Build Any DX Commander in 2024
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- Check Chapter Markers in Description for all topics covered in this video.. but this is all my tips which are worth watching for any antenna builder since we cover everything necessary including joining wire, radial numbers, tuning etc. Callum.
Links:
www.dxcommander.com
• The NEW 2024 Spec DX C... 00:36 Build Video Expedition Link
• Amazing - How Croatia ... 01:57 Mirko's Video
• Telescoping No More: H... Gluing Telescopic Pole
• Installing 32 Radials ... Radials
• Will it Work? Crazy Id... 9:10 Will It Work
• When People Tie the WR... Knots
• Fast Method of Tuning ... 14:37 Tuning SWR
00:00 Intro
1:04 User Guide Starts
1:30 Flat Roofs
2:04 Ground Post Installation
2:50 Telescopic Pole
3:25 EzClamps
3:45 Alloy Bases for Classic Series
4:50 Gluing Telescopic Pole
5:07 Test Pole and Guying 12 and 18
6:55 Making Elements
8:18 Making and Deploying Radials
10:40 Making Element Foldbacks
11:20 Stopper Knots
11:52 Element Placement
12:37 Tension Loops
14:06 SWR
14:45 Expedition Tips
16:00 Rapide
16:36 Classic
17:16 Signature 9
18:05 Signature 12
20:11 Signature 18
20:42 Joining Antenna Wire
23:00 Protecting Elements
23:14 Tensioning Guys
24:05 Stuck Telescopic Pole
25:08 SWR tips
25:45 QRO
26:34 Radial Wire / Chicken Wire
26:58 Wind Survival - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
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My 12.4m Signature has been up well over a year without an issue. I put self amalg tape around the joints before putting on the clamps. It's never once came down in a storm.
You are brilliant man. Your overviews, lessons and advice are so great without all the marketing that other manufactures have.
Thank you Cal, entertaining and as always, very educational. It's never a dull moment watching your content. 🙂
I appreciate that!
The snow pic is amazing! ⛄️ 👍🏻
I know..!!! LOL
Hi Callum. Listening to you say that the 80mtr needs to come off the center of the pole/ spreader, I have my 80mtr wire going off the first spreader across to the trees at the side of our house. I'm lucky here as were around 60ft above a river with a steep bank coming up to "ground level" so all i did was put it up through the first spreader then slung it as hard as i could into the trees with a 2 ounce fishing weight and that's it. It hangs somewhere towards the river but it works fantastically well. On Sunday 14th Jan 24 I worked ZL4KX in New Zealand on my 80 mtr wire, Ive also worked the world on the other bands also.
I couldn't be any happier with what you've mastered for the radio community.
Keep up the good work.
All the best.
Paul MW6PNW in South Wales
Perfect!
I have my element going over to the end pole at the third spreader up and I cannot get the wire any where near tight with out putting a big bend in the DX Classsic pole. Tell me your secret that I might reproduce it on my installation. Thank you. 73 de KN6ZVI
Verticals are simply the best, although I must say, using your 80m inv L gave me my first real dx on 80m.
Thank-you Callum. I needed this explanation i know it's old hat for you but it's good for me. Thank-you.
No worries!
Hi Cal,
Another great video. I have two 12m Spiderpoles I use for my wire antenna that have been outside for seven years unguyed and have withstood 70 mph gusts. They are attached to 4"X4" fence posts 4 feet high using 3" wide velcro straps. Had the antenna down recently due to a high SWR that is now repaired and is working fine again. 73 WJ3U
Sounds great!
very good. 3/4 wave element's work and tune great . I made mono band ones for the green portable one. on 10 meters with fold over . great band width tune and super DX on 10 /11/12 meters. I made one for 6 meters great tune but band not open lately to test . I want to try a couple of half wave element's together. fand . with 49:1 . I did mono band with my end fed half wave veritable up 10 meter pole with ground plain on ground cut for 10 meters and worked DX in a park all over. fast portable set up. just had idea one day and tried it. normally I slope it. with the 10 meter black pole. I do hear a lot of the DX commander antenna's on the air. when portable I just tossed my ground plain out on the ground. tuned great and great DX when 10 meters open. quick and easy up and down. great Parks On The Air. just let the pole move around in the wind a bit. when guys to tight they pull out of ground in the wind . love the poles . got a few . 73's
Excellent video! Thank you…
Thank you too!
thanks for the great overview...I always hang my Signature9 on hooks on the fence when the wind forcast exceeds 70km/hr gusts.. only takes 2 minutes up or down...
