David J. Wilcox Thanks David! Not looking it’s best just after winter. One of the other videos (Expedition series or Diamond build?) shows a version in spring I think! 💐 🌳👍🏻

No problem John! Lots more videos since that one showing it in use 👍🏻

Alan James Ok Alan. Glad to help 👍🏻 (it’s Ian by the way 😁)

Good one Charles. Good luck with your DX-C 👍🏻

Great Mark. Have fun! 😀

@@ianxfs Cheers! I have one quick question if you have time. I noted that little loops are made in the end of the wires to attached the elements to the clips / cord etc. Fine with that. However, earlier on in the instructions Callum suggests (in the printed instructions) that each element, except 40m, is folded back slightly on itself and secured with tape. So 10, 12 and 30m have " a fold-over of 6cm long" and the 20m has a "20cm folder over" - these forming loops secured with shrink wrap. So far so good. I had (do?) assumed that these ARE the loops that are used to fix the plastic carabiner too. However, later in the instructions the 30m element is used as an example and states "At around 30cm (1-foot) from the upper Double-Eye, make up a small loop, large enough to be able to clip a plastic carabiner to". Is this a 'loop of the already made loop' in the 30m element, or does he mean use the loop created earlier? From looking at videos and pictures I can only see the elements with small loops at the end to attach the carabiner too.... Mark.

@@markramsay6399 yes Mark. The fold-back loops are for the carabiners 👍🏻

Ade Larsen Sounds like a plan Ade 👍🏻

Kevin Shields Good luck with both the DX-C and the exam Kevin! You’ll enjoy building it. Just set aside a good afternoon (weather permitting!) and you’ll enjoy the self-build aspect this product gives 👍🏻 Fingers crossed on your exam too🤞🏻

ianxfs Passed my general Ian, so I can get on HF, just received the DX50, now to change my elements. I’ll get sorted!

Kevin S. W1KPS Congratulations Kevin. Apologies for not replying, but KZfaq never informed me of your reply 👎🏻 Hope you’re having fun!

ianxfs having a blast! Got the antenna figured out for the most part. One element is a little whacky. I’ve antenna up and down about 15 times, I’m tired of doing it! I made my first ever contest contact this weekend. My second one was Czech Republic. I had a qso with someone in North Carolina. So much fun! I have a question, on your bottoms plate is the plate directly on the ground or do you still have the cap on the bottom? Thanks Ian -73- W1KPS

Kevin S. W1KPS Sounds like you’re sorted then 👍🏻 The cap’s off so the pole can sit on the short piece of plastic pipe I have in the lawn, but the element tension keeps the radiating plate in place and it also sits on the collar near the base of the pole anyway. You don’t want the radiating plate touching the ground or grass etc. I trim underneath where it sits with scissors. Keep the radiating plate in free space 👍🏻 73 Ian

RJinNH Thanks for the kind words! There’s more DX Commander Classic and Expedition videos on this channel you hopefully will find useful. I’ve created two playlists, one for each model. Enjoy 👍🏻

James Bowie Thanks James. Yes I’ll have a think about how to do it. Lots of variables and subjective. Need to figure out how to capture and present 🎥 👀

James Bowie New demo video loaded. Fourth in a series.

George Ruge Thanks George!

Radio Axe Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks Mark!

dheller777 perhaps check your connections and radials? Assuming it’s not stood right next to something which might interfere, there should be a low SWR to be found in all bands somewhere, once you’ve folded back and forth to find the dip? Keep at it, as I’m sure you’ll get sorted...

RolyRJ Sounds all very exotic Roly 🏝☀️I’ll keep my ears out for you! 👍🏻

charmanr 😆

Yes, angled down guys are the standard option and what I use portable when with the DX-C Expedition. My oldest videos those Alvin, so glad you’re finding them useful 👍🏻 Lots more since then 😀

Matthew C E Bamber Thanks Matt! Nice comment 👍🏻

MrBanzoid Thanks Malcolm! Well if any have been of help then that’s excellent 😀 I’ve got one more tweak for mine as I’ve laid my hands on a bit more D10 wire, so I can swap out my temporary brown/blue mains 80m wire for the pukka stuff 👍🏻 Enjoy your set-up! Ian.

Sorry Malcolm. Didn’t realise it was you! 😳

Ha ha if only Mark!

