DX Commander Classic Assembly, Installation & Testing

Last fall I purchased a DX Commander Classic for use in Studio A. Then winter hit the Southern Idaho Command with a vengeance and soon the permafrost was upon me. Now, the snow is gone, its 65 degrees out and its time to build that DX Commander.
Show Notes:
Join Me every Monday at Noon Mountain Time (1800 UTC) for lunch & ham radio. I'll bring in short subjects that we can dive in and look at, you can bring up subjects to discuss. You can also join me as a guest on the show.
Join the show live : guest.ecamm.live/818a23d21
Wires X: KZbinrs 40448
FCS Reflector: KZbinrs 003/48

[@hamradiotube]

Welcome to the DX Commander community!!

[@jolebole-yt]

Nice antenna. I'm assembling mine today. Nice GS btw. I didn't know you had one :). All my friends got GS's, I'm the only one with a Multi lol.

[@g0fvt]

Very pleased with mine, still not got enough radials down but have had great results. Built as per the manual, have never felt inclined to seek the perfect match. Hope you enjoy yours, it is always useful to have a general purpose antenna with so many bands catered for.

[@threadripper979]

Bob, your new place looks badass. It's perfect for your outdoors/ham lifestyle.

[@thormusique]

Really excellent video, cheers!

[@DK5ONV]

Hey Bob you did a great job assemble everything to make it work. No hurries! Good things might take some time longer to just work fine. Happy weekend & 73 de YFUG 💯🍻👍🙋‍♂

[@davidc5027]

Appreciate the show and tell. Ground mounted verticals are great for field day, and the higher bands 6-15 even in crowded neighborhoods. However, ground mounted verticals are susceptible to the fresnel zone due to the low radiation angle from 17-160 in busy neighborhoods. The Fresnel zone extends a couple of wavelengths out from the antenna, and any structures like trees, shrubs, houses, wiring in houses etc, will absorb the radiation from a ground mounted vertical. Don't get me wrong, not all the radiation, but what you will find is even low hanging dipoles from 20-160M will perform better than a ground mounted vertical in neighborhoods. For decades vertical antenna's were elevated well above the ground to avoid the objects in the Fresnel zone. Well, because it is easier to mount a vertical on the ground, it has become popular, and people wonder why they aren't getting the performance they expect on the lower bands OR they just may have never had a different antenna and do not know the difference which is fine. My recommendation is to get that vertical off the ground. After all, a vertical off the ground needs FAR Fewer radials, and due to the height will be less affected by the Fresnel zone in crowded neighborhoods. Lastly, I'm not anti-ground mounted vertical as I've made a couple of them, but it is helpful to know the positives and negatives to any antenna system. Height is might even for a vertical antenna.

[@mikehorvath4780]

I’ve used a DX Commander for several years. It’s weathered several wind storms with no problem. I usually double guy the antenna for insurance. For 80 meters, I run an inverted L into a nearby tree. 73 K7NFO

[@kevinmatthews2620]

i will add when i set mine up for a permanent install, i drove a length of r bar approx 30mm diameter and 5 feet long about 18 inches into the ground, and then over sleeved that with 2 slightly smaller diameter than the inside of the pole of pvc sink drain pipe, so they stopped short of the first joint on the pole, the reason for doing this is very simple i live VERY close to the sea and get lots of constant varaible multi directional winds, i anchored the end of my 80m inv L high up on the gable end of my house,and it never fell down, the guys do the trick, and for the record with my dx commander i scored No1 England in the first ww digi ft8 contest :)

[@PatAutrey]

The extra telescopic pole can also be used as a passive reflector just like on a YAGI antenna Which will increase your gain by about 3DB

[@sonarmb]

Bob goodness!!!! Great to see you back mate. excellent video. The bands are alive atm even 10M here in VK6land is going off like a frog in a sock. I am hearing all USA calls and all over VK. Hoping to get South America in the log soon. Im calling most mornings here on 10 hoping someone is awake up there but no takers so far ( Im +8UTC for info). I might try pm this arvo (Afternoon in Ozzie). 73 bloke.

[@edcozart9916]

Be careful if you used a metal pole in the ground to support the antenna if it goes far enough up the antenna it will suck all the RF to ground Callum found this out when testing his 12.4 . Only thing most people do is they don't show the end tune results anyway good video cheers 73's W9US

[@elsuperpollo2273]

Hope I get my ticket this third Sunday, hopefully I don't fail the technician exam again like last time I tired three years ago back missed it by three from getting a minimum. As soon as I pass my tech I'm turning around and studying for my general next following third Sunday then extra on another third Sunday. I'm making it my all to pass all three. I've been practicing cw with a practice oscillator consistently since I've failed the technician exam three years ago. Plan on sticking to QRP mainly

[@Fireguy-]

Did notice but didn't want to post that. :)

[@marklowe7431]

I visited the USA during winter. That extra poundage is a wise move. We don't get winters like that here in VK land. You guys are tough nuts.

