HAM RADIO: Base loading the DX Commander for 80M

I have built many Base loading coils for the DX commander, but how about building one that uses the DX commander pole and a 1/4 wave element for 40M that means: No plates, No fold back, and just one element for both 40M and 80M. 4 Tap points means it can be used on both the DXC Classic and expedition with both 11.2M or 9.68M element lengths for the 40M band and they will work on 80M.
You will need a lot of ground radials and one or two around 20M in length.
Element Length = 9.68M or 11.2M DXC Classic
Pole length = 9.7M
Coil hight = 15cm
Number of turns total : 30=29.7uH
tap 4 turn. 24 = 21.5 uH
tap 3 turn. 23 = 20.5 uH
tap 2 turn. 19 = 15.5 uH
tap 1 turn. 18 = 14.5 uH
I do hope you enjoy it and subscribe for more..
Many thanks
Mike - M0MSN
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[@dheller777]

I wish you made these commercially for the DX Commander classic. Would buy one for sure.

[@kd5smf]

M0MSN de KD5SMF I just made my coil and am testing it for the 80m band. Your video on the base loaded 80m vertical for the DXC has been an inspiration for me to build this. I used a 3.5" inch pvc former & dx10 wire, and I have a 29 uH coil without any taps. Thanks for the video's, 73's Mark- KD5SMF Tulsa, Oklahoma USA.

[@ben2e0omr]

I loved the Freudian slip, my qth is Gloucester in between the UK and Wales. We all make them its only human. Great video and interesting content.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Oops lol, ha I will have to watch it back now.......

[@fredflintstone8048]

Thinking about one thing, and doing another is what causes things like that to happen to me.

[@ZL1BQDRoly]

A nice re-visit Mike.... these coils have proven to be very popular as a 80mtr solution...... good to see you have adopted my ideas for making the taps, makes a really good solid connection huh......cheers

[@mike-M0MSN]

Yes indeed Roly, brilliant idea the automotive connector.. 👍👍👍

[@J1mbo888]

Top "Loading" Mike. Great work as always :-)

[@Linas_LY2H]

These are just beautiful coils, and it's a surprisingly good performance for local QSO's both on transmit and receive ! Once upon a time I've base-loaded the famous 43' Vertical with the big toroid coil and was a bit dissapointed. It worked, yes, but nothing special. Good Luck with the Commander on long and dark winter nights ! 73! Linas LY2H

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks for sharing!

[@markg6jvy135]

Good build and subsequent video as always Mike 👍👏👏

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks 👍

[@seanwood8043]

Very impressive sir, de facto tactical antenna :), your video on the dx commander rapide hack for 10 meter band was excellent as keep up the great work, in my book you are a wizard like the commander Calum himself. You got fans in Mississippi USA ,enjoy your radio ;)

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks Sean. :)

[@seanwood8043]

A 10 meter diapole Antenna build like the half wave or 5/8 wave gain master you did for 27 MHz CB would be great. also any GMRS builds as it is really gaining momentum here in the USA ! We all learn Soo much watching your videos sir , thank you.

[@K1DTC]

Wow! Well done sir.

[@SuburbanDXing]

Very much enjoy your "Kitchen" project videos...thank you for posting them and 73! de WX0V

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks for watching!

[@akeem11h]

Awesome work Mike, keep it coming. K4NGG.

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Still experimenting, nice to see Mike 73s stay safe.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Cheers Bob :)

[@n3ljs399]

I made one similar to this....used a 3d printer to make the coil. KJ4ADN makes a antenna and places the wire inside of the fiberglass mast. With a tuning stub at the very top. A very nice antenna. Good on 20M it is called the Silvertip.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Very cool! Great name.. Silvertip...like it

[@hansverberne806]

The Mighty Rhombic, the King of Antennas

[@mike-M0MSN]

Just need a garden big enough......

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Nice work Mike. With my small backyard this might be a good antenna to uses for 80m. Now if I can get Callum to give a good price on a DX Commander pole I might be in business ;). 73 Joe

[@mike-M0MSN]

Go for it!

[@mikeramsey9747]

Impressive results, I wonder what DX Commander thinks of your modification.

[@ianxfs]

You wish you were /M 😀 ...and those washers drive me nuts Mike when adding the radials /P 😖 Good build and proven test 👍🏻

[@mike-M0MSN]

You and me both! cheers Ian Great Video BTW on the roll on mount.. 👍👍👍

[@ianxfs]

@@mike-M0MSN 😁

[@K88MUD]

Very impressive stuff Mike.....where can I find the tube to make a coil ?

