DXCommander Expedition Build & Review! Impressive Ham Radio Antenna!
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- čas přidán 12. 07. 2024
- Callum has created quite an impressive line of antennas that fit various ham radio use cases. Today we look at his portable offering The Expedition and how to build it and my thoughts.
DXCommander antennas can be found here: www.m0mcx.co.uk/
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The DXCommand was one of the four antennas part of the recent live shootout video: • 5 Antenna Reviews. Whi... Check it out to see how the Expedition did!
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Callum provides MORE than enough shock cord, paracord and wire to do just about anything you want and make some mistakes to get this build done.
With that wire that he provided I have built the DXC Classic, QRPGuys tri-band vertical+radials, an 80m Dipole and still have wire left over. That stuff is so good that I got some more!
I use a DX Commander Classic and work the ends of the world with it. Truly a great antenna. It fits my desire to band hop and chase DX. It is the next best thing to a beam.
I used the Expedition for my activation of K-0066 Virgin Island National Park form St John USVI. The antenna was set up for 8 days straight with no issues. I did use extra hose clamps to make sure it stayed in place for that long. It worked fantastic and logged well over 2000 contacts on the antenna during the trip.
Nice Josh .... I love it when you put the "Crash" in Crash Course! Keep up the good work Sir!
I love my DX Commander!!! Callum is one of the greatest guys i have ever done business with as well. Very generous and truly cares about those he works with. He has worked very hard over the years to develop the DX Commander line of antenna solutions. The DX Commander 10-80m (ALE Compliant one) is the one that i purchased, and it had ample DX10 antenna wire with the kit (Using some excess to build my 100w EFHW now). I am planning to get this shortened expedition pole to go with my regular pole as the hardware is compatible. FYI SWR on the 10-80 was SPOT ON using his measurements.
I do recommend using GOOD guy stakes. I used some that were not great, and they pulled out of the ground during a wind storm, antenna fell and broke at the 3rd from the top extension. Again, Callum is AWESOME and worked with me on a replacement. (Two times actually, but that be another story.)
Someday next year, I will order a Nebula Extreme. Its 18m tall and can support 160m, let alone 80m. Hopefully the expedition pole will be purchased before the end of year.
Game-plan:
Nebula: Camping/Lakehouse/Field Days/(Maybe Home Use).100w to Max
DX Commander: POTA/Camping/Events/Visits to Relatives and other vacations. Up to 100 watt
DX Expedition: SOTA/POTA/Hiking/Overseas Travels Up to 100 watt
For the hard to reach or longer hike SOTA, I'm currently building a 100w (Max) EFHW. This also would be a good SHTF or TEOTWAWKI along with any one of the ones mentioned above, depending on situation.
Thanks to Josh and Callum for making everything so much easer. The videos that you produce have educated me far beyond what I could have done with books alone. The hard work and generosity you have donated to the community is amazing.
Thank you and
73!
Thank You Callum & Josh for everything you do!
Bill-N6EF-I built my own homebrew version of the 5 (6 counting 15 meters) band Classic using Callum's 10 meter fiberglass pole and using cutting boards for the spacers. It took some time to get it tuned but once I got it tuned, it works great. It only takes about 10 minutes to deploy. One thing I found out is you need to brace the bottom of the pole to keep it from sliding especially if it's a bit windy. A couple of ways you can do this is to attach 3 additional ropes to the bottom of the mast and run each back to each ground stake making a sort of web, ground-mounted guy wires of sorts. What I ended up doing was taking a 2 inch PVC cap, drilled a 3/8 inch hole in the center, ran a 3/8 inch landscaping spike (big nail) through the cap and into the ground and that keeps the base from sliding. The cap acts as a cup to hold the bottom of the mast. I'm sure I spent more making it myself than if I were to but it from Cal, but it was a fun build. Great video as always.
Outstanding! Detailed on the assembly which is needed...Great Job DE NN2X /Tom
Love the DX commander and Callums videos are great! I want one.
Josh, great video, and way to go supporting other ham radio CZcamsrs, you're a great community member
Hi Josh,
Very good build video. I think you gave all the proper warnings about telescoping mast antennas. I was there during the live stream when it collapsed. It only took you a few minutes to get everything sorted. Of the antennas tested, had an FT8 contact on the Expedition and none of the others. Callum has done the amateur community a service with the line of DX Commander antennas. Hope you and the family have a healthy and safe Thanksgiving, 73 WJ3U
I think I made contacts on all the antennas, but the Expedition went the furthest and had the most contacts.
It was fun watching your video and has sold me on the antenna.
