Survey of Less-Expensive Vertical Antennas (

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3 жыл бұрын

Oggie Mike, KB7HFS, asks for a recommendation for a new vertical antenna. He already has a radial field and a mount; his prior antenna was destroyed in a windstorm. He considers the Butternut HF-9V too expensive. We look on DXEngineering.com for less expensive antennas and also at the DX Commander.
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Пікірлер: 131

@johnnybigpotato2404 3 жыл бұрын

Some of you Colorado hams need to show some love and go over there and get Dave's DX Commander antenna up!

@JT-py9lv 3 жыл бұрын

Come on Big Spud... Just drive on over there and take care of it. :-)

@researchcapt 3 жыл бұрын

Agreed, let's give our guru a hand. If I were anywhere near I would.

@johnnybigpotato2404 3 жыл бұрын

@@JT-py9lv I have put up 3 folks antennas in the last 2 months. If I was closer it would be a done deal! ;)

@iaahner 3 жыл бұрын

I'm a little bit of a hike over here in Colorado Springs, but if you pick a weekend day I'm happy to drive out and lend a hand! Helping each other build and test is most of the fun in this hobby! 73, W0IAN

@beekeeper8474 3 жыл бұрын

I would no problem. I'd love to see that thing in action. I really been on the fence in getting one. My efhw been working well

@3dPrint_and_chill 3 жыл бұрын

DX Commander for the win !!!!

@3dPrint_and_chill 3 жыл бұрын

@Johnathan Aaron that's a phishing scam dude.

@philparrish6914 3 жыл бұрын

@Jakob Randy Oh, you know I'm checking that out right now! WHATEVER!!!

@miken8yo4 3 жыл бұрын

I'll put a plug in for the DXCommander, as well. I live in Michigan and have it installed permanently. One thing I'll mention is Callum is very flexible on specific orders. I say that because if you already have a radial field, there's a good likelihood you could get it even cheaper than the standard classic package since you don't need as much of the D10 wire.

@michaelpowell782 3 жыл бұрын

Great video Dave. I vote for DX Commander classic. I made a multiband vertical based on DX Commander (Callum McCormick) design, docs, and videos using 10m of a 12m Spiderbeam fiberglass mast. Made the radial and element plates from 1/8" thick aluminum plate, and spreader plates from 3/8" plastic. I have it strung for 80m-10m. Installed 32 x 16.5' radials and 8 x 33" radials. Was fun to make and works very well. My 80m element goes up the mast through spreaders then nearly vertical up a near by pine tree. Very robust in Montana winter storms.

@patrickslevin6424 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video Dave. From my experience and that of a few other hams we've seen fantastic performance with the Hustler 5BTV antenna. I get better than excellent signal reports from stations all over the country and some DX stations. We've been very surprised at how well these antenna's play and mine has no ground radials.

@robbcrm1142 Жыл бұрын

Verrry helpful, thank you!!

@penzman 3 жыл бұрын

I went for the 6BTV recently, assembled in 2 sections for now, waiting for the tilt base to be delivered on Wednesday.

@happyhome41 Жыл бұрын

You mentioned at the beginning of the presentation how it would be nice to select for on/off radials. YES ! And was listening -- though you were answering someone who has an existing radial field. Would love to have a similar fly-on-the-wall search for "radial-less" antenna.

@AAABTonto 3 жыл бұрын

ZeroFive Antennas has a number of quality products as well ... love mine: 27' HOA 10 - 40, needs radials, easy tilt-over, in the price range :) Thanks Dave, hope you're on the mend, 73

@jimgiordano8218 3 жыл бұрын

I had the 14AVQ back in 1971 and I had good luck with it. At that time there was an optional 80m coil that I added. I have noticed that option is not available or I was not able to find it, I guess because they came out with the 18AVQ. I had mine mounted on top of a 50 foot pole tower with no radials with improved performance over my ground mount. I was living on Long Island at the time and the house was in surrounded by hills so raising it helped a lot.