Perfect!
Love my classic!
Superb summary and instructional video for the complete range Cal...
Roly! :)
Thank you for all of the info
Great!
Thank you so much, paused my build to study for my Extra which I passed a couple of weeks ago, time to get back to it he Expedition so I can use it for POTA.
Fantastic!
Dear Commander Callum, bought my DX Commander Classic in December, just now getting around to putting it together - very excited to “get it done”. Thank you for this video, I had read the instructions, and this really helps to visualize what is in the “written word”. I am sure that this vertical will help with making contacts. All the best. KQ4IXD
Have fun!
Well that gives me more to think about… I was thinking about the Signature 9, now I have to think about the Rapide +!
Another great video, sir! I am getting ready to order a DX Commander from DX Engineering here in the states. I have beeen busy building a garden in our back yard for the xyl. All the best from north Texas (actually we are on holiday in northern Florida at this time). 73 de KI5HXM.
Best of luck!
Great update! I've had my Classic up with 80m for 9 months. 80 foot run of Messi and Paoloni Ultraflex 10, 33 radials of various lengths ranging from 12 ft to 60 ft
Here are some of the mistakes I've made:
1. I didn't have the elements tight enough at first so they were a little loose and blew in the wind causing SWR spikes. I was afraid that there would be too much tension on the connectors but if you crimped them properly they won't go anywhere. Don't be afraid to get the shock cord tight. This also provides adequate tension on the driven plate keeping it level. If the driven plate is loose and lopsided, your SWR will be effected.
2. I put clamps right over the joints on the pole instead of just above the joint. If you tighten your clamp right over the joint it can crush the fiberglass and potentially cause a snap. Luckily I caught this early enough thanks to a youtuber pointing this out. I took the antenna down and properly adjusted them slightly above the joint.
3. Originally cut most elements too long then cut too much off when tuning. Make sure to cut a tiny bit at a time when tuning. I ended up having to add wire back on.
My only struggle has been on 10m. I found tuning to be extremely narrow compared to the other bands despite tuning the element and adding more radials. The internal tuner in my 7300 won't even tune the lower digital portion of the band or the higher FM portion. Also performance on 10m isn't that great compared to 12 through 80. Overall, definitely the best performing vertical I've ran in my 21 years of being a ham. Beats ZeroFive and Cushcraft. Highly recommend.
Detailed comment, thanks.
Oh look! It's me! Great stuff Cal. 👍
Indeed it is!
Brilliant video mate, need to update my DXC, still the best antenna I own...
Awe Mike! Nice one mate.
In America, it's actually difficult to buy SAE or Metric only wrenches\sockets. Kits are almost exclusively sold with both SAE and Metric.
27:10 Yes, wind can sneak up on you, sudden wind storm snapped my 1&3 guyed pole few months back. Just bought a new pole and back on up. That being said. I'm actually running the classic with 10x2 (28 and 29mhz), 12, 17, 20, 30, 40, and 75m elements works well and SWR seems happy, 10m was a nice addition since the 28mhz and 29mhz (technically 28.1 and 28.8) cut gives me 28.8 when cut for 28.4~
How are you getting 10x2 and all of the other bands?
@@DirkNukem Using the standard 3x3 hole config and then the 75m and extra 10m on the extra 2 ends. The plates and spacers have a total of 8 lines usable (at least in the 2023 version). I tested the SWR with a VNA using a 10ft choked cable and my 100ft RG8x normal lead. for radials I'm using 12x12ft, since i've added 75m I though I would need to add more (which I will likely do) but I was happy to get 3.8-4mhz
Great video callum, love watching your build videos.
Hope you are alright mate 73
Thanks 👍All good here.
You're a star sir! I know how much work goes into video editing, so I know how much effort has gone into that 👍🏻
73s M7GTX
Many thanks! Kind words indeed.
Just ordered the Signature 9, really hope it beats my Antron 99. I want to add 6m somehow though and hope it works well.