Always want to do a happy dance when I get that first contact on an antenna I just put together, and you did it on 5w! Nicely done.
Really enjoy your videos Josh!
The Expedition works a treat! I've worked the world on 100w /P! I also use the Classic at home (2 years and still up!)...
Beautiful shot. Colors are awesome
Great video thanks josh n great idea freeze framing the knot pictures :) got mine today n stringing the elements tomorrow :)
I have the classic, it has been up here in West Virginia weather for about 2 years now, that's full summer and two full winters.. It is an incredible antenna for the price, and it has a very low noise floor. I have 38 ground radials that have now sunk into the ground and are no longer visible. I check the antenna weekly since I am in WV the weather can be brutal out here with winds and temperature ramps.. I have had to replaced one antenna wire because I think a deer took an interest in the antenna one night and tore the antenna down and damaged the 40-meter cable. I really don't know what else to say about this antenna except that building it was fun and I can repair every part of the antenna for a few dollars. If you're looking for a good omni-multi-band vertical for your shack then I would recommend this 100%. Well worth the $$.
Nice video Josh. Go for the dual metric/inch-feet tapes for antenna and other project work. Harbor Freight has a 150 foot unit so you can get to 80 meter dipoles, Stanley and Komelon have shorter dual scale tape measures. Hose clamp tubing length determined by pole circumference at clamp location. Extra credit for the taut line hitch, excellent choice for this. Tape at joints is your friend to control the undesired telescoping of the pole. Stuff a rag inside the pole at the base to soften the landing of the sections for those occasions. Years ago at Quartzfest I had a DK9SQ telescoping pole up 43 feet sitting in a 5 gallon plastic bucket to protect it from the rocks. It telescoped down in the middle of the night when the breeze dropped off. It was very loud and woke a lot of people up, all those sections resonating the bucket. I went outside to check it out and saw lights coming on up to at least a half mile away. :) de w6akb
Excellent video. I live probably just over an hour away from Callum. Hoping next year when we're safe from the virus that I might be able to visit him at his new location and buy some gear! :-)
Adapted mine by adding additional jubilee clips, it's been up 4 months at my QTH, previous to this it did collapse several times. Totally agree with your comments, go with the classic for a permanent antenna. I purchased with the intention of going portable but CV19 put a stop to that. Great channel keep up the good work, stay safe 73s Jason 2E1HKO UK, Callum if you read this comment, hope to speak to you again soon in the new year on the Friday 11 o'clock 80m net. 👍
YT just recommended this video to me (again).. Such lovely comments here. Makes my heart go boom boom..! :)
Was late to the party but really enjoyed it.
Thank you for watching!
Well done!
good video josh and thats good you say on your video the sizes of the elerments for ppl who don,t know how to work it out well done mate
I’m glad it helped! Thanks for watching!
I have a DX Classic on order. It's a brilliant business. Two things; your labor saves you money, simple as that. And the way 40 meters is done is smart.
Top video, thanks for sharing hiw it's done
Wow, beautiful place!!
Me agrado mucho tu explicación DX COMMANDER será mi próxima antena en experimentar ( XE1WD ) MEXICO
I have bought just the wire and I am very pleased with that. The antenna 📡 is next. Great video and thanks...Vic KE8JWE
Fantastic video. I am new to HF and plan on using the Classic in my garden or back yard. I am also making an inverted v. Thanks for all your videos. 73 de KI5HXM
Hey Josh
Great videos. I’m getting into ham later in life, after growing up with it. You really need to get a metric tape measure. Had to laugh when you were converting a metric measurement to US for a metric band antenna. 🤣
Just a thought. A taught line hitch is a friction hitch, and can be worked loose under some conditions. Particularly with slick synthetic lines and in wet conditions. It's a great hitch, but in windy or wet conditions I might suggest something that is less likely to work loose for tensioning the line. A truckers hitch would be a good choice.
Thanks for demoing this, looks like a fun option.
I'm using the truckers hitch on my 6BTV, very easy to make adjustments.
Please do your “DX Commander” robot voice! Hilarious!
I have a feeling I will get to use it in the future :D
iJust realized that is Larry, Ham Radio Live, You checked in with!
Big Bear! I played high school football for Aquinas High School in San Bernardino just down the hill from there. Once there was a TV crew along the sideline filming our game vs. Big Bear to be spliced into an episode of the old Perry Mason TV show starring Raymond Burr. Our closest brush with fame and stardom.
