DX Commander Classic Replaces my Zero Five HF Vertical Antenna | Fine Tuning my 80 meter Inverted L

[@g0fvt]

Good to see you not worrying so much about SWR, the inverted L does have a lower impedance than the other elements. I too have PVC pipe in my Classic, it supports it adequately while I am fitting the guys. 73

[@AlvinMcManus]

I did the same, pvc in a screw-in pole anchor base and 24" above grade. Does just what you said supports nicely until the guys are in. Genius system. de KN6ZVI

[@Jonshome337]

Hi Darren, UK Based here. DXC all the way. You need to tighten those elements the wire needs to be taught but not over tight. You wont find a better vertical Antenna I use the Roly coil for 80m and just swap the connection so it uses the 40m element. Lots about the Roly coil on KZbin. If you get your elements correct you don't need a tuner I have SWR

[@MrSportsphoto]

Great video, Darren. Thanks for adding!

[@AlvinMcManus]

You could use the nylon clamps for the pipe support as well. They are very sturdy. I also labeled the elements on each spreader and used zip ties as well. Great minds think alike. Also no need for clips or hardware with the stopper knot that Callum shows to use. Works better than the clips and less hardware is better. The use of the number beads keeps the elements instead of the color code system. Where I live the need for a choke and lightening arrestors is not as important, plus I do have a chock at the feedline end to my grounding plate before it enters the shack. You systems is very impressive. My 80 meter was okay as placed and well within the range of the tuner on the FT-710. Remember on the fold back you have to do 3x the cut amount.

[@edcozart9916]

I've got the 12.4 and the DXC is the best vertical hands down I only use a tuner for the upper FM section of 10M and the lower part of 80M everything else has a low SWR below 1.5 to 1 . if your happy with it then great but Callum has designed these antennas to be resonate on all bands great video have a good one de W9US

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Good to know that you prefer DXC than the 12.4. I sold my 12.4 before putting it up.

[@allandavis_AC4HI]

Another awesome video !

[@arthurgumbus3969]

Very nice video..... Glad to see the RF2K-S Amplifier transmatch could tame the 80M inverted L long wire. Pretty sweet, a great amp ed? Love mine. And nice job on the DX Commander refurb. I think I would "spread" your hefty ground cables around the grounding plate a tad, but keep a few on the same post as the grounding rods. A great job and the color coding is very handy. Darren, how close were the prescribed cut list lengths to resulting VSWR on each DX Commander band? It would be nice to see what the VSWR's came out to be on the Commander after the refurb. Keep up the good work... 73 Art W1SWL

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Very close with the other bands. I pretty much toned ro the center of the bands with the exception on 80m. I only talk with a group on 3.999 Mhz.

[@75ohmHAM]

So proud of you homie, take out the trash!

[@JohnTomlinson-g4x]

Hi Darren, I have 05 still new in the box which I have had for several years. Were you not happy with the performance of the 05 and is it very difficult to erect the 05? I have MS and can be difficult to do much as far as antenna installs. Thanks.

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@JohnTomlinson-g4x you will need a good foundation with a pipe in the ground. Then you out the antenna base to the pipe. It requires ground radials. Its rally easy to raise and lower maybe need a second help. I operate on 75 meter and it’s difficult to tune. Also a vertical antenna picks up a lot of power line RFI. DX Commander Classic is my all bander,

[@happyending486]

You ever use some doublet antenna Capt? I use that many years and work very well Galih de YC2VOC

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Not yet, I'll try it once I have my tower up.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

👍👍

[@Proc3000]

Why replace the zero five? Did you not like the performance?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I'm in the process in putting up a 35 feet Rohn 25g tower with a SteppIR Urbanbeam. I don't need the Zero Five 43' and put the DX Commander as a replacement.

[@Proc3000]

@@DarrenN4VFR oh nice I'm looking at the 30ft zero five flag pole.

[@9999plato]

A bug in your coffee will fu*k up the whole day!

[@JayN4GO]

Waiting to see that tower up soon 😂

[@pathdoc]

You should use NOALOX on aluminum-aluminum connections.

[@ICEDoTDK]

god job

[@mikegianfrancesco9431]

How much for the zero five

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Already sold.

[@szymonharasim2313]

How do these antennas compare in performance?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Both are about the same, due to the fact that I have powerline noise. They are vertically polarized. The DXC is more Resonant because of the fan dipole concept. The Zero Five has better DX performance. I do more rag chewing than DXing. If your on the fence for an antenna, I'd get the DXC. It was fun to build.

[@szymonharasim2313]

​@@DarrenN4VFR Thank you for the reply. That's exactly the answer I was looking for.

[@joehumet4634]

Why did you take down the Zero-Five?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I don't need it. I'm picking up too much RFI in this location. I will be using my 80m double bazooka and Urbanbeam.

[@snuffy19608]

Bugs are protein!

[@adamivanecky3907]

try this 7 and 1/2 feet then see what the swr is.

[@rayhill1855]

Hi Darren what are you going to be asking for the zero five 43' antenna. 73 KN6TUX in Oceanside Ca.

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I've already sold the Zero Five 43'.

[@mikeramsey9747]

Personally I think settling on 3.5 at the top end of 80 meters and relying on a tuner is a mistake. Of course you didn't show what your other bands worked out as so we don't have that information. But I think you could have got a much better SWR on 80 meters had you tweaked the antenna more.

[@michaelrichardson4884]

So the zero five is really the DX zero five and the DXC is really the rag chew C and we wonder why the general public don't really get AR!

[@michaelrichardson4884]

Umm did I understand it well

[@DarrenN4VFR]

My neighbor Mike used his DXC for rag chewing on 80m and also make DX Contact and spoke to Calum himself. Either way are good antennas.

[@michaelrichardson4884]

Darren many thanks for replying very kind of you - I was just being silly - I'm UK based it does look good the DXC so maybe I'll give it a try nothing to loose is there @@DarrenN4VFR