Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[Jim Brown]

On 6/28/2021 10:24 AM, Craig Smith wrote:

How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system you 
have installed and on the local noise level.   I’d recommend at least 32 
radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.


Yes, and I'll suggest that you buy the tallest one that the HOA will 
approve, simply because taller makes it more efficient. Also, on-ground 
or buried radials don't have to be resonant or all the same length. The 
only rule of thumb is that more wire on the ground is better. Wire size 
is important only to the extent that it's big enough to hold up better. 
Wire can be insulated or not, but definitely NOT stranded (less corrosion).


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[James Bennett via Elecraft]

Hi Lou - not a problem - the flagpole / antenna will be installed in the middle 
of our back yard, which is fenced.

Jim

> On Jun 28, 2021, at 4:30 PM, Louandzip via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> One thing to consider with these (and any) antennas is FCC-19-126A1.  A 
> flagpole in an uncontrolled area like an unfenced front yard or at the edge 
> of a lot  might be problematic. 
> Lou W7HV
> .
> 
>On Monday, June 28, 2021, 2:38:23 PM MDT, James Bennett via Elecraft 
>  wrote:  
> 
> Thanks folks - seems that I’m on the right path on this one. I’m most likely 
> going to order one of these flagpole antennas as soon as we get possession of 
> the house and I see what the HOA wants as far as documentation. I spoke with 
> another guy down the street who has a flagpole (not a ham) and he said they 
> want minimal info and a small form to fill out. Got to get my post hole 
> digger and steel bar all warmed up!
> 
> 73 & thanks again, Jim  K7TXA
> 
>> On Jun 28, 2021, at 12:27 PM, Don Roberts  wrote:
>> 
>> Not using the flagpole vertical but do use a 31 ft vertical as well as DX 
>> Commander 1/4 wave vertical and have no ptoblem with my KAT 500 or KPA 500 
>> loading 40 to 6 meters. Have also loaded on the DX window on 75 and worked 
>> onto Europe. I have 18 radials down. Also use full wave 80 loop and hex 
>> beam. 
>> 
>> Don, W4CBS 
>> 
>> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
>> 
>> On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 1:57 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft
>> mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
>> Hi Craig - Yes, understood about the radials - I’ve had other verticals 
>> before and found very good performance - providing a lot of radials are 
>> used. I’ve got no problem laying out a LOT of them, as the grass grows 
>> pretty fast here in this part of Idaho and will cover them up in no time. 
>> We'll be living in a development on the edge of a lot of farm land (no, not 
>> potatoes - alfalfa, corn, sugar beets!) - miles from the noisy city 
>> environment. All underground electric services, too. So I’m hopeful my QRN 
>> levels will be low. Right now living in an apartment complex with several 
>> hundred units. I have a Buddistick mounted on a balcony railing and have a 
>> solid S9 noise level 24x7 on my IC-705. :-(
>> 
>> I’ve also used my KAT500 for years at another QTH in CA with an 88 foot long 
>> doublet fed with 600 ohm ladder line and the tuner worked great. But I’m 
>> wondering how the KAT500 (or the K3 internal tuner) handles something like 
>> the ZeroFIve. So, hopefully someone on this list is also using one… :-)
>> 
>> 73, Jim / K7TXA
>> 
>>> On Jun 28, 2021, at 11:24 AM, Craig Smith >> > wrote:
>>> 
>>> Jim …
>>> 
>>> How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system 
>>> you have installed and on the local noise level.  I’d recommend at least 32 
>>> radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.If you 
>>> do that, the performance and patterns should be approximately like the 
>>> charts shown in all the handbooks for verticals over a ground plane.
>>> 
>>> If you are asking about the ability of the tuners in the Elecraft products 
>>> to accommodate the mismatch on each band, that is a different question.  In 
>>> general Elecraft’s tuners will handle up to a 10:1 SWR. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 73  Craig  AC0DS
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
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>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[Louandzip via Elecraft]

 One thing to consider with these (and any) antennas is FCC-19-126A1.  A 
flagpole in an uncontrolled area like an unfenced front yard or at the edge of 
a lot  might be problematic. 
Lou W7HV
.