Saw this exclusively on Patreon less than 24 hrs ago. 😳
AKA FIRST? I missed it last night when the email came through
I’ve had my Spiderbeam collapse in on itself but hose clamps solved that. I plan to put hose clamps on as many sections as I can when my DX Commander arrives. You could also use electrical tape. VO1OK
I really like these shorter, single topic focused videos. Great job and thank you for the info!.KJ7LAN
I put one up every week.
Great review and I am one of those guy who have it up permanently I've used zip ties AND rubber tape (electrical) in lieu of the extra hose clamps with great results
That is a smart way to handle it, adds no metal for affect the antenna. Good call!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Survived some pretty strong storms here on the North east coast
@Frank Caltabiano similar wind I bought it a year ago over this summer we had the remnants of one of the hurricanes blow through broke my screen door my son said "that things gonna break " it didn't expedition use it will last for years permanent use so far a year with tape to keep it up so fat so good with good reports my doublet running east to west must have a null NE to SW that the DX commander fills
@Frank Caltabiano actually no in that respect I've done everything "wrong" I learned from my 11m days with an antron 99 on a mast the most secure way for me is to lash it to my deck railing sturdy enough but has some give and I avoid that downward pressure that Josh talked about the deck is good mechanically but electrically it's probably acting more like and off center not bad just not as it was designed . that storm I talked about snapped a hustler multiband in half a few streets over it's a very well designed antenna bit I think you need to let it whip around you may need to take it down from time to time to tighten things up
I got my Nebula the other day. Collapsed the mast is almost 6’ tall.
A mistake I made 2 years ago, with a need to repair and restore my home after Hurricane Michael with his 155 mph winds, fearful of how well the DX Commander pole might stand up, I did; not just buy one. Bad choice, if you are hesitating don't waste your resources trying to piece together your own version unless you already have ALL the various tools and materials, because to re-invent a DX Commander clone is more involved than you might believe until you try to do it. I have several near misses at building mine, using believed more sturdy military tent poles, but to get the height, they must be made stronger to stand up and not stack. The same making spacers, the radial ring, and the driven element ring, still more involved. Like I said, just buy the very refined and engineered DX Commander kit and put it together as Cal, has instructed and be on air in a short while!
Just put my Dx Commander up for the first time. I just cut my 10m and 12m Elements and about 38.5m of radials (3.5mx11). I just wanted to see if 10m was alive since that my only hf band I am licenced for Voice at the moment. I need to cut it to move my minimum swr up the band some.
Hi Josh,
Yes i use the Expedition model for all of my DX-peditions and it (they) do a fine job.
BUT, to avoid your "live stream" incident i always TAPE every joint with self amalgamating tape and i NEVER have a collapsing problem.
At home I use the Classic with all the joints taped as well and it is a permanent fixture and has been so for over 12 months now..
Cheers
Wrap of electrical tape around the expedition pole joints always a good idea.
I have been using the Buddistick pro for my mobile antenna. I am thinking about getting a DX commander expedition for a "semi-mobile" set up. I have not seen a bad review on this antenna.
hah nice a video thats not a stream! i can watch this without feeling strange lmfao
Lol!
Nice build and review.. Some questions.. How long did it take you to build it.. After it's built, how much time does it take to put up and tear down for portable use and what storage (bag, backpack, ??) for all the parts is required in order to be hauled into the field?
It took me a morning and just past lunch to set it up. I'd say about 3 hours of active setup, if you have all the parts and understand the instructions.
After its initial setup it takes about 15-30 minutes to get it up and another 15 to bring it down.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thank you for the info.
I thought there was a jubilee clip went above every joint to stop it collapsing? 5 Watts into Oregon, fine, but I missed where you were and no idea what the distance is anyway being across the pond. Nice video and it was funny seeing your reaction when the antenna collapsed during your live stream (which I missed for some reason).
They do on the DXCommander Classic. This is specifically the portable Expedition antenna, Which has three clips.
Hello. I wanted to ask you about the trimming and tuning part. I assume that the looping at the top of each element is part of the antenna. So that when you found the need to cut/trim each one of the elements that you unwrapped the loop, cut a bit, and then re-looped the top…and reattached the loop to the “shock cord”. If you don’t mind, pls give a bit of detail for your process. Thank you ….. Rob B. (WD4IFT)
Nice..............
Josh, not only did I follow Callum's suggesting to label the wire, I used different color electrical tape to label the holes (top and bottom side) and the wires to make it easier for me to assemble. I find that also helps prevent me twisting or crossing the wires during assemble, which can lead to very interesting SWRs. Thanks for the video; always interesting to see someone else's trials and tribulations during an initial setup and to see how else I can improve my setup.
