Which DX Commander - The 2023 Line-Up
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 เม.ย. 2023
- DX Commander has SIX models. Let me explain. Callum.
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I have the Classic, Expedition, Rapide and the 12.4. Just an awesome set of Antennas. I also have a triangle array for 20 built off the 7meter poles. Callum just puts out amazing stuff and the best customer service in the business. I have travelled with the expedition on planes, boats and automobile - great for portable! de NJ4Z.
Haha John.. You da man!!
How did TSA like that with all the wires etc ? I mean did you stuff it in Checked baggage ?
@@dback4430 TSA was good with it... I put a copy of my license and everything in the bag so they would see it when they opened it. They did open it but nothing was missing.
I really want to get out portable and camping this summer, but still participate on local and regional 80m nets. Your pioneering with the expedition gives me hope that it would work way better than the Chameleon gear I have. Now mobile....
Awesome work sir. Love this design !
I have been a bit overwhelmed with the choice in the past, so I am very happy that you made this video, thanks! In addition, it confirmed my choice to order the Expedition, as it fits my use-case the best 😉
Glad it was helpful!
Owning a plethora of telescoping fiberglass poles 4 classic, one expedition, and half dozen others, my favorite thing about the DX COMMANDER is it's flexibility. I can set up as a single band antenna and pick and choose other bands as I desire. A lot of time operating POTA I set up single band on 20m. By the way I use the classic pole without guy lines and slip it over a ground pole or attach it to a homebrew mount using the towing receiver on my truck. Thanks Callum.
Mine Classic too was without guys for over 4 years , 3 feet of PVC pipe in the ground and up to the first joint out of the ground . Worked great .
Perfect Ed..!
I love my Signature 12.4, it was my first DXC antenna. The manual was great, but there was certainly a learning curve for me.
Yes, it's a big one!
WT3B here. Brand new Ham here in the US and my very first antenna was the Classic +80. Just absolutely fantastic! I am DXing all over the planet with this thing using only 100W. Easy to assemble with great instructions. Thank you, Callum!
Very cool! Thanks for the feedback. Have a great time Brent!
Hi Callum. As a potential new customer, I found this video to be the most useful on TH-cam as there is no comparative info on the website (I can’t find anything anyway). For others in my situation, it would be worth pinning this video to the top, or linking to it directly from the website (if you have already done this, I couldn’t find it).
There is this one and I did it again for 2024.
Thanks dude! look forward to getting one soon!
great video Callum... informative and entertaining...
Thank you Callum!! Well done!
Any time!
Another Incredibly informative video Callum, Very well done..Good Job and Great products!! 73, Danny NF4J
Great series of antennas Callum. You can't go wrong no matter witch model you go with. 73 Joe
This was the best 17min brake down of what antenna to buy. I have been a ham since 2016 (General since June 2023)and I have not seen a single antenna maker that does these types of videos in this amount of detail and simple easy to understand way. I will be purchasing a DX Commander and place it in my backyard before winter hits in the Midwest of US. My choice will be ether a Classic or a Signature 9. Thank you very much for your hard work you put into all of this.
Thank you!
Once again an excellent video explaining the various antennas that you sell. The Classic plus 80 fits my needs but I sure like the idea of the Signature 9 not having any guys to hold it up. As for the hole using a garden augur on a drill with an extension might work making a smaller diameter hole that you can fill around the ground pole with sand to hold it up.
Try it :)
Yes things do change! I have my Classic coming from DXE this and next week. Yay, very excited.
Have fun!
Great video Cal. Great antennas and company. You got me into Ham Radio long before I got my foundation and currently intermediate. Would love to go for full, but just no time to study with the day job (work for myself). Anyway, I have the classic and love it. Got most places in the world, on SSB East US and the EU / Russia / Middle East etc. With FT8 or WPSR - the globe !
Amazing. Glad you are a happy bunny!
Callum, I love my Signature 9. It's the first real antenna I've had. I changed out the 30 for the 80 and it works great. I even tried 160m using my LDG tuner. It tuned it but I was afraid to push it more than tuning it. 73, K9SIX
Nice!
I love my classic and the expedition. Ive had the classic permanently mounted on a pipe for years. I'd love to get the new plates for the expedition model one day.
I set my classic onto a PVC pipe (ground post) and added a second set of guys higher up the pole. It has gone through a couple of good wind storms staying up with no problem. The 80 meter inverted L is my best 80 meter antenna. It's a darn good product.
Where on the pole did you set up the 80m L? Did you place the wire on the top two-hole plate?