On Monday, June 28, 2021, 2:38:23 PM MDT, James Bennett via Elecraft 
 wrote:  
 
 Thanks folks - seems that I’m on the right path on this one. I’m most likely 
going to order one of these flagpole antennas as soon as we get possession of 
the house and I see what the HOA wants as far as documentation. I spoke with 
another guy down the street who has a flagpole (not a ham) and he said they 
want minimal info and a small form to fill out. Got to get my post hole digger 
and steel bar all warmed up!

73 & thanks again, Jim  K7TXA

> On Jun 28, 2021, at 12:27 PM, Don Roberts  wrote:
> 
> Not using the flagpole vertical but do use a 31 ft vertical as well as DX 
> Commander 1/4 wave vertical and have no ptoblem with my KAT 500 or KPA 500 
> loading 40 to 6 meters. Have also loaded on the DX window on 75 and worked 
> onto Europe. I have 18 radials down. Also use full wave 80 loop and hex beam. 
> 
> Don, W4CBS 
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> 
> On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 1:57 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft
> mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> Hi Craig - Yes, understood about the radials - I’ve had other verticals 
> before and found very good performance - providing a lot of radials are used. 
> I’ve got no problem laying out a LOT of them, as the grass grows pretty fast 
> here in this part of Idaho and will cover them up in no time. We'll be living 
> in a development on the edge of a lot of farm land (no, not potatoes - 
> alfalfa, corn, sugar beets!) - miles from the noisy city environment. All 
> underground electric services, too. So I’m hopeful my QRN levels will be low. 
> Right now living in an apartment complex with several hundred units. I have a 
> Buddistick mounted on a balcony railing and have a solid S9 noise level 24x7 
> on my IC-705. :-(
> 
> I’ve also used my KAT500 for years at another QTH in CA with an 88 foot long 
> doublet fed with 600 ohm ladder line and the tuner worked great. But I’m 
> wondering how the KAT500 (or the K3 internal tuner) handles something like 
> the ZeroFIve. So, hopefully someone on this list is also using one… :-)
> 
> 73, Jim / K7TXA
> 
> > On Jun 28, 2021, at 11:24 AM, Craig Smith  > > wrote:
> > 
> > Jim …
> > 
> > How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system 
> > you have installed and on the local noise level.  I’d recommend at least 32 
> > radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.    If you 
> > do that, the performance and patterns should be approximately like the 
> > charts shown in all the handbooks for verticals over a ground plane.
> > 
> > If you are asking about the ability of the tuners in the Elecraft products 
> > to accommodate the mismatch on each band, that is a different question.  In 
> > general Elecraft’s tuners will handle up to a 10:1 SWR. 
> > 
> > 
> > 73  Craig  AC0DS
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[James Bennett via Elecraft]

Thanks folks - seems that I’m on the right path on this one. I’m most likely 
going to order one of these flagpole antennas as soon as we get possession of 
the house and I see what the HOA wants as far as documentation. I spoke with 
another guy down the street who has a flagpole (not a ham) and he said they 
want minimal info and a small form to fill out. Got to get my post hole digger 
and steel bar all warmed up!

73 & thanks again, Jim  K7TXA

> On Jun 28, 2021, at 12:27 PM, Don Roberts  wrote:
> 
> Not using the flagpole vertical but do use a 31 ft vertical as well as DX 
> Commander 1/4 wave vertical and have no ptoblem with my KAT 500 or KPA 500 
> loading 40 to 6 meters. Have also loaded on the DX window on 75 and worked 
> onto Europe. I have 18 radials down. Also use full wave 80 loop and hex beam. 
> 
> Don, W4CBS 
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> 
> On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 1:57 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft
> mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
> Hi Craig - Yes, understood about the radials - I’ve had other verticals 
> before and found very good performance - providing a lot of radials are used. 
> I’ve got no problem laying out a LOT of them, as the grass grows pretty fast 
> here in this part of Idaho and will cover them up in no time. We'll be living 
> in a development on the edge of a lot of farm land (no, not potatoes - 
> alfalfa, corn, sugar beets!) - miles from the noisy city environment. All 
> underground electric services, too. So I’m hopeful my QRN levels will be low. 
> Right now living in an apartment complex with several hundred units. I have a 
> Buddistick mounted on a balcony railing and have a solid S9 noise level 24x7 
> on my IC-705. :-(
> 
> I’ve also used my KAT500 for years at another QTH in CA with an 88 foot long 
> doublet fed with 600 ohm ladder line and the tuner worked great. But I’m 
> wondering how the KAT500 (or the K3 internal tuner) handles something like 
> the ZeroFIve. So, hopefully someone on this list is also using one… :-)
> 
> 73, Jim / K7TXA
> 
> > On Jun 28, 2021, at 11:24 AM, Craig Smith  > > wrote:
> > 
> > Jim …
> > 
> > How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system 
> > you have installed and on the local noise level.  I’d recommend at least 32 
> > radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.If you 
> > do that, the performance and patterns should be approximately like the 
> > charts shown in all the handbooks for verticals over a ground plane.
> > 
> > If you are asking about the ability of the tuners in the Elecraft products 
> > to accommodate the mismatch on each band, that is a different question.  In 
> > general Elecraft’s tuners will handle up to a 10:1 SWR. 
> > 
> > 
> > 73  Craig  AC0DS
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[Bayard Coolidge, N1HO via Elecraft]

