Final Push for the DX Commander Signature 9 Launch

[@ka4ezy]

Looks like you’ve got another winner there, Callum!

[@riaanzs1zarconradie291]

Hi Cal. If you are working the price lower, please take your time. Hard work is always rewarding. If you working the price up….. by hard work never killed anybody but please don’t take any changes 😂😂😂😂

[@jameski5oeb668]

I drilled out the DXC Classic plates to 3/8” from the Black Friday Sale. The TriWire works better through the larger hole. My antenna is portable not permanent, so it is required to chamfer as well. Thanks a million for the great product!

[@TFuzz58]

I‘be been talking to my wife about a HyGain vertical for a permanent base antenna and how my Classic spoils looking at anything else, so when I explained this one to her she suggested a location that would allow a good radial fan out in our yard. If I’m not mistaken, that’s permission. Hopefully it comes with the pole for ground insertion and you still have one to sell me by the time I get done work on Friday. Tim VE5THF

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good luck!

[@MattHeere]

This is fantastic stuff Cal. Excellent work as always my friend!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks again!

[@edcozart9916]

Keep cracking Callum you'll get it CHEERS from across the pond de W9US

[@markedmonds6765]

That really is a lovely spot for an antenna farm Bud.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, lucky bunny Mark!

[@thormusique]

Fantastic, Cal! I predict this will be a winner. I do plan to purchase your Signature 9 in the future but that likely won't be till April or May. Hopefully if the first 50 are gone by then, you'll be onto the next batch. Cheers!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, we currently have a stock of 500 with another 1,000 on order :)

[@thormusique]

@@DXCommanderHQ Oh, excellent! Cheers, Callum!

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Thanks for the update, been fun tracking the development of the Sig. 9

[@mauricethethespian8744]

Damn I want this antenna now. As mentioned on an email, I’m getting my ducks lined up to pull the trigger on this antenna Callum and go through you rather than a third party.

[@IrishHamRadio]

Very nice 👌🏻.. Thanks for sharing the steps of development 😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

My pleasure 😊

[@mikeramsey9747]

We are anxious for the release but willing to be patient for you to finish tweaking the antenna.

[@ths3900]

I love how you experiment

[@richardneel6953]

Cal! I saw the impedance creep thing on my classic this past weekend on 10m. Figured I'd just fouled something up and intended to troubleshoot it later. Only saw it on 10 and only when I run the amp! Could it be something similar to what you're describing here!?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You never know.. Never seen it before, ever.

[@ON3RVH]

Gonna be looking for the launch, eager to get my hands on one :)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Need to get this on the stub-mast later today with it's own small radial field - just like customers will have..!

[@miker7962]

Will the pole handle the extreme high ultraviolet rays we have here in Southwest Florida?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, it is actually designed for that in mind.

[@seanihde]

Looks fantastic. Question - with the 2 ft of exposed sleeve, where will the feed point be? Will it be at 2 ft, or will it slide over the sleeve and lay on the ground? I ask, because I live in Minnesota, and we get some tall snow drifts, and was not wanting the feed point to get buried by snow. Or would the snow not be a factor at the feed point?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It will slide right down over. Don't worry about snow.. Let it get covered. Snow is not conductive, it won't care.

[@Trent28888]

Can u buy the antenna without the support pole and btw is the support pole fibreglass or conduit? If ur havin problems with the high power just use guy ropes and see how ya go due to some experience with some fibreglass can create issues

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I suppose you could.. Buy just pole, the accessories, wire and plate set.. The problems were not with the fiberglass pole, only the bloomin fold-over.. Well, I hope not the pole, I have $$$ invested! LOL

[@leapofshed]

How much effort is it to collapse down… I want an antenna to use on my allotment… and I think I can hide the mounting pole and radials in the cabbages 😂 but I would want to take down the antenna and put it away in the shed when I am done because kids / nosey council workers… would I have to de rig all the wires to collapse it down… or is there a way to just slide the spreaders over the poles as they telescope?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Edward, suggest save some pennies and maybe go with Classic with a 43 or 44m tube in the ground.. You will probably find it's about a 5-10-min put-up once you work out how much collapsed you need.

[@reidlanham2011]

Would this antenna do OK if it had to be placed sort of up against (but not super close) a house, so that the radials only fanned out from about 180 degrees to 270 degrees instead of 360? I hope that makes sense. Thanks! 73, K8JLW

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, some folks have done that with a Classic.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

To produce a tall antenna with the performance you are aiming for but without guying is going to be well worth the effort. 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That's the plan!

[@kirbymcd1]

Will there be an option to get a second mounting pole for the first 50? Still planning on being an early adopter but never hurts to avoid a second shipping charge to the US down the road.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah.. We only have 50.. I'll order some. Good idea.

[@chrisbartlett6022]

Cool, wondering if it is worth putting the lying down 12.4 well away from your ground radials, maybe along the fence line? When I was doing some 12.4 experimenting I had a Classic with just 20m on it lay across my ground Radials, fairly close the th pole, like it is in your video and it gave me some wacky tuning results. Of course you may only have the 12.4 lying there for the video so my message is a waste of time 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I'm pretty sure that laying on the ground, it should be fine. I will move everything around before finalising cut chart - but I've done this before Chris.