Aside from this turning in to a chorus of cheers for our DX Commanders, I literally have tested several other namebrand antennas and the Rapide is the best antenna I own (yes better than my OCF dipole!) 🎉
Amazing. Thanks for the feedback!
I would appreciate a video on how that gentleman packed up and transported the antenna around the island.
In the summer, we'll do that.. I'll get Tom down.
Thank you!
Thank you Callum for this nice compact overview about you Antennas ! Have a nice Easter time ! Best regards DL1AQU vy 73 Michael
Happy holidays!
Love my classic, brilliant antenna.
Michael!
I have been watching your " channel " for 3 years and have learned a lot from you . thank you. I have watched you working your Kenwood radios and your antennas. I would love to see you working that 18 meter " Nebooola " LOL,. I plan on getting one from you in the near future. and would love to see it in action in 40 meters (my favorite band here in Los Angeles ) . I realize stock is hard to come by , but I am patient.,
The 18m.. I will rebuild one soon.
Great to see how your product line has grown and my original Classic is still in great condition after quite a few years. I wish you continued success Callum, where else can you get a multi-band vertical with such a small profile? And at these prices. We will be moving home and I’d like to use a ground post eventually but that’s another story. Happy Easter regards Mike
Happy Easter Mike..
Love my Classic! Thank you sir. 73
Mine too!
I was amazed to talk to New Zealand from California with my Classic. Best antenna I ever owned.
Wow.
Great! My first dx ommander as a proper ham. Passed my Foundation with 92 per cent. Soooooo rewarding to say to Paul the invigilator "73s" as we finished our post exam chat. . Been studying the intermediate for a while concurrently. Roll on M7xxx once I get my ofcom pin sent. 73s Cal
Top banana!
Is very interesting that way the Signature 9 is mounted on a piece of tubing.
However for my Rapide I designed some brackets I bolted on a piece of wood I placed on my backyard (with some concrete, of course) and hold the pole with 8 tie wraps…
I have the DX rapide system with no guy system ( I'm using a pole to maintain the antenna Up) and I have been very satisfied with the performance! The last 2 years I have enjoyed my DXs on phone and digital modes. Thanks to produce excellent products! Your ambassador from Costa Rica 🇨🇷 TI2GBB Greg
I forgot to mention! I gave to my dad TI2BSH the DX classic as Christmas gift last December 2022 and I bought the DX expedition! This year I used it on the WPX on 10m just an amazing performance!
Thanks for the info!
I've had the sig 9 a fem months and i love it 😊
I have a signature 9, it fits in the corner of my small garden, radials are 3 metres long in a rough circle, it works really well and is quite stealthy. No complaints from my landlord or the neighbours. The unified instructions, I found it useful to mark up the sections, especially the cutting chart with a highlighter pen, for the relevant antenna,
Nice one Ron.
Finally I understand which is which! Just ordered the Rapide to hide from my HOA here in Florida!!! Thanks buddy. Josh sent me…..he ALWAYS COSTS ME MONEY. 🤣🤣🤣
Haha.. Yeah, Josh does that :)
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I'm contemplating upgrading to a DX Commander to replace my beloved Hustler 5BTV. I REALLY want 80m decent coverage [for both Digital and Phone] (I don't use 30m), the Hustler 80m resonator gives me only a tiny slice of usable digital bandwidth. This video is a perfect primer to understand all the options available, and choose the right Commander model for my needs. Many thanks Callum!!!
Great!
I have had the DX commander classic guyless for 3 years now. Sitting on a cut fence post
My Classic +80 is the best antenna I've ever had. Several friends have various other models and love them. We recently had some high wind issues that took shingles off our roof but my Classic weathered the storm perfectly. It's been up about a year so probably time to lower it for maintenance. I agree with others in that DX Commander has the best customer service around. Thanks Callum, and your family, for great products and service. BTW I did my install using the metric measurements and it works perfectly. Jack K5FIT
Thanks Jack!! Good work.
I’m saving this video! Haha. I get asked about all the different models all the time. I’ll point people here!
Haha Tyler..! PS - not checked email today but I sent you a couple of changes yesterday..
I am currently saving to get the Classic with the 80m add on, looking forward to getting the money set aside to get on the air with one. currently on a home made dipole but want a verticle as well
Good luck!
Great line-up! Still thinking about buying one for me holiday QTH in Austria where I am for 3 weeks every summer. Could be Classic or Signature 9. We'll see. Cheers de Sven DO7PIP
Holidays..?? Probably easiest with the regular old-fashioned Classic! :)
While I wish the US went to metric, I do find it funny when British people make fun of us, cause this was your shit. BUT you had the smart sense to convert to metric. While in university I studied STEM and we only used metric, it's just so simple and logical. Peace Callum!