@billseward2274 3 жыл бұрын

Good episode, and timely for me. I currently have a DX Commander. It’s my first HF antenna. The thing is dang near a miracle in terms of price/performance ratio. I’ve worked the entire world with FT4 and FT8, and North America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe on SSB. That said, let me give you some of the downsides. It really is “the kit”. It’s a pile of parts to assemble. It’s not a bad job, but it takes time. You’ll likely find yourself making some on-the-fly changes to the design, Expect to get part way through the process and then take it all apart to change something. I did that twice. It is not really meant for permanent use. It’s made from lightweight materials, and that shows in durability. I put mine in June 2020 just in time for Field Day, and found in January 2021 that it has split the fiberglass extension pole. I suspect water got in and froze. I had taken pains to make sure that couldn’t happen, but it still did. I’m considering whether to get a new pole or build my own based on the original, but using much heavier materials. It can be a handful to tune. Start with the longest band and work your way down. If you put in the 80 M element, it will be narrow, but you can bias it to the part of the band you want. I have never been successful in getting 10 M to tune. Other bands tune pretty well, but it was a long process with just one person. Build it and tune it at the feed point, the. Tune it again from right at the radio. Be prepared to take it up and down a lot. You may find your trim lengths radically different from Callum’s suggestions-I did. There is a Facebook group that is very supportive for owners. It’s been a great antenna, and for the price I will recommend it heartily. 73 de W4EXT

@axandio 2 жыл бұрын

If you think about it, every antenna is really a kit. They sure don't come in one piece and fully installed.

@BryanTorok 2 жыл бұрын

@@axandio That is true, but there are antenna's that one assembles per the instructions, everything fits, and with no adjustments have low SWR and good performance. There are others that require lots of time messing with to get them together and more time adjusting to get low SWR and decent performance.

@fosteral1957 3 жыл бұрын

Dave, I put up the Hustler BTV-5 with 20 ground radials. Feeding it with a Kenwood Ts-440S barefoot. It is working great from Indiana, 73’s N8oYZ, Al

@eknaap8800 3 жыл бұрын

I work with the Diamond CP5HS for a few years now and it's working great. The traps are located in the radials, so tuning is very easy. This Diamond is also a high power which is 500W on 10, 400W on 20 and 200W on 40. The nice thing about it is that one can put the radials to one side to give it a somewhat directional use. As with any trapped antenna, this has a limited bandwith. I use this antenna in combination with a EFHW antenna, which also covers the 80M band. Greetings from the Netherlands, PD0PSX

@viknumbers701 3 жыл бұрын

Nice presentation. Verticals with radials are wonderful. If radials are impractical then slightly elevated tuned counterpoise running along a wooden fence will work OK. Verticals tend to be noise magnets in the city.

@jameslouis2240 3 жыл бұрын

Zero-5 groundplane vertical....Extremely well made, and excellent performance

@shandybrandy5407 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Daves for enlightening on the various HF antennas. Pray that your ankle heals up soon and wish you a good health. Greetings from B'lore, India. VU3TQT V

@barryf5479 3 жыл бұрын

I was going to write my recommendations as a comment and they're the same as yours. Also, my first antenna was a 14AVQ and I took it apart and reinstalled it at three locations. In my case, I roof mounted it with radials. I finally had to buy a second one on the last move because it was corroded together and the plastic caps got brittle and cracked so now, I have a new 14AVQ up on the roof again. The old one lasted near 30 years. I also like the Hustler 5BTV antennas. They are well built. The 80 meter resonator is base loaded mobile antenna though. Oddly enough, we're currently experiencing about 40 MPH winds tonight and "so far, so good" with the Hy Gain antenna (I've never had one damaged by wind yet). One way I got on 80/75 meters was to supplement the 14AVQ with a Hy Gain 18V antenna which is pretty simple and inexpensive. It has a loading coil at its base that you mechanically tap to.

@Addly82 3 жыл бұрын

I would also recommend the 43' vertical from Zerofive Antennas, its just over $400, you do need 100-150 ft of RG213 that is used as part of the matching circuit and you need a tuner in the shack, but gives you 160-10.

@mjjohnson6302 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Dave, My first antenna was also a 14AVQ back in 1962 when I got my novice. Served me well. MJ AB0HJ

@davidleonard1540 3 жыл бұрын

I am on my second Hustler 4-BTV with 24 radials, (Moved around a lot). Works great from VA to Europe and the west coast SSB, Worldwide on digital. Be warned though, like most verticals, it picks up all the suburban noise.

