DX Commander Signature 9 - Build Video & First Impressions - Irish Ham Radio

[@Roddy1965]

Appreciate the comments on first impressions vs real review. Nothing worse than folks dropping reviews that say " fine product, haven't used it yet, but it looks great!" Nollaig Shona!

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@Roddy1965 Thanks Roddy 🎄 👌🏻

[@Kieran2i0idj]

A great review this Dave.. 👏

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@Kieran2i0idj Thanks Kieran 👌🏻

[@M0DCX]

Great video Dave, I too buried my radials and they have now been there 3yrs, great to see your setup.

[@IrishHamRadio]

Thanks Darren… 👌🏻 Yep it was definitely the way to go for my situation anyway… And once it’s done it’s done 😊

[@theradiorover]

Good work there Dave and well done on getting permission from the Mrs for that install.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@theradiorover permission pending…. 😝

[@theradiorover]

@IrishHamRadio better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@theradiorover basically my motto.. 😝

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fine build! Top Banana!!

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@DXCommanderHQ Cheers Callum 👌🏻

[@kenocon1]

well done Dave an excellent video, happy Christmas to you and yours from Florida

[@IrishHamRadio]

Thanks Ken! Happy Christmas 🎄 😊

[@M7EUP]

Great video Dave 👍🏼

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@M7EUP Thanks Matt 😊

[@jackK5FIT]

Your install is very much like what I did 3 years ago putting up the Classic with 80 meters. The only real difference is I guyed the Classic at the 2nd spreader plate to allow cutting grass under the guy. I had the same issues with the radials and basically the same solution. I cut the elements to the exact length (yes I used metric) shown in the instructions and they were perfect with the exception of 80 meterrs so I had to tune it several times to get it right. They are great antennas for DX. Thanks for the video. Look me up on QRZ.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@jackK5FIT Thanks Jack… Yep the cut chart is excellent. Mainly just had 40 to tune to be honest.

[@EI6DP]

Nice job Dave.

[@IrishHamRadio]

Thanks Ger!

[@MI7DJT]

Cheers Dave. Merry Christmas to you pal.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@MI7DJT Thanks Eamon & Happy Christmas 🎄

[@mrmyford]

excellent video, thanks for sharing, just bought a signature 9, looking forward to the build, 73s M1EMC

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@mrmyford Thanks Keith… They’re a great antenna… Perfect for what I need at my QTH 👌🏻

[@G5STU]

Fabulous video Dave !

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@G5STU thanks Stu 😊

[@Lennymc39]

Tidy setup Dave, I like the conduit idea to feed the coax V direct burying it.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@Lennymc39 Cheers Leonard 🤙🏻

[@m7trsradio]

Great video/build Dave. I really got the feeling of honesty while you buildt this antenna. I also really want a commander in my garden too. To be honest, I am so hung up, on having to bury the coax and the cost. I live in a rented place and can't do too much to the property. I currently have a efhw strung from the gutter over to a DX commander 10m mast then down at 45. I would love the commander antenna but would have to bury everything without too much damage. Where I am at is, if I buy the antenna new coax and bury everything is it going to be better than what I have at the moment. I am not tight with money just have to use it wisely. Looking forward to the review mate. Hope you and the family have a great Christmas 🎁 hope to catch you on the air. 73 from us 🕺🏽

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@m7trsradio Hi Lee, thank you for the kind words… Yep it’s a cool antenna and perfect for my situation… I’d say maybe if you do the same install as me with the mounting post and buried cable it would have little impact on the garden… If you have to move out, you could pull up the coax, pull the radials up by the base plate, and cut the mounting post just below ground level and cover it with soil. Only thing you’d have to replace for a reinstall would be the mounting post…. Just a thought 💭.. Happy Christmas to you and yours 🎄😊

[@brendadalybarnes7828]

👋

[@bwillan]

Don't worry about being pedantic, Callum went to great lengths to give precise cuts charts for the radiating elements. Seems too many people are trying to reinvent the wheel.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@bwillan 😊👌🏻

[@Ei2iP]

I'm not a fan of ground radials, just the hassle of maintenance, but I currently have an inverted L for 80M, no tuner on other bands, and although cheap works really well, plus no headache of worrying about winds... Enjoy your vertical Dave, Happy Christmas to you and your family.

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@Ei2iP Thanks Hugh.. That’s why I buried them. No maintenance once buried… I was constantly worried about the fan dipole with storms, whereas with this I just take it down and stow it within 5 minutes.. and same for redeploying.. Being on the Atlantic coast it’s handy to be able to do so. Happy Christmas! 🎄

[@M0RMY]

Well done Dave. Let us know if you had to add/cut much from the exact chart recommendations. I have made many DXC antennas and have never changed from the original cut chart (unless I wanted a different portion of a wide band eg very high 10m etc. Or if advising Americans who want above 7.200 on 40 etc.

[@IrishHamRadio]

Thanks Tom.... Yep most of them were fairly close from what I remember (I did it back in the autumn), but I did have to trim all of them somewhat, and had to trim 40m the most as it takes alot of trimming to effect the tune just a little. But to be honest I expected it and using tape it was easy enough just to untape, cut and retape a little at a time to get to the sweet spot for me. As it was my first, maybe there was something local to me I haven't noticed affecting the tune of the cut chart lengths, but either way its working nicely for me now.

[@petergough2635]

A good video with some excellent assembly tips. From a quality of product POV, for the amount this costs IMHO you should not be required to trim the parts to fit the pole. Maybe DX commander has a quality assurance issue? (Just my opinion as a retired mechanical engineer)

[@IrishHamRadio]

@@petergough2635 Hi Peter, Thank You 😊.. In my case it was the base plate the centre plastic spreader plate… I’d say as the plates are simpler to engineer uniformly, that the tolerance difference was probably in the manufacture of the pole. I had the tools to burr it out, so it didn’t slow down my build. I guess it is a “tip” to be aware of that burring may be required on the plates.