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:
Broadband, Non-Inductive Termination Resistor load used on many terminated antenna types such as T2FD, Broadband Terminated Dipole (BBTD), Rhombics and others
Resistive Value: 1000 ohms (+/- 10%)
SSB (25% duty cycle) rating in Watts: 600
CW/FT8 (50% duty cycle) in watts: 300
Length (tip to tip) Inches: 14"
Width inches: 3"
Inductance < 20 nH (1-61 MHz)
Internal Resistance Wattage: 200 watts
you can use 2 of the 1000 ohm resistors in parallel to yield 500 ohms total and double the power at 1200 watts. Perfect for high power antennas with 9:1 transformers requiring 500 ohm termination resistance total.
Excellent Install of BBTD by K1FU
Delivery Note (2/15/2023) - we are currently out of stock but will have more in stock around April 1, 2023. You can order now to get in the queue for the next 100 resistors.
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