@ReedAB8AS 3 жыл бұрын

The DX Commander is a great antenna as we all know just remember some stateside dealers offer free shipping where as $$ from the UK. I think the Classic is the best choice. 73 Dave and thanks again.

@k2cjbradio 3 жыл бұрын

I had a 14AVQ years ago. Worked like a champ mounted on the roof with 2 radials per band. 73 de K2CJB

@c.j.kellysr.9681 3 жыл бұрын

I have the zero five 43 feet with 4,250 of # 14 copper ground wire. Works great it all directions. Hears much better for DX then the full wave loop on 40 meter.

@tglenn3121 3 жыл бұрын

I have a Diamond BB7V, which, I think runs around $400. I've owned it about 12 years and it performs well. It is also very sturdy. It has survived very strong wind storms and stays upright. I've been pretty happy with it. It doesn't have radials, but it does have a matching transformer at the base. It's also very easy to put together. It's just a telescopic antenna with locking joints (but do require screws to hold the sections in place).

@OzzieKev 2 жыл бұрын

I have the same antenna. With my MFJ auto tuner it cover 160 to 10 metres. Best distance so far is 16000 kilometres on FT-8.

@davidarnholt2930 3 жыл бұрын

I'd like to suggest putting up phased verticals. While in Germany, stationed there for nearly 10 years I did not have room for a beam and all the guy wires and rotator cabels but I did have 33' which is very nice spacing for verticals with coverage for 80 - 10. There are several books available for phasing patterns so I won't get into that. One other thing to bring up, if you are going to be "dxing" with a pair of verticals you can hear a signal, switch the pattern to get your gain and cut out qrm, work the station, turn back and grab a nap while the rotator swings to the area you initially copied it. You don't have as much speed but the convenience more than makes up for that.

@Lugeix 2 жыл бұрын

The M0MCX commander reminds me of an antenna I built back in the 80's. I got the design from a magazine. cannot remember if it was 73, CQ, or ham radio. It is made of 1/2-inch EMT and 4-inch PVC pipe and heavy chain link fence wire for a capacity hats. It covered 6 bands. I've been looking for that article so I can rebuild it.

@banihex 3 жыл бұрын

I just bought a vertical last summer, and my choice was narrowed down to the DX commander and the 6BTV. I ultimately went with the DX Commander because it gave me more bands and it was actually a bit cheaper all in. I do have to be mindful of snow/ice, so I just put it down this evening with a snow storm. But it’s been fine with wind (for the most part lol) Also, I know if something goes wrong or I need a part, I can just email Callum and he will help out right away. For instance, if I break my mast I can just by a new one (it would not wreck the whole setup).

@banihex 3 жыл бұрын

I also need to say, I’ve left mine up 24 hours a days since September. Callum doesn’t sell them as permanent set ups. I’m 34 so I’m fine fiddling with it and laying it down in icy weather. That is probably something I wouldn’t want to do if I was older. I want to come up with a more permanent way to keep the DX Commander up. But I’m kind of lazy and it just stays up!

@alexalonso2093 3 жыл бұрын

Iam soldDX Comander 7 3

@thomasstandley6309 3 жыл бұрын

@@banihex I've also found that mine is pretty durable. I live on the South Texas Gulf Coast and it has done very well in some stiff 45 mph plus winds and salt air (I obviously would NOT leave it up in a hurricane). If you bury some PVC pipe, leaving a few feet above ground, and pop the center off the mast's bottom cap over the pipe it becomes largely self-stayed and the bottom will not move after placing the bottom of the antenna into the PVC pipe. You can put a fence post over the PVC pipe if you want something really stout. I also have mine clamped to a six foot wooden fence with PVC clamps.

@banihex 3 жыл бұрын

@@thomasstandley6309 thanks! Yes, I’ve seen elsewhere someone mention the pvc pipe in the ground. A concern was the pressure point in the mast. Have you tried this? I’m wondering what you mean by fence post over the PVC pipe. Around here (md) what comes to mind is a 4 by 4 post. It also seems like U bolts to a fence post would be great, but the radial plate and some elements would be in the way.