Looking for a permeant antenna at my home shack. limited on space for a dipole. Would you recommend the classic commander ?
Bz cal! Thats morse for well done
Just a question on the Radials can those be put just under the surface in a lawn so you could mow the lawn and leave the antenna set up
Absolutely.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Thanks Josh, keep up the great content, you Ham Radio 2.0 have inspired me to get my license just got my Tech a week ago and will be testing for General in another week. Yaesu FT-3dr on the way for Christmas. Once I get General will start the shack build and an antenna. 73 KC1OEK
I want one so bad
There are DIY plans for a NVIS antenna on the internet!
Now that you have had this for a year, would you consider taking this for a portable deployment for a day trip to the park? Just seems to be a lot of parts to put together.
If I was there the whole day? Yep. Absolutely.
The DX Commander Expedition looks like a great field day antenna. But does it deploy and come down easily enough for frequent POTA activations?
Yes it should. The wire is high quality and so is the mast.
You may have mentioned it in another video and i just missed it, but what kind of backpack is that? Did it come with the brackets made in for the coax, or did you "customize" it? lol 73- KF0FAH
That is the ICOM backpack for the ICOM IC-705. Yes. I did a video on it.
Once you get the pole extended drill it out and put plastic cotter pins in it?
You could do that, but I would go slow not to split any of the segments.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse yeppers!😀 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from Oregon (Portland
This would create weak points, and give you more bits to lose! Extra hose clamps (Jubilee clips to us Brits) are the best solution Jim M7BXT
Love ya man! Your pole collapse cracked me up as it did you. Looks like a great product! KK6LNV
It is a fantastic antenna an merely user error in that instance. 🤣
If you're going to be keeping it up for a length of time then I think jubilee clips on each extension would stop it collapsing - or tape each extension as you would a spiderbeam. Clips and tape isn't expensive.
For those in the US, I believe you call them hose clamps rather than jubilee clips.
That DX10 wire is a real tangle magnet 😆
Were there ground radials? Or did you show them or maybe I missed it
I saw no radials either
You need to have a pair of Klein scissors in your toolbox. Far superior to a razor knife for cutting that tubing.
I have them. Just didn’t pack them on travel.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse They are so good that they have replaced my extra knife in my EDC bag. Fantastic scissors that I carry every day. Glad you have them, well worth the slightly extra cost over other scissors or the same size.
What is the mast made out of.
Fiberglass
I am 65 years young. I need to be able to contact other like minded patriots in case of emergency. I don't know of any clubs in my area to learn the proper "channels". What is the best way to learn programing and set up on a ham radio. Note: I just bought several units for friends and family.
CHeck out my channel. The first playlist includes video geared towards newcombers and includes programing your radios. I hope it helps!
If you're not yet licensed, start with at least getting your technician license. Lots of great resources for that online, including Ham Radio Crash Course.
What radials lengths did you use?
I used 20 4 foot radials and I bundled them into groups of 4.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I don't think that is correct. The radials are supposed to be 3.5 to 4 meters long.
@@brianstevens7132 Hello Brian, didn't Callum say you can use shorties but use many of them?
It doesn't really matter on the length of the radial. What matters is the number of feet of wire used in the radial "system". You can use 5 long radials (16 feet each) or cut each one into 4 shorter lengths (4 feet each) and make 20 short radials...the end result is the same. Ideally you want 4 wavelengths of wire for the lowest band you plan to operate on.... but that's not really practical for a portable setup.
My buddy loves to brag about how much money he spends on things but still doesn’t have one antenna in the air. I’m sure he’ll be ordering at least two of these! 😂
lol!!
Germany waving a hand into California
Cheers!
Do you still use this antenna? If so, how often
When I go portable for a weekend, I use it. If you want something permanent, consider the DXCommander Classic.
Don't you mean "Super Effective"⁉️
Great vid. Stand by while I have some fun at your expense.
"I converted from Metric to Standard..." Well, no. You converted from Metric to Imperial.
Oh sure, there's an argument to be made that Imperial is "standard" in the US, but Metric is standard throughout most of the inhabited globe. So much so also in Amateur Radio that we don't call it the 45-yard-band, do we?
I'd build my own for a lot less and have fun doing it.
There rubbish and far to much money...
No, your claim is demonstrated to be wrong many, many times.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Your reviews are also rubbish, Do you realise many people buy this product and then are not happy with the results.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse But I guess like many other youtube celebs your not interested as long as you get them for free..
@@martinsmith2984 "Is rubbish" is not helpful. Would you like to add some actual arguments I can implement on the reviews?