Hi Collin, looks like a fun experiment. I’m considering putting it over our flat roofed house at about 7m above the colour bond. I've just built the 4:1 balun, so ready to go. I’ll let you know how we go. Thanks David VK2AAW
Ah great! Keep me posted!
I've had a heat shrink failure on the new Expedition, I used a small zip tie, also 10m is very difficult to tune very sharp dip not very even across the band, SWR 3-1.2-3 again in the phone section. Also 40/15m element is too long and goes beyond the telescopic pole and then it folds back so the top 20cm is just floppy in the air. Tune is good 1.2 on both bands
I'm sure we can fix this. If stuck, email me.
Question. I have one of the first released Signature 9's. Still in the box due to life getting in the way. I hope to get it out and up in a few weeks. Are there any pieces/parts I should look to get in case you have upgraded anything since the initial release? I haven't open the box yet. Thank you for all of your videos.
Nothing changed. It'll be fine.
excellent recap Callum, thank you. I watched peoples' classic builds and so many don't follow the cut guide. Just weird.
I know! LOL
Thanks for making this thorough guide and a great series of antennas! Just ordered a Signature 9 from DX Engineering and I’m very excited to get it built next weekend!
A question for you regarding placement - I have a large backyard with ample room for radials, but my only spouse-approved location for the antenna that isn’t dangerously near overhead power lines is approximately 3m from the house. Will the structure of a 100-year-old 2-story house (wood frame, aluminum siding, slate roof) impede 40/20/10 much on a well-RF-grounded DXC Signature 9 in close proximity?
OK, so that would be a shamne to put it so close.. It'll still work but I would try and move it further away just to be on the safe side. But you know, some folks have put them NEXT to the house - and it still works.. Also think about interference from house to antenna - unless you have some dedicated receive antennas further away.
@@DXCommanderHQ I appreciate the insight!Will try it in the first location and see the results - maybe I can convince my spouse to allow the antenna mid-yard. 73!
Got mine 6m from the house and it works great. 2 story house built in 1885. No noise.
@@jasonallen2830 I can see that being my problem when I buy my Commander 9.
@@DXCommanderHQ Wanted to give you an update - My Signature 9 antenna has been ~2m from the house in the spouse-approved location for 6 weeks now, and with additional ground radials it has performed wonderfully with very low noise/interference. I've been reliably reaching Europe, South America, the Caribbean, all of North America, and a number of Oceana/Pacific contacts from Cleveland, OH USA (grid EN91). Thanks for designing and packing up a great kit - it was a lot of fun to build and it's working well even in a compromise location!
I'm considering purchasing an antenna, I like the idea of free standing. Do you think that if I put the antennna about 4' from the corner of my home I could put a horizontal support about 3/4 the way up? I am concerned that this support might affect the performance of the antenna, have you had anyone try this and get back to you with the results? We have a lot of wind around my home, thats why I am considering the horizontal support.
It probably won't hurt.. Depends on the antenna.. If it's the Sig 9, honestly, you could let it just blow about.. It's your choice I think.
Cal, love your vids--waiting for a jam session on those drums--but first maybe you can give me some advise. I live across the street from the Atlantic Ocean in York Beach, ME. about 100 yards across a park from the ocean--Iam handicapped to the extent that I need help from my son to put the antenna up but I can assemble--My question is for advice--My lawn besides my house is a 20 ft by 20 ft square where I would install the DX C -- Winds in the NE are in the 50-60 mph area quite frequenly-- my question is what DX C would you recommend fr an area of that size--Radials would be limited and wonder how much a metal blanke would diminish the effectiveness? Also would you put it up close to the house or keep it about 10ft from the house in the middle of the yard? I can guy it with 3 wires ok 2 to the house and ne to my back porch railing! your thoughts--keep up the great design and your pod casts
OK, personally... I would try and stick it near the middle. You have space for radials easy.. If you went down the Signature 9 route, your son could dig a hole and put the post in.. In the extreme event you felt you had to take it down, just undo the SO239 Wing Nut and slip it off. I appreciate youu might not be able to do that but I have witness 50-60mph on my Signature 9 and it handled it OK.. NOW.. We all need to realise that sh1t can happen but replacing the pole in the very extreme event that it did break, isn't expensive.