@billtheslink4541 3 жыл бұрын

Go for the DX Commander. I home built a version based on the principle at my camp for 30-10 and it works well. I am going to get the actual thing for the home. I had the Butternut back in the 90s and can say in my opinion your not missing a thing. I got it used from a Senior Citizen ham and it had all the options including 160. Maybe I should have refurbished it or something but it was awful. It wasn't just my location or soil either as my club tried to use it a couple of times portable. I sold it for scrap at the junk yard.

@stridermt2k 3 жыл бұрын

A very interesting stuff! Thanks!

@joewilson2258 3 жыл бұрын

The least expensive vertical antenna is the one you build for yourself .

@americaswayout4489 3 жыл бұрын

Joe, I will post this again: If you have a shop full of many kinds of tools, know how to use all those tools, drills, saws, drill presses, and many others, you can build your version of a fan vertical. Finding the parts the size needed, cutting the spreaders, gound radial-mount, the driven element mounts the right size and length poles, the list just keeps going, you can then build your own or you can benefit from years of upgrades, retoolings and having ALL the parts that have been proven to fit, work and if needed replaced the various DX Commander kits can be a great one-stop-shop to build something you can have pride in having built it.I seriously doubt you can gather up the parts, ALL the parts for any less money than Cal can get one to you, almost anywhere in the world.

@wb6csh 3 жыл бұрын

Joe Wilson - appliance operators can NOT build antennas! This is the one area in amateur radio that the home brewer can really get more bang for his buck and learn something.

@pigeonsniper667 Жыл бұрын

You can add 12 and 17 to all the BTV antennas from Hustler with a kit or by using Hustler Mobile resonators. Makes a nice antenna for 40 and up.

@JennyEverywhere 3 жыл бұрын

If you have or can install a radial field, DX Commander is what I'd get. But since I didn't want to do that, I got a Comet CHA-250B, and I'm very happy with it. It has most bands resonant (well, it doesn't require a tuner) and can tune others with a good tuner. I have it up about 20 feet, and it's a solid performer for me. Costs about $380. I got mine from HRO, not DX Engineering. The only downside is it's only 250 watts SSB. Gigaparts also carries it.

@thomasstandley6309 3 жыл бұрын

I own the DX Commander and used Callum's alternative approach of adding 80 meters in lieu of 30 meters by making it into an inverted L. It doesn't get all of 75/80 (no surprise given the size of the band) but I suspect it gets a bigger chunk than some of the other trapped antennas. The guy asking the question might not have enough room to use the alternative setup for 75/80 but it does work. The other plus over the competitors is that 17 meters is included and I personally find that very useful. I'd also note that if you're putting up the antenna by yourself the DX Commander is pretty easy to handle. Callum's instruction manual, however, could use some work. -Tom. NK5J.

@198xassasin 3 жыл бұрын

Callum not Colin, But I can't wait to get a dxc myself

@thomasstandley6309 3 жыл бұрын

@@198xassasin You're absolutely right. I corrected it. I should not write comments after midnight.

@sm3ttz 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice walk-through David! I have constructed my own fanned-vertical on a fibre-glass flagpole of 12 meter. This summer I will put up verticals for 20 and 40 and an inverted L for 80m. Lots of radials in the lawn.

@lindaitken3321 2 жыл бұрын

I have had a ground mounted Hustler 6BTV with twenty 25ft radials up for the last 14 years an must say that I am quite pleased with it. However, due to some recent work near the antenna, it had to be gotten out of the way. While it was down I noticed that the caps on the traps were all cracked and the covering on the 80 meter coil had shrunk and the ends of the coil were exposed. Perhaps 14 years with no maintenance would make this something to be expected. After the work was done, I put the antenna back up and it seems to work just fine. When I first got the antenna, I was warned that even though it supposed to be free standing I should guy it because the 80 meter coil was fairly large and in a wind could start the antenna swinging wildly. So I used guys. The antenna is located in a wooded section of my lot and the trees, by comparison to the height of the antenna, appear to be in excess of 50 ft tall. This past weekend, during a storm, a large branch broke off from high up and hit one of the guys. The antenna is now at about a 75 or 80 degree angle rather than 90 and there is a pronounced bend at the top of the 80 meter coil. I wanted to check it out before the weekend slow speed CW round table that I run on 80 m so I got on and called CQ on 80. Had two very nice contacts. The antenna still seems to be doing very nicely in spite of the wear and tear of the elements and the assault by one of the trees. Do I want to replace it? Hmm. While the antenna is easy to erect by an individual it still needs to be adjusted for the desired frequencies. These adjustments are not difficult (especially if you have the tilt-over mount), but I'm not as attentive to details as I used to be, so I think I'll keep using it as is and only replace it if it gives up the ghost completely. It's a good vertical antenna.