Yes, further science education is metric, even USA. I've heard that.
@@DXCommanderHQ Unfortunately, the ARRL study guides for licensing seem stuck using the shoe size method.... 😂 They are still teaching in units of "feet".
Have your classic +80 and the signature 9 for the lake home, may have to get the expedition for travel, IMHO the best antennas for the money, they work extremely good
Fab. Tnx.
Great video, could you use one of the guides for the 80 meter band as long as that guide is isolated from the ground(electrically)?
Why not :)
While I was watching this video, a DHL truck passed by in front of the house-signifying an European order delivery. My heart jumped as there usually no DHL trucks coming by! There he goes the other way! Darn! Hopefully, tomorrow. Come on Signature, I'm eagerly awaiting!
Awe! Soon, I am sure :)
Been watching some of your videos lately and have been very interested. I typically use a 10m spider pole and use it on a drive on mount (everything I do is portable) for a 40M EFHW sloper and sometimes a 40m 1/4wl wire vertical. Have you ever thought of making something like the 12.4m version that could fit into a drive on mount without guys? I guess it would just need the plate to be elevated about 2 feet or so to allow for the mast holder. Just comparing my options for new things to try. Some of the parks we work at dislike staking things into the ground and whatnot. Great videos, the antennas look very nice. 73.
It will fit. Depends on the consumer how much wibble-wobble they are comfortable with :)
I am a "Metric Yank" when it comes to antennas. Everything just seems to calculate so much more precisely in tens. Unfortunately, I did not have 16 fingers at birth. 😂
Testing this weekend for the US General Class upgrade (reaching for the HF stars).
Then budget a transceiver and shop for an antenna. Yours are looking good, Laird Callum. Top of the day to you Sir!
Top of the day to you Sir!
I've used the Classic for 2 meters and it worked just fine. Per MMANA, 2 meters is the 21st harmonic of 40 meters and 5th harmonic of 10 meters, so why not? Anyway, works fine on mine.
21st harmonic.. Woah! :)
The reliability and performance of my Classic made ordering the Expedition yesterday a no-brainer...I've lowered my Classic twice for 2 hurricanes preemptively and it's literally a 5 minute process to raise and re-secure it...incredible value for the performance.
Good man!
👍👍👍
Thanks for the videos Callum. I am a tetraplegic and looking for a set and forget multi band HF antenna - I can't go out and make adjustments, nor can I pull it down in a storm. Live in the UK. It gets a bit windy around my house needs to be sturdy; I currently am on VHF/UHF satellite and thinking about HF for DXing. I currently have a blind spot over Australia and New Zealand that I would like to access. What would you recommend?
OK Steve! Suggest EITHER a G5RV type arrangement or if you need longer DX, then MAYBE a Signature 9 (we will need some help to make it - but I can get some folks to assist). And frankly for your condition, I would guarantee it for storms because I can! And watch this video too: th-cam.com/video/aIOtjUgPI_Q/w-d-xo.html (because a RX antenna is BLOODY handy..). Email me if you want to go this route and roughly where you live and we can get a team of folks to get the thing up for you.
Hi Callum good vid just a quick question I have a G5 in the attic due to limited space and no garden I have recently been mucking about with the wire and have made 1 radial 10ft longer which has made receive a bit better and also making some of the bands more resonant when I used my nanovna to test the swr so in hindsight would this in your opinion make the antenna work better or am I just lucky ? Any help on this
Cheers
Anything attic based in my experience is luck-of-the-draw..
Great guide, thanks! De WO8USA🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Glad it was helpful!
To switch bands do you have to make changes to the antenna coax connection at the base or use a switcher? Also do the wires come pre-cut/tuned for each band for easy setup? Thanks!
No.. It's automatic. Laws of physics.. Meaure the wire supplied and cut to a chart. See User Guide on dxcommander website.
Thanks for this informative video, Callum. I'm considering getting the Rapide. Question: I take flood irrigation on my property. This would result in 15 to 25 centimeters of the Rapide being submerged. Do you foresee any problems in performance or to the integrity of the Rapide and its hardware? Alternatively, I may be able to place it close to the side of the house on a berm, but would that result in decreased performance if it's up against a two-story wall? Thanks, and 73!
If it's no more than 25cm, I would raise up the base same amount and coat the SO239 and PL259 in a good spoonful of Vasaline. It's not designed for underwater use :)
12.4 ❤
I really want a DX Commander antenna. I want to use for POTA but I have a camper RV and would love to have the ability to use a hitch mount or attach on the ladder of my camper or I also have a hitch at the back of my camper. I typically go out for 3 day weekends so it would be setup that long or longer. Do you suggest the Expedition? I would LOVE that Signature 12.4 but is that too big you think at Texas State Parks? Is it even possible to mount to the camper? Thanks much. Cheers!