[@mike-M0MSN]

Tool station. In the uk

[@netwarecracks7780]

Another great video mike, learning a lot from you again with the builds etc. M6tko

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks 👍

[@americaswayout4489]

You make these projects look so very easy, but the ability to use the tools, the knowledge, and the confidence to just build it without concern of having to do adjustments looks even more easy than possible for most of us. If you are building this one as a dedicated 75/80 or does the UK have access up to 4 megs as we do in the US, anyway would it being loaded higher up on the pole be of any benefit? The folks at Wolf River Coils have started selling extension poles so when mobile their primarily mobile coils can be center-mounted with a whip above. Anyway another great well-done project!!

[@mike-M0MSN]

I will have a go at a mid mounted coil..hmmm.. many thanks

[@andycallaghan5028]

What cable stripper and crimper are these? Looks like it makes life so much easier!

[@mike-M0MSN]

Available from RS Components ( other stores also available) make CK

[@dirkr7891]

Well made 👍 What ist your ground system?

[@NICKGAR7]

Mike, looking forward to testing my 80 coil one of these days from the /p station...btw, is it 65mm outside diameter coil former or?

[@mike-M0MSN]

75mm Nick 👍

[@brianfields4479]

hi mike, is there any chance you could give me a rough idea how many turns i would need on a 4 inch dia tube, cheers.

[@petervk5cov17]

Hi Mike, Saw this video and thought what a good idea, given I can't make use of the inverted L for my DX Commander due to space considerations. However when I modelled it using Callum's MMANA model, was very capacitively reactive. I ran the load impedance of the 40m element driven by an 80m signal through a LC network calculator which indicated I need a series inductance of 12.5uH and input shunt Capacitance of 3.9nF. Can you give me some clues as why my model results are different practical result?

[@vicmiller7191]

I stumbled across this Video and I am glad I did. Very interesting and nicely done. Thanks for sharing...Vic KE8JWE

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks Vic.

[@TomG2NV]

Mike you where also strong to me 5x9+, I called in just after you. Sorry I missed you, would have been nice to get you in the log! 73, Tom.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Next time Tom, thanks for the flowers.. 73

[@Tonylovesjazz]

Question? Can I replace this with the single 40M element on my Commander Classic and still use my existing elements? Thus adding 80M/40M on the same element. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 73's. K8JAZ 😎

[@mike-M0MSN]

Maybe, you could try I think it should work.

[@dandemmers8538]

Mike. Not sure if you sell your 80m loading coil, but I would love to have one as I don't have the tools to make one. Please let me know if you sell them.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Sorry I don’t sale anything yet....

[@solidol_workshop]

at 11m there will be a dx antenna

[@mike-M0MSN]

Coming soon

[@vicmiller7191]

And with that I have just subscribed again thanks...Vic KE8JWE

[@mike-M0MSN]

Thanks again Vic, happy to have you a board

[@782matt2]

Hi.......... why is your ALC so High??..........73s

[@mike-M0MSN]

Too much mic gain. Oops

[@kazcat8096]

i would have made it a center loaded antenna would work much better and uses less inductance and use a cap across the coaxial connector to ground about 220 pf chris

[@mike-M0MSN]

I believe that a centre loading coil would require more turns and therefore more inductance, but hey I will give it ago.. 👍

[@kazcat8096]

@@mike-M0MSN not true my 44ft vertical has only 10 turns the higher up the pole you go less inductance used what i was allays told 30 years ago of coarse my coils where 8'' dia back then i ran mobile with a 16ft center loaded antenna and a small capacity hat you will need to put a cap across the coaxial cable 220pf to 330pf 1kv should do it keep up the good work i love the coils you make

[@mike-M0MSN]

Not saying your wrong Chris check out. www.66pacific.com/calculators/coil-shortened-vertical-antenna-calculator.aspx. Still going to try it.. 😊👍

[@kazcat8096]

@@mike-M0MSN yep i inputted my vertical coil info the calculator got 12.1 mh i never used calculators before i just make the coil never takes much trimming allays get my antennas to work well its the fun of building them and getting them to work i like your you tube page so i be watching to see how you do good luck :)

[@sapahsapah5929]

Hello seer the antana very very nice in iraq finsh divazzes hf

[@gabrielsansar6187]

many of us do it this way much better than the twonk ripping people off for the usual version

[@yrath5034]

who?

[@mike-M0MSN]

Anything to save a couple of quid.. :)