An interesting comparison, unusually I find my DXCommander considerably quieter than my ZS6BKW was but the vertical predictably does not do so well on short haul 40m work.
The DX Commander is aimed at getting you a low launch angle for TX. Even Callum uses a LOG antenna for receive. And don’t forget the dipole is directional so a station 90 degrees off from your received station in the video would most likely be subject to higher noise as the AGC lifts the signal up. I think other people have pointed out noise affects different antenna in different ways so it makes sense to have several in hand to switch through. Have you ever played around with a LOG (loop on the ground) antenna? It would be interesting to see a 3 antenna comparison. Using WSPR and FT8 to test. Obviously you can’t transmit on the LOG. 73 John
I have a Chameleon loop antenna that I have had much time to play around with. I am planning more antenna experiments soon. My neighbor cut down all his trees that I used as wire support so I am in the process of redoing my antennas. Then had a new fence put in and the fencing guys chopped through a coax line. 🤦♂️ I can’t wait to get back to experimenting. I also have a BuddiHex still in the box. 73
How can anyone be suprised that a 1/4 vertical is weaker than a low slung dipole for short haul contacts within the US. Now compare it with real DX of say 6000 miles+ and see how they compare.
DX Commander has a very high noise floor... It was amazing to watch the floor come up when you switched over.
Its good to have few different antenna, horizontal/vertical, so you can switch them around to find out what works best at time.
Verticals are usually noisier than horizontal antennas. Nice set up.
Yep, most man-made noise is vertically polarized and verticals are known to generally be noisier than horizontal antennas.
An interesting comparison, unusually I find my DXCommander considerably quieter than my ZS6BKW was but the vertical predictably does not do so well on short haul 40m work.
The DX Commander is aimed at getting you a low launch angle for TX. Even Callum uses a LOG antenna for receive. And don’t forget the dipole is directional so a station 90 degrees off from your received station in the video would most likely be subject to higher noise as the AGC lifts the signal up.
I think other people have pointed out noise affects different antenna in different ways so it makes sense to have several in hand to switch through.
Have you ever played around with a LOG (loop on the ground) antenna? It would be interesting to see a 3 antenna comparison. Using WSPR and FT8 to test. Obviously you can’t transmit on the LOG.
73
John
I have a Chameleon loop antenna that I have had much time to play around with. I am planning more antenna experiments soon. My neighbor cut down all his trees that I used as wire support so I am in the process of redoing my antennas. Then had a new fence put in and the fencing guys chopped through a coax line. 🤦♂️ I can’t wait to get back to experimenting. I also have a BuddiHex still in the box. 73
How can anyone be suprised that a 1/4 vertical is weaker than a low slung dipole for short haul contacts within the US. Now compare it with real DX of say 6000 miles+ and see how they compare.
wow fantastic antenna terrific 73 from kb2uew
I always tx on vertical ants and rx on dipoles. Verticals always pick up more noise. 73 zl3xdj
Truth ⬆️
Have you compared this antenna to efhw at same height above ground ?
I am going to test that soon and post a video on it. That will be interesting.
Do you need an external tuner for the zx6bkw?
Zs6bkw*
Not for 40-20-17 or 10. I can tune it up on 80 with the external tuner.
Very good
👍
🤘💯🎸🎸🎸🤘👍👍👍
interesting