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:

Slip On Feed Line Choke/Isolator - 1/4"/6mm coax cable, RG-58/LMR240, 1.8-300 MHz

SKU BA-58-5
$16.95
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Slip On Feed Line Choke/Isolator - 1/4"/6mm coax cable, RG-58/LMR240, 1.8-300 MHz
Product Details
UPC: Does not apply
Brand: Palomar Engineers
MPN: SLO-1/4-5, -10, -15 - old part # is BA-58
Effective Frequency Range (MHz): 3-300 (5 bead), 1.8-300 (10, 15 bead)
PEP Power Rating (watts): same as coax cable rating
Choking Impedance Range (ohms): 5 bead: 500-1300, 10 bead: 600-1800, 15 bead: 1000-2100
Common Mode Attenuation (db): 5 bead: 16-22 db, 10 bead: 17-25 db, 15 bead: 21-27 db
Estimated Insertion Loss (db): .025
Input Connector Type: none
Output Connector Connector Type: none
Ground Connector (Y/N): none
Enclosure Size (LxWxH inches): none

Includes protective heat shrink

1/4″/6.4mm max Cable Size Chokes

For use with RG-58, RG-6, RG-59, LM-240 and similar size cables – all cable impedances, 160-6 meters. Choke diameter 0.6 inch. Requires 9-1/2 inches of cable for installation of SLO-1/4.Choose SLO-1/4 (5 beads) or for extended choking, choose SLO-1/4-10 (10 beads) or for super extended choking choose SLO-1/4-15 (15 beads).Use SLO-1/4 on RG-6 to stop RFI on cable/satellite systems.


Select chokes with minimum of 500 ohms at your frequency of interest for best results or upgrade to our CUBE(TM), or Super Choker(TM) or Maxi-Choker(TM) chokes up to 10,000 ohms choking

Use on RG-6 coax to stop RFI on cable/satellite systems.

Select 10 bead version for 160 meter use, 15 bead version for even higher choking power.

Snap On and Slip on Feed line chokes available in sizes to fix cables with outside diameters of 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" - check website for other size options.

This product was previously named BA-58


 

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