[@TFuzz58]

I remember Roly in ZL talking about this when he got strange readings while playing with a new antenna. It turned out to be his DXC laying on the ground. Tim

[@Mike_M_KI4MRC]

For the pole to bury….does that come with or do we buy something with certain specs at the local hardware store? I need to buy this and toss all my other compromised antennas in the garage. Bananas! 😊

[@Mike_M_KI4MRC]

Never mind….i read the site again. Need new glasses I suppose.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I read the comments. You got it :)

[@basshorseman998]

Dear Callum, we (I?) can wait 'till you are ready..I say this, as stressing on this too much just isn't worth your physical and metal health. When you feel right, then the time is right...I can wait.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I am fully sorted today. Just working on some tweaks for a Friday launch.. PS - I LOVE the pressure! :)

[@bassangler73]

Looking good! One thing about your antennas is they are not unpleasant to the non-ham operators eye...Of course us Hams think all antennas are a piece of art work...ha ha...but the DX Commander is just non intrusive to the prying eyes of nosy neighbors...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Vertical washing lines!

[@bassangler73]

@@DXCommanderHQ ha ha 👍

[@Steven.Cartwright]

How do I get my hands on a 9 to test? I'm M7WLG from Wolverhampton. Only got a small garden so this be a good test for me. Really wanting an antenna for 40m band but can't fit a wire in garden so maybe a vertical would work for me ? Thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Launches on Friday.

[@yeater302]

I currently have the Butternut HV9 and considering changing it out for this Signature 9 to eliminate my guy wires. The butternut works great, but not really tuned well and difficult to get tuned. I know you are a little biased lol, but would your antenna be an upgrade or more of a lateral move? Mainly would the tuning be a little easier than a Butternut? No matter your answer I will more than likely be ordering one :) Thanks and great videos!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, I think it's unfair asking me.. Look, you are getting a pure set of quarterwaves. So what ever that does vs Butternut. You SHOULD get a no ATU system and easy to use. CHeap to maintain. Easy on the eye. Maybe ask on the Facebook group - or perhaps the Discord server (discord.io/dxcommander) you might find someone made the same decision and they will have an opinion..?

[@SDR-DXobserver]

Callum, in what differs the Signature 9 with the Classic? I see that you have made a 160 meters LW with a 64:1 unun for listening with some gain and lower noise floor. For many years, I use a 200 meters BOG for the same goal. I experienced that I had the same wire 3 meters up in the air a few years ago has a better S/N when used as a BOG (on the ground) as it tends to pick less environmental noise. It produces 2 dB less signal compared to the Beverage set-up, both terminated and with a 9:1 unun. A guy I know is developing a very small quality pre-amp to put on the feed point with a static discharge protection. I get a beta model when ready. If you want, I can inform you how things work out in due time.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

What differs: Really its the robustness with ability to have a ground post instead of guys. It's been a dream of mine for a while.

[@SDR-DXobserver]

@@DXCommanderHQ Nice, I will order one in a few months when development is rounded and shipment dynamics are stabilized. Love your thinking process and transparency of what you are doing. 73'

[@DonzLockz]

Exciting times Callum. I know you will sort all the issues with impeccable detail. :) Is it best mounted at ground level or could it be raised say 3 to 4m high on a wooden pole or similar?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Interesting question.. I had not considered that one.. Something to try I guess..

[@DonzLockz]

@@DXCommanderHQ That would be great if you have nothing to do one day. No hurry, thanks Callum.😁👍

[@andreVE4BK]

Looks like another winner Cal! Bit of tweaking and it’ll be sweet and performant. 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fingers crossed!

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Awesome Callum!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Legend!

[@briantrask8173]

Hi Callum, I thought to go 5/8 on 10 you would need a coupler or Transformer?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well. I depends on how we do it.. We can get a VERY similar pattern by squashing the element to shape.. I'll make a video about this sometime..

[@klartajanssen4368]

Nice Nice can’t wait until it is ready

[@genoa1979]

How much is long the must of signature 9?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It's 9m long.

[@genoa1979]

@@DXCommanderHQ tnk big

[@youtubeaccount931]

Thats a fine antenna

[@ahoward2kable]

Hey if it's a perfect tune with 100w, I'm good with that

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, today I got it all totally cock-on.

[@OntarioJeff]

Some slight tuneups on a pre-production model is hardly bad news. This is nothing, and if it allows a few extra quid in my pocket when they go on sale, it will just be some extra purchases added from your shop!

[@YllaStar95970]

See what David Casler makes of this one😉.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

(ducks)

[@dback4430]

Hi Cal, so if you are missing three feet of pole , did the 40 meter element just fold back farther ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Actually, I am not really missing 3 feet because the Classic is only 8 inches loinger than this.. I have an easy fix :)

[@dback4430]

@@DXCommanderHQomg. You’re killin me. If the bandwidth is the same on 40 then I will probably just get this and be done and sell all the others. Or give them to less fortunate.

[@darrelshaw622]

Advantages of the classic versus your new 9

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Guyless - more robust.

[@ronleblanc9832]

beautiful antenna

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It sure is!

[@pc4ad]

Looking good! :-)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks!

[@richarde735]

how long is the pole ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Between 9m and 9.1m long.

[@rfengineer3]

WHat is the length of your radials?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Any you like.. From 2m up to what ever you fancy.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5XUd6yNfLSCh6c

[@rfengineer3]

@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks for the link!

[@g0fvt]

Not sure why the SWR is shifting that much, something is changing... Looks good though and those spreader plates are a nice shape.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah, I don't know either.. Mike, Tom and I were considering some weird capcitance happening. I have a plan to test that out..

[@g0fvt]

@@DXCommanderHQ It is unlikely to be a "charging" effect since RF is inherently AC, but obviously it is difficult to provide much help from my calibrated armchair. I wonder if you have an infrared capable camera, might be useful to look at it in the dark and see if there are any hotspots....

[@kenluning909]

Looking Good. W5KAL

[@zl4ssb920]

common mode issues Callum

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah.. Maybe.. Not convinced.

[@ben2e0omr]

Plasticine pronounsed like plaster. As in The city of Bath (Barth).......