@DXCommanderHQ Calum, one more question if you don't mind. I see a lot of TH-cam videos of Hams putting up the DX Commander and tuning it at the end for SWR. Some need to shorten or lengthen the various bands to find their sweet spot. Some take down the mast to adjust the length as needed, On every Band!!. My question is, why not install the bands as per your instructions and add, say, 2 inches or less to each band? Then, if need be to shorten, do it at the bottom of the mast instead of taking the whole thing down each time. Signed, Lazy Repairman Wayne LOL"
I must admit that I am impressed. Your old prototype signature 9 is preforming brilliantly. I had to replace a few of the elements and followed the cut plan to the letter.
It worked without needing to tune. I checked the swr on all available bands before connecting my radio. Wow.
Having used it for a few weeks now my only issue is with the mounting pole security in high winds. I think.i need to mount mine in concrete! My ground conditions are a bit too soft.
Brilliant bit of kit.
Thanks Cal.
Scott 2W0HBW
Great stuff Scott.. Pls leave eham review 😀
I just noticed in that photo of the 80 meter wire that it does not go through the spreader then out to the support for the end of the 80 meter elemenet. What is that thing that is shown with the wire going out from it. I cannot enlarge the photo to get details. Also where did you put the tension loop for that element. Your wire looks really nice an taut not like my limpy one because I put my tension loop a spreader down.
Alvin, please email me so I can answer you.. Mention if this is the Inverted V and I can send you high res photo / explanation.
Hi Callum, I have one question that I couldn't see noted. I plan to buy an expedition kit this year. Mainly to use portable but possible to have up over the winter months in the garden. When building / tuning should I be using a choke to stop the differing lengths of coax causing an issue?
There should only be one length of coax.. No .. dont need.
@DXCommanderHQ Thanks, Callum. My portable coax is around 10m long. The coax run at my qth is 45m. If it doesn't cause any issues that's great.
No problem with this. You’ll have a bit more loss in the longer length but minimal if it’s good quality. Ironically because of this you will probably have better swr at the radio.
Hey Cal. I was a bit curious about how many bananas the vertical wire can cope with? Not pep but rms. Have you thought of super sizing said wire for the nutters in the US…. For that matter people in Oz……Cheers mate. 👍🥃🇦🇺
The only thing that can suffer for extreme QRO is the very end of the wires, so you need to make a "QRO loop.. Last page in the user guide! :)
@@DXCommanderHQ Hmmmmm. Thinking at least 5kw ??? 😎
Hi Callum. I'm a newbie. Do I need a balun or unun with your masts? Also do I need a seperated copper ground pole before the feedline enters my house.
Don't worry about ANY of that.. In terms of "station ground" - that's another topic but won't affect your antenna or radio in this configuration.
@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks..:)
Does the folded element on 80 work better than the inv L?
Better.. Well the PATTERN will be different. Inv L good during day and vertical probably better for night time DX.
Who makes that cool sweater you are wearing?
Yes, it's quite nice. From a company called Weird Fish.
Which is best For Bunalow On HF.
Any.. Rapide and Signature 9 are guyless so might look nice. If you have a large plot, literally any one.
hi Callum, I was wondering what would happen if you ran an end fed random wire as an element on a dx commander...? I blame the medical cannabis that makes me ask these off the wall questions!😅
Well, as long as you could tune it, you would be away! Now.. THREE element to get 20, 15 and 10 might be a cool idea. And I need to test that theory in the summer.
@DXCommanderHQ but if you still have the other elements in line, what does it do to the overall tunabiliy?
Interesting to hear you say you used to tape under the stay-up clamps but now don't bother...
I've actually discovered that the tape seems to HURT more than help. When I simply put the stay-up clamp directly on the pole it holds great, but when I have put the clamp on top of tape I've had some funny business. I do have the old style clamps though, the metal kind with a bit of clear tube over. The newer style is probably better. I've threatened to upgrade, but at that point I'll just glue the pole. It's permanent in my install.
Yes.. I do like the glue idea.
wonderful build tips and tricks. Thanks Callum take care. 73 Vic de KE8JWE
Thanks 👍