@jameski5oeb668 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the video. I’m rewatching this one, making research decisions…

@allenmiddendorff2068 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, looking for a HF vertical for on a tower.

@banihex 3 жыл бұрын

I will also comment for those concerned about radials. It’s really not a big deal. I never even staples to let grass grow over it. It takes less than a minute to coil them up at the base, drive the mower around, and then a couple minutes putting them back out. Also good chance to regularly inspect.

@James_Bowie 3 жыл бұрын

Bear in mind that the DX Commander Classic, which is based on a telescoping squid pole, was designed to be a take it with you antenna, not a permanently-installed antenna. Some people have left them up out in the elements but that is not its original purpose.

@A.R.O.T.A. 3 жыл бұрын

The DX Commander classic 40m-10 also resonates on 6m 4m 2m & 70cm. also there are ways of getting 80m 1) replacing the 30m element with 80m in an inverted L configuration. 2) Loading coils like "ZL1BQD Roly's coil" and "Mike M0MSN"made a loading coil that could be adjusted to add 80m & 160m. The only sticking point for some may be the height of the pole (10m/about 33ft). Also this is a self build while Callum does provide everything you will need (not tools) you will need to measure and tune the wire yourself and in the process may even learn something from it.

@DixieGeek 3 жыл бұрын

I can recommend the AV-18VS with an LDG RT-100 remote tuner. In the last 60 days, I've worked have 1200+ contacts, 950+ confirmed and 58 countries (50 confirmed). It's 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m. With the tuner I've worked 30m, 17m and 12m as well. All my contacts are less than 100 watts. It's only 18 ft. tall and lightweight, so one person can easily handle it when needed. I have 41 radials, not all the same length and not all in a straight line from the antenna base. For a vertical, its not a bad performer.

@americaswayout4489 3 жыл бұрын

The Gap verticals are also still available? The DX Commander not having coils, or other gimmicks to load in my view will be the most efficient. As most already know some folks are adding a coil and use it on 75 and even 160 so the ability to get a well thought out kit, a good price, and still be able to experiment is all there. The wheel already rolls well, but the DX Commander will let your desire to make something with that satisfaction of doing it yourself. The best buy in the hobby, in my view? The 14AVQ is very easy to assemble so might work well for some?

@dougtaylor7724 3 жыл бұрын

Dave, you gotta do something with that lock down hair.

@levi2bear 3 жыл бұрын

Your getting more subscribers because you do a great job

@jimfosterwv8jhf 3 жыл бұрын

Have the av680 from hygain did not have the space for radials and what a good antenna. Assembly is a little tasking with all the poles and nuts and bolts but had it done in an afternoon. Be sure to inventory I was missing the plastic base called and got it shipped. Up about 14 ft and performs well. 73s Dave hope you heal quickly. Jim wv8jhf

@9999plato 2 жыл бұрын

Half wave end fed, done, simple.

@johnwest7993 2 жыл бұрын

I note that none of those antennas are rated for the winds here, (ad0wo, in Boulder, CO) so I just set up a SOTA or POTA style vertical on occasion. The best part is that the antenna costs next to nothing.

@ehayes5217 3 жыл бұрын

What abt ZeroFive verticals?

@donalfinn4205 Жыл бұрын

All antennas should be visible Dave!

@mikeoswald8053 3 жыл бұрын

Mike KB7HFS-Wow! It is so hard to pick the right antenna when there is so much candy in the candy store. Will look also at the DX Commander. Thank you- thank you for the reply. "You da Man!". 73

@researchcapt 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Dave, I am also looking for a relatively inexpensive mult-band vertical antenna. This information is perfect. Thanks so much for doing this video. Much appreciated. I just got my call sign. I am now KO4KYI. Near Knoxville. I just had a great idea for antenna masts, flag poles. I have seen some (supposedly) self-supporting aluminum ones up to 30 feet in the lower $100 range. One may want to create stays (what holds a boats mast up) for them anyway just so they are more resistant to falling down. 73!