[@Greg-zr4wm]

I've missed you lol KZbin hasn't been showing me your videos even when I had searched for them. But that could be a me thing

[@mewrongway]

Oh man Bob, To have to wait all winter to put up your DX Commander? Thats like Mom giving a 10 year old a bottle of pop then saying you have to save it till spring! Brutal!😕

[@rayhill7613]

Cool

[@jeff-73]

You might want to try the CW mode when you use the built in SWR meter. You were not putting audio through it when you were cycling through on regular SSB.

[@BobHolowenko]

Winter weight in a pandemic is no joke...I had to leave the house just to go buy new pants...

[@MaryBrownForFreedom]

Wonder how it would compare to my DX Engineering 43' base tuned(MFJ autotuner) vertical over the same radial field? Be an interesting test! I run a vertical because I have NO TREES that I can use for dipole support so guys, spare me the comments about it! Verticals are my only choice at the moment. When I get a third tower up way out back I am putting up an off center fed antenna. 2 Current towers are to close together for a wire plus one has my 2 meter eme array on it so no wires allowed above 15 feet, to easy to snag one with an antenna when elevated!

[@bubbajeph]

Is the Classic made with thicker fiberglass poles? My end fed has been impossible to tune. My remote tuner just is not doing it anymore.

[@AlvinMcManus]

The Daisy model 25 on the floor is a nice touch to the craftsman clutter decor scheme. Great video. I'm building one too starting next week, but I have no space like yours so I am working outside. Thank God for the fall-like weather here in this part of California. I'm old and really slow now, so it will take me several hours. I'll do the same, read, watch videos and read some more. What did you do for radials? Length and number that sort of thing. This should work really well with my 20watt G90. 73 KN6ZVI

[@K6UDA]

I think I did four sets of three radials nine ft each

[@andybonneau9209]

Nice antenna. Are you going to put an antenna analyzer on it? Do you have LED lighting in the garage? If you do, you'll have to change your shutter speed to get rid of the artifacts.

[@K6UDA]

I couldn't find my analyzer so I had to use the radio. I did find it later and hooked it up straight to the antenna. Less than 1.5 through most of the covered bands. & I haven't done the final trimming yet.

[@kellyklaask7su990]

Guy lines for "wind protection?" Are you kidding? We don't get no stinkin' wind around here!

[@joshuakg5ptt225]

A little off topic but I figure I'll ask anyway what type of Bluetooth do you use with your ft5dr? I could be mistaken but thought I saw you using a aftershockz headset in one of your 2019 ft3dr vidz just wondering if those headsets work for 5dr heard horrible stuff about the standard bt10 headset was wondering how you like the aftershockz if I'm not mis dis or mal remembering this event joking aside would love to hear back from ya!!.

[@K6UDA]

Actually, on the daily I don't use BT with my radios. I did use the aftershokz on the FT3 just to see if it could be done.

[@donausmus4281]

I was wondering how the Classic is handling the elements as a "permanent ". I know some of the parts like zip ties and tape don't do well. I'll probably cement a mounting pipe into the ground and transport back and forth from my RV barn.

[@K3JRZOnTheAir]

Nice nice antenna. I've only heard good things about any DX Commander antenna.

[@temporarilyoffline]

What with the current conflict on the other side of the world, I'm thinking of keeping my winter weight as a strategic reserve.

[@williambarrett70]

If I may ask: Where did you get your DX Commander? I mean, did you order from a US retailer, or direct from the UK?I want one! Thanks and 73, William Barrett/WW5MB

[@adat26]

You will have to order direct from DX Commander.

[@kenthufford743]

Now you can join us on the International DSTAR HF Voice net.

[@K6UDA]

I was listening this morning.

[@microminiskirt]

WHICH PART IDAHO WITH THAT KIND OF WEATHER?🤔

[@K6UDA]

Southern Idaho

[@microminiskirt]

@@K6UDA IT'S MORE COLD AND SNOW UP IN NORTH IDAHO.

[@N6YIC]

Where has Bob been? Its been a month since the last video.

[@garrettstephens91]

He's super busy with life.

[@revonexthifi6991]

4.Revonext HiFi Stereo Earbuds in ear monitor

[@eddiehatherall6257]

GW6BXU did you read the instructions LOL. Or watch his numerous videos?

[@RickPaquin-xg9hm]

The instructions are horrible. They should all be substituted with step by step photos to show each step.

[@twohandsandaradio]

"listening to 15 meters...the antenna isn't even cut for 15 meters"... not to mislead the viewers but you don't need an antenna cut to listen to anything. Hell my Tecsun PL-880 listens to 15 meters just fine. Got to watch those KZbin used car salesmen really close. SWR only counts when you transmit.

[@ooze9808]

Wow I love your channel very informative, but i gotta say the silicone sex dolls are a little weird...

[@cortiewiddowson6124]

pքɾօʍօʂʍ 😳

[@extreme978]

What the heck have you been eating in Idaho? Potato's? Beachballs? You have gained 100 pound. You better keep all those barbie dolls you play with. Thats the only neked chicks you'll be seeing now.

[@mikehorvath4780]

Follow up please! K7NFO