Which is better G5RV or ZS6BKW?

Although G5RV himself recommended parallel line all the way to the shack, technically it would not be a G5RV where the parallel matching section is specified to be 1/2WL on the design frequency. Using a random length of parallel line completely changes the impedances encountered in the shack - some lengths are better than others.

 

Probably, the gain of our version is about the same. But it has its advantages.
http://www.w0btu.com/g5rv_antenna.html#w0btu_antenna
Here's the EZNEC file for it, in case anyone wants to do the same for this one:
http://www.w0btu.com/files/antenna/EZNEC/ZS6BKW-W0BTU.ez

Note that the feedline is 75 ohms.

 

Hi

The question G5RV - ZS6BKW is not very easely to answer.
Location and way of mounting of the antenna are of great influence.
Also the quality of the used materials of the antenna has its influences, as the influences of all the paracityc conductors within a wavelength .

The way you hang your ZS6BKW or G5RV will be far more important as the antenna itself.
In theory a G5RV is a tiny bit better on 80 mtrs, because it is a bit longer and it has a higher R on 80 mtrs.
So it will be a bit less lossy on 80 mtrs.

That is all you can say on these antennas, on all other bands they should be reasonably comparable to one another.

Myself I am using a homebrew 80,40,20,15,10 mtr endfed antenna (see 5 band high end-fed antenna), total length 22 mtrs, and a 2 x 7 mtr rotatable V-dipole fed with 11 mtrs 600 ohm ladderline (homebrew copper braid AWG13).

On 10-30 mtrs the V-dipole beats the end-fed big time, because it is rotatable and it is placed at 11 mtrs feeding point, the end-fed runs from feedpoint at 5 to 10.5 mtrs high to 9.5 mtrs high at the end.

On 40 mtrs both antennas are about the same performance.
On 80 mtrs the end-fed is about 6 dB better due to losses in ladderline and tuner with the 2 x 7 mtr dipole.

If you want a good antenna for 10-20 mtrs a rotatable dipole of 2 x 5 mtrs fed with ladderline will be a good or even better alternative for a G5RV or ZS6BKW.

73 Jos

 

They are comparable on 40m, 20m, and 12m. The standard G5RV is superior on 80m. The standard ZS6BKW is superior on 17m and 10m. Again, it's the SWR on the coax that explains the difference.