@paulshaffer9674 3 жыл бұрын

I started off with a CB half wave with a manual antenna tuner on my FT 450D and I was able to use 6 meters thru 160 meters. I got the antenna from England for just over $ 50.00. I was able to work Russia with it. KG7IRJ Ohio Extra.

@dadteaches 3 жыл бұрын

dx commander is a good antenna.

@tonybutler3502 3 жыл бұрын

The Butternut will give better performance even though it is the toughest to set up, with an SWR analyzer its a snip. You use more of the aerial on 20M and 30 , 15 and 10 Metres which helps. I had a Butternut and a Cushcraft vertical, in snow the Cushcraft traps were clear of snow... melted the snow, the coils on the Butternut still had snow on them... less power wasted. The DX Commander uses 1/4 waves on each band, the Butternut uses extended length on 20M to give higher radiation resistance and thus more power out to the ionosphere. The entire antenna is used on 10 M. Very small traps with thin wire means higher loss so avoid. Tony G3ZRJ 30 years experience with Butternuts and several other verticals.

@francismcclaughry3794 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know if you mentioned the butter nut vertical one I hope to see an answer on here some day. I'm an older ham and it is hard to get these antenna up on a tower. so i wounder if you would recommend the ten feet height if where you got to put it is not over a hundred feet from the house to mount it. I have it laying in my hall way and my sweet one told me that I had better get it up before I die.

@wb2dx717 2 жыл бұрын

i have a dap titan dx 80 to 6 mtr vertical under 500 dollars. low swr on all bands , no ground radials and no traps a great preforming antenna

@Brenda-jf2pe 2 жыл бұрын

Did you ever test the Sigma Comm 360 HF vertical?

@butterbean4195 3 жыл бұрын

im a hustler guy my 6mtv survived Kuwait for 3 years with sand storms etc and Iraq for a years, has a little bend at the base due to a tornado that took down a tower of mine it still talking fine just had to get new trap caps due to high heat and super dry weather in Kuwait i just wrapped them with flexible A/C tape and got another 4 years so far. i have radials here at home in America and they are on my roof ii cant have radials. But over in the sand box i never had radials and it worked awesome, worked many pile-ups from 9k2 and yi9

@donalfinn4205 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent.👍☘️

@rickeaston3228 2 жыл бұрын

When a vertical is the only antenna to be used, the best one in my opinion is a half wave wire fed with a remote tuner.instead of a efhw transformer. No radials are needed, tuner has lower losses than that transformer. I am using exactly this kind of system and it works excellent at low power and at 1500 watts. BTW, the wire can be zig zagged around your property and will work.

@davecasler 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, but make sure the tuner is very well grounded at the antenna base.

@donalddavis581 3 жыл бұрын

a vertical no one ever seems to want to consider... is a Gap challenger DX.. maybe not in the price range but a great performer! Only requires (3) 25' long radials. More is not recommended. My first one lasted 17 years and went thru a near miss tornado...un-guyed! I will let you look at my logbook any time. Very few US callsigns. Most are DX!

@paulhastings3109 3 жыл бұрын

Get well soon want to hear about the DX COMMANDER. it is nice to have an antenna that is Resident. 73

@richerich853 2 жыл бұрын

Dave If I were to decide on one that needs to be mounted 10' above the ground, would it be possible to mount it at the top of my 45' tower? Is that a good idea or not?

@arthurcalhoun7954 3 жыл бұрын

zero five 33 foot vertical $399.

@PinkyH-ox2qc Жыл бұрын

Just now checked the price on the Hy-Gain DX-77A to check inflation; the price is up 20% since this video was made! Ouch!

@Screamingtut 3 жыл бұрын

Dave a Diamond BB7V!!! no radials needed

@misturchips 3 жыл бұрын

Since he already has a radial field, why not use an SGC Smartuner and the remains of the old vertical (Strip all the 'junk' off, use the base insulator, and attach as much of a vertical as you can!) to get 160-10 w/ 200W max? People often forget about using remote couplers, and how AWESOME they are!

