My GR5V HF Antenna Has Issues 

70 foot? ??? Only for one type of coax. The length will vary on the type of coax used. Half wave length, which is the "apparent" length electrically, is NOT half wave length by 'physical' measure of coax. It is based on the physical properties of the coax selected. It could be 83 feet!!!!! A person should use a halfwave length of coax as seen "electrically" by the radio. And that will vary from coax to coax and can be found by a simple trial and error or by the EASY way using the manufacturer data sheet with some math for the coax used.

The G5RV is one of those antennas that we look at and scratch our heads wondering how it works. I've had a few of them thru the years in flat and inverted-v configs. Flat works best and the closer to vertical you can get the ladder line, the better. I noticed you have traps and I looked up on the Radiowavz site to see which one you have. The shorter legs with traps probably add a level of interaction that you wouldn’t normally get with a conventional G5RV. Another thing I learned is not all tuners, especially built-in tuners, can tune the G5RV. My FTDX-3000 manual specifically says it won’t tune it. My 2 cents worth anyway. Good luck with it!! Chris, K2CJB

It’s a myth your coax should be long. All that does is to act as an artificial attenuator, giving you poor performance. I use a ZS6BKW only 20’ high off the back of the chimney. The 450 ohm window line terminates into a DX Engineering Maxi-Core 1:1 Choke Balun and then to 20’ of LMR 240 to a MFJ 941E 300 watt manual tuner. The coax should be as short as possible and you really need something like a Rigexpert to adjust the antenna length to get is as close to resonance on the amateur bands as possible. I would also avoid any types of traps or coils. Window line is rather sensitive to metal, water, and ground. I’ve had mine up since January and have worked all States except Alaska and 25 countries on SSB, including Japan, South Africa and Europe on an old Yaesu FT-840 and 85 watts. It can use 40, 20, 17, 12, and 10 meters without any issue. 80 meters can be tuned but the SWR is 8:1, so even with the short coax, there is significant line loss through heat in the coax, choke, and tuner. The window line acts as both a feed line and matching stub.

G5RV design is pointless, just run all ladder line to your tuner. That way no such thing as a bad match.

I hung mine in a tree for 3 years, configured in an inverted v. Worked absolutely great. Talked to France from minneapolis

Hi Dave, we are also advised to stay in here in Germany. As the last storm damaged my HF vertica I have now time to build and put up a ZS6BKW junior antenna. The horizontal length is 14.2m. I´m not sure if what I found out about the vertical feeding line. I read that it is 12,2m. To me it seems to be far too long. Do you have any information about the dimensions? Otherwise I´d go for a half size g5rv antenna. Thanks!

I had two of them. G5RV, a G5RV-M and the extended version home made, both kicked ass. Heights were 65-85 feet, ladder line was 75-92 feet, coax was 100-115 feet we used, we as I needed help. keep it away from buildings. The ladder line I had at a 45° angle, the coax was buried 4 to 6 inches in the ground. And I have had great luck with them. Tested out different patterns, did the inverted V, upside down inverted V, A L pattern, sideways L, backwards L. 360° L, never tried to sloped it at 32° to 45° angle, never tried the straight up and down like a vertical, my best pattern was the 360° L, where the bottom part of the L would be facing the opposite way and it would go along the opposite side of the property. And the straight part of the L would go like half of a C going straight, that by far, killed it, I tested our theories out on 80 m, 40 m, 20 m. Use 5 watts to 100 watts. Surprisingly it got out well with just 5 watts on 80 meters. Depending on your situation and property try different patterns, one pattern might not work, try different patterns, do what others are not doing, you will be very surprised at what your outcome will be. The G5RV has been around for 70+ years. Don’t knock until you have tried everything. The sweet spot for height is 80 to 82 feet. For 80 meters. I also had the G5RV-JR, we built that too, don’t buy it, build it, you get more satisfaction out of building something than buying it.

The mast for my GR5V is a 2 inch dwv pvc pipe. no problems. N4XKI

I have that g5rv Lite like you have there and I’ve had pretty good success with it til some one cut the rope for one of the legs.

Imma be the guy camping at hamcation with a table and sign saying "the g5rv isn't a great antenna, change my mind"

CO8LY is always on FT8 I try to avoid him now I convert my dipole to a doublet and are pleased by the improvement before getting on a 80m net was just a dream 10 has so RF issues but I can always use my vertical there , I just need to get a little more height

Great Video, as a G5RV user myself I appreciate other users of it, as it's such a misunderstood and maligned antenna. Mine is wrapped around the inside of my attic in a weird Square shape. It gets out, but it's not ideal. One thing I wanted to point out, you mention that the G5RV isn't really resonate on any bands, that's not quite true. The G5RV is naturally resonate on the 20m Band, as that's why Varney designed the antenna. He theorized that, based on it's lengths it could probably be used on other bands with a Tuner. As a result some enterprising American company took the design and began selling it as an "All-Band" wire antenna. My FTDX-1200's internal tuner can tune mine on 20m with no problems at all, for the rest of the bands I need to use my MFJ-993B.

looks like i know what i need to do..

