DX Commander Rapide Ham Radio Antenna (40m – 6m)

Description

Based on exactly the same principles as the All Band Classic, this version – the Rapide, based on the 7m telescopic DXC pole (physical length of circa 6.5-6.8m) delivers exactly the same result with pure quarter wave elements: 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m (with 6m band delivered by the 30m element as a 1 1/4 wavelength element). In testing, we achieved perfect matches for all bands and a fabulous pattern for DX.

40m is also achievable via the use of a coil. See user guide.

Faster and easier to build than the original Classic and supplied with 100m DX10 wire, the Rapide uses only 25m of wire for the elements leaving you with 75m of wire for the radials. That’s almost 4-wavelengths of wire for 20m band. Works superb on 30m or 40m (you choose).

Concentrating on the Rapide’s new features, this delivers every band from 30m up to 6m with a 6-element arrangement. For speed, users may choose to run less elements, say 30m, 20 and 17m – or any other pattern you may wish for.

Properly tuned, this antenna does NOT need any tuner, it should give you better than 1.5:1 on pure quarterwaves on: 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m with legendary DX Commander performance.

You want CB bands and not 12m? Fine, make the 12m element a tiny bit shorter and you have CB at your fingertips. Alternatively, cut the 30m element longer for a 5/8 (actually 3/4 wave) on 10m and with the spare slot, cut an 11m element. But you lose 30m.

You still want 40m band? You can do this my making a coil half-way between the base and the first spreader. See below for link to video. ALL detailed in the user guide.

And you also get 100m reel of DX10 wire. If you cut 24 x 3m (about 10 feet) radials, you will have 4 x wavelengths of radials for 20m on the ground, possibly the most efficient you can achieve without burying lots of money. Why 24 radials? You have 6 ground connections on the ground plate and if you crimp or solder 4 radials per fork connector, there’s 24 radials. This is fast to deploy.

Can’t do 360 degree circle of radials? This will work on 180 degrees – even 90 degrees.

In the box:

• 7m telescopic DX Commander pole
• Plenty of fork connectors
• Stainless wing nuts, bolts & washers
• Some paracord for guying
• Marlow Dyneema Shock Cord
• Hex HCL EzyClamps as the stay-up kit
• 100m DX10 Wire
• Aluminium Ground Plate
• Aluminium Driven Plate
• 3 x UHMWPE plates (Guy, Mid and Upper Spreader)
• SO239 assembly (with flying lead and fork connector attached)
• Glue Lined Marine Shrink Wrap tubing

Rapide still being shipped with UHMWPE sprewader plates. (See components page).

Actually everything you need apart from guy stakes.

Note: We don’t supply those little plastic carabiners for the shock-cord ends any more. They becomne brittle and break. We moved to a superier solution of stopper knots and loops. See User Guide.

NOTE: Tested at 1,600W key-down for 65 seconds at 14MHz. For QRO proof experience see user guide.

Swapping 30m out to 40m – see video.