@davecasler 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, they work fine.

@wileytraylor5404 3 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know the approximate shipping cost from England for the DX. Commander? Has the new administration added any tariffs on foreign goods that would add to the cost of this antenna from England?

@kingduckford 3 жыл бұрын

What effect do the traps have on the antenna and its performance?

@forgetyourlife 3 жыл бұрын

They add losses.

@hamradio1017 3 жыл бұрын

I've been thinking about a vertical. Right now, I have a wire. I been debating between what David was showing on DX Engineering or a DXC. I am on 80m all the time for a WAS net, so for me, 80 is important. My only worry about the DXC is MN winters where the others are designed to be permanent. Thoughts?

@hamradio1017 3 жыл бұрын

Technically 75m I guess.

@indridcold8433 3 жыл бұрын

The cheapest vertical antenna is the one you cut from an old car radio antenna, a vertical piece of rod, an old copper tube, or a cable inside a piece of pvc. The junk I operate is a vertical dipole at 523¼ centimeters (206 inches), a J-pole 49 centimeter (19.25 inch) and 16.5 centimeter ( 6.5 inch) junk cut from a car radio antenna and an old walkie talkie antenna. The all band listening antenna is an antique television yagi antenna. One can enjoy the radio with nothing but junk. Do not expect the results of a premium antenna. But they work.

@aarongraham6056 3 жыл бұрын

David I just moved to western Nebraska what type of antenna would you suggest for HF that can handle the winds here so far the highest was 64 MPH winds. I'm still new with HF. Aaron Graham KG6TVT

@thomasmanson1119 2 жыл бұрын

Dave, in elevating the base of an antenna above the ground, in this case you mention chain link top rail (generally a mild steel). Why not use plastic pipe for the elevating element? Does it have to do with grounding or lightning mitigation? 73 de Tom KC3QAC

@paulaubuchon2336 3 жыл бұрын

What do think of comet 250B or the Diamond BB7V....I have NO WAY for radials HOA lock.. Paul K1YOU

@eddy2561 3 жыл бұрын

Good stuff Dave! Given the BS on 80 meters these days I've stopped looking for signals on 75/80 so for me it's 40 meters and up. My Buddistick 40-6 meter vertical, while a pain to tune up, has provided some nice DX and I look forward to Cycle 25 - probably my last sunspot cycle .... 73/k6sdw

@forgetyourlife 3 жыл бұрын

80 meters is great, hate to see you go.

@rongibbons2752 3 жыл бұрын

Any recommendations on a Discone antenna for 10 - 20 meters?

@davecasler 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know of any HF discone manufacturers. You could make it yourself but it would be a pretty major project.

@BartVanAllen 3 жыл бұрын

Traps have a detrimental power absorption effect that can be very noticeable with many traps (5btv, 6btv etc) the worse. But then, who can put up an 80 meter vertical without traps or an "L" configuration? Not many - and there are many of us that cannot put in a proper ground field, so the best verticals are not going to work well. The trap-less and more expensive R9/AV680/GAP type would work, but then the expense is a major component of that choice. In KB7HFS' circumstance, the DX Commander seems the best way to go, but not mine. No room for a proper ground plane, and my 5BTV power absorption is very noticeable, so my bent at three corners 80m OCF works the best. Thinking of the AV-680 or GAP Titan DX to replace the ancient HyGain 5btv but who knows at this point.

@nightwaves3203 3 жыл бұрын

You can make a butternut using 8ga aluminum wire formed by using an oatmeal can. Caps and clamps as appropriate. Never believe any company that says you don't need radials. A wet noodle at times is close enough for an antenna but for real DX have radials.