Chuck KK6USY I will try Chuck. Just need the stations and band conditions to play their part! I’m going to put up some info on SWR. Thanks.

Chuck KK6USY New demo video loaded. Fourth in a series.

You don't need to secure the base to anything, it just sits on the grass. I've had mine up for four months now and it has not budged.

Karl Krogmann Yes Karl. I found the short bit of pipe handy when the base and radials were free to move. It’s also something to aim at when dropping it onto the lawn and it holds onto the base when you’re connecting the guys. I’ve also noticed that once the top guys are secure, the bottom ones can be released if you need to move around the base a lot, but I need them attached initially to be able to connect the top ones to secure everything. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻 Ian.

The pipe is a safeguard against the base kicking out if it got really windy and the pole started moving a lot. It happened to mine! Personally, I'd have not used the bottom guys there so people could still walk around the garden.@@KarlKrogmann

No Andy. There are spare holes to use 👍🏻 Enjoy your DX-C 😀

Hi and thanks! I think it’s 40mm, but if I don’t forget I’ll pop and and measure later today 👍🏻

@@ianxfs Good morning Ian and thanks for taking time to reply… Thanks / Gerry

40mm 👍🏻

@@ianxfs Much appreciated Ian .. I locate some tomorrow morning and get it fitted - Appreciate your help.. Enjoy your day 73 - Gerry

daryll dmellow Thanks for the comment. I’ll see if I can video a good example and compare with my dipole. The DX Commander works great and you can usually see variations from stations via horizontal (dipole) and vertical (DX-C) polarisations. Sometimes one antenna works better. My most recent RX example was YC9ATS in Bali. No receive on dipole, could receive fine on DX-Commander. There’s so many variables! 73.

daryll dmellow New demo video loaded. Fourth in a series.

This is the Classic model Steve. I’ve also got the Expedition that I use portable 👍🏻

#SayNOtoKILO Hi, the pipe in the ground is 40mm black plastic waste pipe. Just 150mm sunk into the ground with about the same sticking up. The inside diameter of the pole at the base is around 45mm I think? Fits on the waste pipe nicely 👍🏻

Tim Odell Yes, I don’t think it matters too much. Off to one side would give you 180 degrees of radials and I think that would be fine. In a corner you’d be restricted to just 90 degree of ground-plane radials and that may have some impact? Of course, if you can get radials under your neighbour’s lawn then that would be brilliant! They genuinely disappear after a month or so, so something to consider perhaps... Have fun Tim 👍🏻

Yes I’m sure you’re right. Some black spray that sticks to the plastic would do the trick 👍🏻

Rashid Safin Yes. Big tree!!! 🌳

Kevin Shields Glad you’re getting sorted Kevin 😀 I’ll measure the pipe today and post on here again. There’s no issue connecting the coax centre connector to the driven plate. Ian.

The pipe is 40mm Kevin. If you measure the inside of the last section of the pole then as long as you choose a smaller size that has some wriggle room you’ll be fine. You want it just to drop on easy. Have fun!

All good Jon. No problems 👍🏻

Lester Morrow / W3LES Thanks again Lester. I’ve just uploaded a short video on achieving Top Band on the DX Commander. Enjoy 👍🏻

John Ratcliffe Ha Ha, nice one John 😀

Ian, I have been exchanging e-mails with Callum this week about buying a DX Commander. I've never built an antenna before; how straightforward did you find it? Is any soldering needed? Thanks so much!

Hi John. It’s very straightforward. I’d already built this classic model before I decided to make a KZfaq video, but if you look at the other videos on my channel, I show the full build of the Expedition, which is virtually the same process as the 6 band classic model shown here. The only soldering is the connectors onto the end of the 6 radiating wires and the bunches of ground-plane wires. If you print off Calum’s build instructions, they’re easy to follow, but read through before your start, so you’re familiar. I like to be shown as well as given instructions, hence these practical videos I’ve produced. Look at my Expedition series of videos and you’ll see how easy a build is. Have fun and if you get stuck, give me a shout! 73 Ian.

@@ianxfs Just returning to this comment Ian. I finally built mine last weekend; all good! I hope you're well, John 2E0SVB

@@johnratcliffe6438 Good one John! All well this end. Have fun! 😀

Ha ha. It’s not much bother. Only 5 mins 😀

@@ianxfs HOA