Right.. The NEW Expedition (which I secretly launched on my Discord Channel) is SUPER FAST to put up. Email me and I'll shoot you the pics. DX Engineering will have this antenna ready for shipping in about 5-weeks.
Collin, I want a strong, sturdy DX antenna that would be an all season antenna used as a fixed base station antenna, once erected it would not be moved. The catch, “no guy wires” as I have limited space.. which DX antenna would you suggest ?
OK, run with Signature 9.. Just let it blow around in the wind - and don't guy it.
Cal, can you make a video in station grounding? Does it affect noise all that well?
Hmmm. I will add this to the list!
My 12.4 works well and I have been a maverick and left it up through post tropical storms here. We also get unpredicted sudden fast gusts when weather blows through. The only time it fell was due to a front end loader breaking my ground stake.
Since my horizontal efhw is better for noise here in apartmentville... I wonder if I were to NOT use the coil, but run the 80m out inverted L if I would get the lowered noise, but still the nice low take-off for DX. Possibly, as one person asked, using it as part of a guy?
Edit: Or would the 18m give me more signal with about the same noise, improving my SNR?
If I get flush with $, I would just move out of the city to the salt marsh again.
I don't think your L or Coil would be any different. To make a substantial difference, you would probably need to put a cheap Loop On Ground receive antenna out. That works for me.
@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks Callum. It's just that between the 12.4 vertical and the 130 foot 'L' horizontal efhw, there is a S7 difference to noise levels (sometimes more, sometimes less) after turning off pre amp, or like last night, engaging the attenuator. It is a huge difference in receive. It is only required on 80 and to an extent 40 (I imagine 160 too. But haven't tried).
I have thought about a 80m full size loop, but I'm not sure the landlord will have it lol.
I'll be taking my Dxcommander classic on a POTA...err I mean work trip the next two weeks! Look for the north carolina shores and outer Banks POTA from AJ4MY over the next two weeks!
Perfect!
@dxcommander Callum, have you considered making a "hanging" version of just using a set of spreaders etc. and then could be hung from a 10m+ tall tree using lines? This would be the ultimate stealth vertical for some people.
Yeah.. But honestly, that would be so easy to make, folks might want to just make one..? Of you can buy some spreaders from us and try it..?
my 12.4 is the best antenna I own... unlike John G.who is an over achiever I only have 1 but thats all I need I can take my 12.4 anywhere I go. thanks agian Callum I'll raise a pint for you tonight de W9US.
I drank it!
@@DXCommanderHQ 🤣🤣🤣🤣
On the 80M classic DX Commander antenna can you install the 80m wire on the top nylon plate? I was told if you install it on the top plate it will snap the pole...
No it won't snap. Goodness knows who the hell told you that. My personal preference is half-way up because it bends less, that's all.
40mph gusts today and its ok 👍
Is there any easy way to mount this against a thick, wooden fence post? the post is about 5 feet tall. I can’t put it right up to the post due to the wires and spacing rings? (such as the Rapide)
Yes, you will need some spacers. Stauff clamps might work with small blocks of wood.
What is the power rating on the Signature 9 antenna? Any problems when the base is buried in snow?
Snow is not an issue. In the main, you can push to 1,500W. Check user guide for making sure the end of the 10m band doesn't get hot. Basically, you make a small loop. It's in the guide.
Best user guide ever, good enough that I didn’t mess anything poorly. One cut tuning!!! Only had to lengthen 30m… my fault not Cal!!
Ah. Brilliant!
Is the signature 9 the same thickness as the vottom ofnthe classic 10m? (Sorry if you said and I missed). Looking for the most rigid 10m length I can get (without buying the superlong version and only using half of it)
Hiya Frank.. It's a tougher pole so slightly less flex.
Hi Cal. Just a quick question , do you have a total that are in service in the USA ? I have three , Classic, Expedition, 12.4 .
USA..? Well, we have literally sold thousands..!
Man, I just passed my foundation and I'm struggling for antennas at my QTH, I wish I had the space for a DX Commander, Do you have any plans to develop any stealth antennas for us that are not fortunate enough to have the space / 'permission' to erect such a beauty, or a video perhaps talking about stealth antennas, options for people in apartments etc? :)
Depends what you mean by "space". A Rapide with 1m radials for instance would work.. That like laying down and spinning you around. Have you got that amount of space..?
