DX Commander Callum Builds a NEW Signature 12.4

This is the latest Signature 12.4, delivering DX performance all bands, from 80m to 10m without ATU. Tunes on 6m too at just over 50MHz. Love it! Callum.

[patrickmolloy]

"working me nuts off" - for our American viewers, it means working hard !! cheers Callum

[johnharrison]

I worked for jaguar cars and back in 1990's earth straps breaking at the point that the solder had wicked up the braid, was one of the highest warrantyclaims. That was just engine vibration, so they switched to crimp only.

[jondv]

I can now see your new antenna from my house (in Kenilworth)! 😛

[tomplaner]

Callum, I just finished building and putting into service a new 12.4 system. I use a RigExpert AA-600 to scan the antenna as a whole system from 80 meters to 10 meters. Just so we are on the "same page" as it were, set Limits: Center, @ 27k, Range, @ (+/-) 17k and Points, @ 400. Then do a "Single" scan". In over 60 years of Amatuer Radio and many brands of analyzer use, this is the best, in my experience. It tells the absolute truth in one scan. By the way, I am also an empirical person, also. Tom KJ9P

[MBVV-Phil]

Hi Callum, as usual, a pleasure to watch 73

[Mattdixon]

That SWR is phenomenal across so many bands. The balance is just right, very impressive Cal. Looking forward to Saturday!

[stevethibodeauxnsfc]

Great video Cal, Always a pleasure and education watching your projects. The new field looks wonderful. 73 N4SFC

[thomasperina]

Good morning Lord Callum: Thank you for this antenna video sir. IMHO please don't worry about you shaking while soldering sir. I'm 70 years old & I started building, & soldering when I was 7.5 to 8 years old but I can't do it now. Again sir I always love your antenna farm / test area so beautiful. Take care, God Bless, & my best to Wendy and the dogs. 73's old chap. TMP, Unit 22 from N.J.

[Rubedo]

It’s a biggun… it’s impressive that the swr is so steady. Very well done. ✅ 73. 💙

[brianfields]

thanks for sharing, I use my strimmer on the grass and the hedges, bushes, everything really, with safety specs of course. The dog looked like one of those white horse thingies on the hill, only in dog shape, it looked cool.

[seanwood]

DX Commander the home of antenna innovation ! That antenna is Bad to the Bone!

[Professzore]

Excellent...
For the greens: try to fill up the soil parts with a gravel layer of at least 5 cm thick. Some greens will still be able to penetrate through, but cleaning is seriously easier. Yep, once a month.

[dback]

I like the old 12.4 video better. Only because my call sign is the first one you hear 😂😂😂. Nice job. Gonna put mine back up for the winter.

[DonDegidio]

Hi Cal,
When you get into your 7th decade, those electric tools sure make it easier on the old joints. 🙂 New 12.4 looks great and the field looks presentable due to all your hard work. Liked the aerial footage at the end. Good luck on the Open Day. You and the family stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[REKlaus]

Callum, I have a little challenge for you. If nothing blows up between now and then I plan to purchase a classic from you this fall. My problem is that I do not have room to tilt up the antenna once assembled so I will have to assemble it on the ground then collapse it and put it up vertically one section at a time between the branches of some trees. The best place for me to put it would have it in between 2 spruce trees that are only about 5 feet apart, definitely not ideal. So here is the challenge if you choose to except it (and have time to do it) - temperately install a classic in the middle of the trees on the building side of your field where there is no room to tilt it up and see what the result is, how hard is it to put up and is it reasonably secure not to collapse. I realize the trees being parallel to the wires will likely change the tuning some, maybe considerably and the tuning my change seasonally.
Have a great week and great get together.
73 K1AUS

[jackKFIT]

When I put up my classic 2 years ago I sinned and did everything in metric since the element chart was in metric. Worked perfectly. Only a couple of minor adjustments needed. I use a rubber mulch tree ring around the bottom between the ground plate and element plate to help with grass. They should be available at a yard and garden supply. I can't be the only one wondering about the chair. 😁

[DaveForrest-yf]

Just finished putting my 12.4 together. Was out looking for the best location to stand it up and it started raining. Came in and watched the video. :). Hope it tunes as well as yours.

[Archiewinter]

I was an advocate of soldering as being 'the only' way. But it's dependent upon skill of hand. Crimping is repeatable and when done with correctly calibrated/checked tools (go/no-go gauges), forms pretty much a single, formed connection. I still solder though as crimp tools are expensive to buy/maintain!

[wino]

I spray a weed killer around the base of my DX Commander about once a month....keeps things manageable

[glmn-ron]

Having a bit of a tidy because of visitors Callum? Looking good. Sorry I can't make the open day, my niece is visiting me from NZ, family first.