 Hi, Jim -
I don't have a KAT500, but I do have an upgraded K3 (near-K3s) with the 
internal tuner that I run barefoot to a ZeroFive 30m quarter-wave vertical with 
a wire attached to its tip, running about 40 feet to the north to the top of an 
avocado tree. My radial field is putrid - just a couple of quarter-wave wires 
for each band, because our house lot in south Florida is 1/5 acre, and I have 
7.5 kV 3-phase power lines running down two sides of the property. However, it 
(and its predecessor, a Zero-Five 20m quarter-wave vertical) has held up very 
well in the salt air, and performed beautifully. In fact, I also have a large 
coil that allows me to tune it on 630m. When using it without the 630m coil, 
the internal tuner matches up beautifully on all bands from 80m through 10m. 
I've always been very impressed by the construction of these antennas - 
beautiful machine work, precise fittings, and very durable, so I highly 
recommend them from that perspective.
I augmented my radial field with three 8 foot ground rods pounded into the sand 
angled downward away from the base, plus I ran some #000to the ground screen 
under the swimming pool. Typical ground resistance at resonance is about 25 
Ohms.
I'm not subject to HOA/CC&R restrictions, and our city does allow amateur radio 
antennas to a certain extent (60 ft max for the first tower, oneadditional 
tower at 40ft), but considering we're right on the Atlantic coast, that's 
pretty understandable.
(And, Florida Power & Light is in the process of moving all of the HV and 
household feeders underground, so really, at this writing, I have 3-phaseHV 
lines along only one side of the property, and those might have been 
de-energized at this point as well; I will perform another round ofnoise 
measurements when we return in November, but the noise was about S9 this winter 
before they started working on the lines).
HTH and 73,
Brandy, N1HO (EL96xh)
On Monday, June 28, 2021, 12:53:35 PM EDT, James Bennett via Elecraft 
 wrote:  
 
 Wondering if anyone on this reflector is using their K-Line rig (especially 
the KAT500) with one of the ZeroFive Flagpole antennas? I’m moving to a new 
home with HOA/CC&R crap (you know the drill - happy wife, happy life) and am 
considering the ZeroFive 24 foot, 40-6 meter flagpole antenna. If you’ve run 
one of these antennas and have matched it via a KAT500, how well did it work? 
Did you have the KAT500 on your desk, or remote at the antenna base? These 
antennas have gotten great five-star reviews on eHam.net , so 
that seems to indicate that these very expensive verticals might be a viable 
solution.

Jim / K7TXA
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[Howard Saxion via Elecraft]

I do not own the Zero-Five flagpole antenna but I own and have used the 
Zero-Five 40 meter vertical (33 feet in height).   I used this antenna on 40-6 
meters with my upgraded K3, KAT500, and KPA500. I do not have HOA constraints, 
but I live on a small urban lot that is topographically challenged (steep 
slopes). 

The Zero-Five build quality and materials are excellent. Customer support is 
great and very responsive. Conceptually, the flagpole and monopole antennas are 
similar in that they use a 4:1 UNUN, require radials, and are not resonant when 
used as a multi-band vertical. SWR on all bands is typically less than 4:1 and 
the KAT500 easily matches it. Zero-Five uses an  UNUN made by Balun Designs 
which are well made and robust. If installing a flagpole antenna is your only 
option, Zero-Five is a good choice. 

