Z6SBKW requires 70' of coax?

[zero_frequency]

Just looking for a little guidance here to make sure I've got this right. I am wanting to try the optimized version of the G5RV called the Z6SBKW from NI4L. What I don't understand about it is this statement ...

"As with all models of the G5RV antenna, the Optimized version also requires a minimum of 70 feet of 50-52 ohm coax to complete the matching network. Without this 70 foot of coax, the antenna will NOT function correctly."

I have maybe 20' of coax from my station to the single-point ground panel on the exterior of my wall.

My question is, is that statement saying I need 70' (I already have 20), so another 50' of LMR400 even if I have to coil it up as the antenna is not that far away. I have yet to setup the antenna, but understanding this will help me understand where to place the antenna.

Any help much appreciated.

 

[prcguy]

By design a ZS6BKW does not need any specific length of coax to work on advertised bands. I've run many ZS6BKW antennas with many different lengths of coax and never noticed any significant difference.

What some companies do with a G5RV is advertise it with 75ft of RG-8X knowing the coax loss will smooth out VSWR and allow that antenna to work with most internal antenna tuners. The ZS6BKW is different offering an ok match on most HF bands except 80m and one other. If you don't have an antenna tuner you may have trouble on some bands with a ZS6BKW but with any kind of tuner you should be good.

BTW all my ZS6BKW antennas were home brew using 14ga 450 ohm ladderline and its a great all band antenna. Highly recommended over a G5RV which was only designed as a 20m antenna and everywhere else its just a random length dipole.

 

[K6GBW]

Take that stuff with a grain of salt. I have never run any of the G5RV type antennas with a long coax and they still work fine. I’m currently using a G5RV Jr. with about six feet of coax to the ground rod and then maybe another 12 feet to the tuner and it works fine.