@paulkish007 3 жыл бұрын

David you are once again the cat's meow! 73's from kn4qwo

@rongibbons2752 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Dave. Thank you for the information / education you provide. I have been involved in electronics all of my 84 years, learning first from 4 years in the Air Force maintaining VHF/UHF air / ground rigs. Later with 10kw Troposcatter site construction. However, I just took a Technician certificate and am looking at General soon. We live in a Mobile Home, with HOA rules. They allowed me to put up a Discone antenna about 25' up, connected with 40' of RG240 coax for my HT. The question is, when I pass the test for General, what do I do for an antenna? I am thinking about a ubitx v6.1 transceiver. Can I string a wire along the outside of the house eaves to use on 20 / 40 meters? I doubt the HOA will allow any tall dipole antenna. Any and all suggestions welcomed! 73 Ron KN6KKD

@kerbsidemotors9249 3 жыл бұрын

Buy the hustler as most robust and less messing about

@ErnestGWilsonII 3 жыл бұрын

Dave, if additional funds are possible, would you recommend the butternut hf9v? I remember you did another video saying you have that antenna, after all these years would you still recommend that antenna? 73 W3GUY

@davecasler 3 жыл бұрын

I did have that antenna and with a large radial field it performs well. But it's a stinker to tune. It got so old I was dealing with metal fatigue, so I took it down and replaced it with a SteppIR BigIR.

@webmastercaribou7570 3 жыл бұрын

What, no Gap Eagle vertical? No tuning and no radials needed.

@Bazerkly 3 жыл бұрын

73's W6IQ

@danyoungs4061 3 жыл бұрын

I have a 24x40 metal shop. Would it make sense to mount a antenna to the gable end or peak. Would the metal roof act like the radials ?

@davecasler 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, and maybe. If the metal panels are carefully connected to each other electrically, it would act as a nice radial field. In practice, however, these panels have only intermittent electrical contact. I would put the antenna up in the center of the roof and then string out 12 or 15 random length radials (to the edge of the roof)

@LawyerCalhoun1 3 жыл бұрын

Gotham vertical of the 1960s. None finer.

@richardnalisnick462 3 жыл бұрын

Father kissing my home brew vertical to a storm. I Got the MFJ 1793. I is a 1/4 rawaveon 20m covers entire band 1/4 wave on 40m covered entire band and also works on 15m. It is too loaded on 75/80 m covers 75khz. Tune able cap hat.10 m can be added just adding another element in the other side of the 20m at base of antenna. Works great and no Tuner neded. It is 36 feet tall and needs guyed.

@richardnalisnick462 3 жыл бұрын

The spell check next this up. It said afther looking my home made veritcal. W3AMT

@josephgomes8543 Жыл бұрын

The DX commander is an even better ddeal now aas thee pound is closer to the Dollar these days. As of this date 7/31/22 the pound is 1.22 , so only .22 cents more per dollar

@garrysekelli6776 3 жыл бұрын

I want 160 metres. 80 isnt big enough.

@jeromegrzelak8236 2 жыл бұрын

R THESE ANTENNAS MADE OF GOLD ??

@jimcoulter5877 Жыл бұрын

Most are just too Expensive now that puts them out of my choice now. Performance wise I do not think they are worth all that money.

@kerbsidemotors9249 2 жыл бұрын

DX commander great field day, useless in wind vortex shear as poles fail- Cobweb better

@JxH Жыл бұрын

7:30 "...both of which are made by MFJ." Yuck. There's a spectrum from 'Quality Assurance' all the way down to 'Makes F'n Junk'. Might as well set fire to your money. This opinion is based on first hand experience (multiple cases of shoddy design and build), plenty of negative reviews, and a Company Tour video showing circuit boards coming off the wave solder machine and plopping into a bin (thus presumably assuring a 5% failure rate from broken components).

@bobhawkins2997 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos. Tired of your bumper music ;)

@davecasler Жыл бұрын

My wife doesn’t like it either.

@kerbsidemotors9249 2 жыл бұрын

Cp-5 and cp6 are rubbish and fall to pieces, capacity hat and ultra sharp tuning

@CenturyofTerror 3 жыл бұрын

6btv is the worst thing I ever bought. . Traps are for mice The 80 meter section is a freaking mobile resonator. Please don't waste your money on this garbage antenna.

@patriot9455 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if the U.S. population is looking to get news from the source, and friends that are not "WOKE"

@fredbissnette3104 2 жыл бұрын

i have a piece of bailing wire mounted to 17 foot wooden mast cut for 20m and 16 radials cut for a 1/4 wave it cost me about 20 dollars and with 100 watts I'm working lots of dx and getting tons of 59s. ve1qfa, also any vertical will benefit from radials , 16 radials will get you on the air in fine style.