLB-2 often has a 12 db (2 “S” units) better signal than a long wire without a matching unit.
For best results use a coax noise filter at the receiver end of the coax to reduce common mode noise picked up by the coax braid. Model # CMNF-500-50 is best suited for this antenna.
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