Have you considered a vertical on a tilt base that you can easily lower. I like 
the Zero-Five but I am currently using a DX Commander all band vertical 
(40-6M). It is “stealthy” as it uses a black fiberglass collapsible pole (33 
feet in length). It could be installed using a tilt base. I like this antenna 
because it is simple, is resonant (less than 1.5:1 on all bands), and does not 
use traps, UNUNs, etc.  I used the same radials I installed for the Zero-Five 
and have had good results with it. Good luck. 

73
Howard/WX7HS 


> On Jun 28, 2021, at 09:53, James Bennett via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> Wondering if anyone on this reflector is using their K-Line rig (especially 
> the KAT500) with one of the ZeroFive Flagpole antennas? I’m moving to a new 
> home with HOA/CC&R crap (you know the drill - happy wife, happy life) and am 
> considering the ZeroFive 24 foot, 40-6 meter flagpole antenna. If you’ve run 
> one of these antennas and have matched it via a KAT500, how well did it work? 
> Did you have the KAT500 on your desk, or remote at the antenna base? These 
> antennas have gotten great five-star reviews on eHam.net , 
> so that seems to indicate that these very expensive verticals might be a 
> viable solution.
> 
> Jim / K7TXA
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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[James Bennett via Elecraft]

Hi Craig - Yes, understood about the radials - I’ve had other verticals before 
and found very good performance - providing a lot of radials are used. I’ve got 
no problem laying out a LOT of them, as the grass grows pretty fast here in 
this part of Idaho and will cover them up in no time. We'll be living in a 
development on the edge of a lot of farm land (no, not potatoes - alfalfa, 
corn, sugar beets!) - miles from the noisy city environment. All underground 
electric services, too. So I’m hopeful my QRN levels will be low. Right now 
living in an apartment complex with several hundred units. I have a Buddistick 
mounted on a balcony railing and have a solid S9 noise level 24x7 on my IC-705. 
:-(

I’ve also used my KAT500 for years at another QTH in CA with an 88 foot long 
doublet fed with 600 ohm ladder line and the tuner worked great. But I’m 
wondering how the KAT500 (or the K3 internal tuner) handles something like the 
ZeroFIve. So, hopefully someone on this list is also using one… :-)

73, Jim / K7TXA

> On Jun 28, 2021, at 11:24 AM, Craig Smith  wrote:
> 
> Jim …
> 
> How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system 
> you have installed and on the local noise level.   I’d recommend at least 32 
> radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.If you 
> do that, the performance and patterns should be approximately like the charts 
> shown in all the handbooks for verticals over a ground plane.
> 
> If you are asking about the ability of the tuners in the Elecraft products to 
> accommodate the mismatch on each band, that is a different question.   In 
> general Elecraft’s tuners will handle up to a 10:1 SWR. 
> 
> 
> 73  Craig   AC0DS
> 
> 
> 
> 

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Re: [Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[Craig Smith]

Jim …

How well it “works” will be almost entirely dependent on the radial system you 
have installed and on the local noise level.   I’d recommend at least 32 
radials - as long as you have space for. On or in ground is fine.If you do 
that, the performance and patterns should be approximately like the charts 
shown in all the handbooks for verticals over a ground plane.

If you are asking about the ability of the tuners in the Elecraft products to 
accommodate the mismatch on each band, that is a different question.   In 
general Elecraft’s tuners will handle up to a 10:1 SWR. 


73  Craig   AC0DS




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[Elecraft] K-Line / ZeroFive Antennas

[James Bennett via Elecraft]

Wondering if anyone on this reflector is using their K-Line rig (especially the 
KAT500) with one of the ZeroFive Flagpole antennas? I’m moving to a new home 
with HOA/CC&R crap (you know the drill - happy wife, happy life) and am 
considering the ZeroFive 24 foot, 40-6 meter flagpole antenna. If you’ve run 
one of these antennas and have matched it via a KAT500, how well did it work? 
Did you have the KAT500 on your desk, or remote at the antenna base? These 
antennas have gotten great five-star reviews on eHam.net , so 
that seems to indicate that these very expensive verticals might be a viable 
solution.

Jim / K7TXA
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