@@DXCommanderHQ Unfortunately, I don't really have much of a garden at all, to give you an idea (Hopefully this will work) i.gyazo.com/937b21daa73832a5d81a66739c444a1b.jpg this is what I have to work with, my idea was to run a 40m dipole fed at the corner of that fence, with the wire running along the top of the fence, the fence is 11m and 15m roughly, but it's quite low to the ground, I'm a foundation holder so "10w max" for me, what do you think of this? probably severely compromised, but it's either this or Magloop indoors from what I can figure? Unfortunately stealth is key, I've literally been looking at other places to live, just to stick up a DXCommader haha.
"We shall work them on the beaches...and in the hills...."
As for the "guy steaks" I can recommend the 30 day aged rump in Asda.
On the sig 9 is it possible to coil the 40m element to get 80 and forget about 40?
Now that is probably doable. I've just not go around to sorting it out.
Love to see a shootout between your classic vs XIEGU VG4 7.5M 4-BAND BASE STATION VERTICAL ANTENNA
269.00 with free shipping
Don't need to.. Check those three traps on the Xiegu!
I'd like to get the Rapide, but I won't have the space for the radials.
You would be surprised. I intend to do 1m / 3-ft radials as an experiment soon..
Wow! If you can come up with a stand alone (non-guyed) version that doesn't need radials (I've got multiple raised veggie beds), I'll buy it TOMORROW !! 🙂
Signature 9. Done :)
@@DXCommanderHQ NO RADIALS ?? SERIOUSLY ?
For not needing radials, you'd need to expand the antenna to a half wave, doubling its size or introducing loading coils. You could have an end fed half wave with combined loading coils/traps but you couldn't have a fan arrangement with different elements if you had them fed at the high impedance point, only if you centre fed them.
@@paulsengupta971 Thank you Paul. I've thought about a 1/2 wave (or base loaded shortened 1/2 wave), but that would be pretty tall, and with my back yard configuration (raised beds, overhead wires everywhere) that would be risky.
Had an unfortunate accident with my classic and in a storm my guy lines came out of the ground sending it crashing down. Can I buy a replacement classic pole?
Yes Chuck. Email a picture to Loki and explain what hap[ened and he'll send you a code so you can order the special replacement.
Sig 9 will be a large seller
Id love to have a dx commander but sadly no room for any radials .
Where there is a will. there is a way.
Got anything for the windowcill callum. ?
No yet!
Hehe I'm now imagining a mini dx commander with elements for 2m and 70cm (optionally 1.25 in the US)
With a mini signature that also does 4m and 6m
@@dasy2k1 2m, 1.25m & 70cm ground plane elements at the top.... Maybe try integrating radials along the guy lines? Just a new to the hobby operator throwing out some thoughts.
Cal, are you able to post a link to your Web page? I keep receiving rejections, but suspect it is an isp issue!! Cheers, G
Yes, ISP since it's covered by CloudFlare.. should be distributed extremely fast.. downforeveryoneorjustme.com/dxcommander.com
@@DXCommanderHQ Order placed sir, missed the selection option, but would be Hayden 🤣🤣
DX Commander??
Which DX Commander is best suited to use Year Round? Any videos that discuss annual inspection and maintenance?
Thank you KA7MUB
Honestly.. all of them because they all use effectively same materials. Annually - check guying (if used) and shock-cord for wear. That's it.
Did anyone put a dx commander on top off a 3 story appartment building?i am tired off tuning my mfj loop.
73 on3stw
Yes. Check the gallery page on dxcommander website. There'a couple there. And some EU stations call me on my Friday streams, some are roof-mounted.
@@DXCommanderHQ thanks very much I will cheq that out
I have the Expedition and I have to disagree because the thin tubes in the mast in my experience are not a good idea about bending because on windy days I cant use my radios because it moves and bends so much that the SWR goes crazy up and down., I love the antenna but I wish the pole will be stiffer. I am even considering another pole so I can play radios during windy days
The trick is to have a ton of tension so that as the mast bends, the elements go with it.
@@DXCommanderHQ interesting, I’ll try that. When I built it at the beginning I put quite of bit of tension but the wires started getting out of the spreaders so I ended up lowering a bit the tension and putting duct tape in a way to close the gap so they can’t come out. I will try again because I really want to be able to play radio on windy days
If I wanted to pop my Expedition up at home for 40m from time to time, would it accept a fibreglass pole?
Sure.
@@DXCommanderHQ I'll email. Perhaps you could sell me one that you put in some of the kits?
love my 9 it just "works" and the lack of guys and speed you can drop or erect it is a winner for me. i will get an 18 in the future though when i can work out how to accommodate it!!
Woah!