Start over antenna handbooks my tip

I'm running a G5RV cousin called ZS6BKW. I could managed to have end of ladder right at the input of the tuner, so that to reduce the impact of high SWR on coax, since it has much less effect on twin line.

Try a short doublet.

Dang man. It looks like you can hand TP out your bathroom window to your neighbor! I love having the acreage to hang a 1/ 2 wave 160 meter end fed and not have to worry about pissing off my neighbors since the nearest house is 200 yards away.

you must get the Balanced line away from any metal it is part of the ant, try to get it in the air and 90` from the two legs VK3AMN

you need at least 75 feet of feed line..rg8x coax.

Nice! I worked that guy from Cuba on phone as well.

Unfortunately, the G5RV works best with an unbalanced manual tuner were the ladder line connects directly to the tuner. I use the MFJ Versa Tuner II. I don’t quite understand why you are using a 4:1 Balun. If you are using coax, terminate the ladder line at 35’ with an insulator and SO 239, with about 70’ of coax to your tuner. Some operators use a 1:1 ladder line to coax balun like the LDB RBA 1:1. For most people the G5RV either work really well or very poorly. Most of the time they work poorly is because of incorrect installation.

I made wooden stand offs away from metal mast.this is for ladder line.

Josh, I have ordered an IC -7300 as my first HF rig. Do you think the internal antenna tuner can handle tuning the G5RV junior for 40 - 10 meter?? 73 KI7GWM

This is a G5RV LITE from radio waves; this is not a full-size G5 RV so it might be a little bit trickier to mount. It’s about 67 feet long with a coil on each end. It can be tricky to set up as an inverted V. They told me to put a coat of paint on the coils as well. I’m not comfortable doing that. I may spray it lightly with a coat of flat finish. Most dipoles with coils retune a little in wet weather.

I’m Beginning to think at the best antenna for multi band use is going to be a doublet antenna. This is the way the old timer used to create and antenna when I was young.

Build a Z6SBKW shorter than G5 and 5 bands with no tuner.

can you show me your antenna mast in greater detail

Quick question. Have you tried running your ladder line directly into the MFJ-993B? The MFJ-993B has a builtin 4:1 balun for ladder line connection. Just curious. Thanks for your videos! 73s N2OWM Jim

A G5RV was never intended to be all band antenna. Guy Varney who invented the antenna was for 3 half waves on 20 meters. I do not know why there are loading coils that I see on the antenna you are having issues with. I am a old ham, and never purchased a antenna. They are too easy to build 31 fees of 450 ohm ladder line and 91 feet total for the wire. That would be 45.5 feet per side. I build a ladder line to coax adapter. With a good antenna tuner it will work ok for you on most bands. Let me know if I can help. My email address is good on QRZ. 73, Paul K4AVU

Going through the same with a new G5RV /IC-7300. High SWR on 80m >3:1 and internal tuner can only handle it in emergency tuning mode. I'll be rerouting the balanced line and implementing an external tuner asap.

I finally got to see your antenna setup, wee hew! Now I understand the setup. Great video, very informative. Trying to talk the wife into it now. What is the support pole specs? Wondered if I could do something similar with Ed Fong 2M J-pole inside that mast?? Perhaps it wouldn’t suspend high enough and or signals might interfere with HF.

Ok, the G5RV is an antenna that to me needs a good tuner to make it work . I have been ok with it for now. I ran the latter line down my tower 16 inches from the tower to the entry to my shack with coax. It seem to do just fine, but with a good tuner. ON 75 meters, not turner, on 15 meters no turner, on the other bands I need the turner. Ok, now what??? Lets just see ....I really think a dipole antenna is the best way to go if you have the room. They work ;;;; period...

New subscriber from El paso TX New to radio currently working on getting my license thanks to your channel!

The angle shouldn’t be less than 60 degrees (lower the height ) also the ladder line needs to be well away from the metal support pole

Is it best to have the auto tuner near the radio or at the base of the ladder line?

Too bad G5RV is not around to see what a mess has been made using his call sign This is so far away from anything I have ever read about any antenna he was associated with. Only thing in common with G5RV was he too used wire to build antennas This another example of the sad state of amateur radio Monkey see monkey do I am stupid and so are you !

We had issues with ours at our QSO party

I definitely hate high pitch roofs, flat roofs are my favorite lol

Would you plz contact Queen LIZZ and tell he lets do tea??

whats up with the Traps? mine does not have them and also do not need a Balon..

I would consider a G5RV only as one of my last options...it does not work well as a multi band antenna. But great video showing how small modifications can affect the performance of any antenna system!