DX Commander Expedition Antenna Build and Review

It goes without saying that the DX Commander antennas are simply awesome and the DX Commander Expedition POTA Antenna is no different. They work, they work every time and are relatively fun and easy to build and use. In this video I am going over the POTA version of the DX Commander called the Expedition. Feel free to skip through the build if it gets too long. Table of contents is below to skip ahead. For this build I chose the following bands: 40/15, 20, 17 & 10.

Links to everything from the video:

Scene Selection:

0:00 - Intro
1:54 - Unboxing
8:31 - Building the plates
14:17 - Connecting the SO-239
19:30 - Assembly of the plates to the pole
21:40 - Attaching the Hose Clamps
26:56 - Cutting the Element Wires
28:53 - Soldering the Wires
35:05 - Final Prep Before Assembly
38:17 - Building the Antenna (10X Speed)
41:24 - SWR on the RigExpert
42:38 - Final Thoughts

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My Current Shack Setup:

DX Commander Classic

LDG AT200 PROII Tuner
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#hr4nt
#ki5npl
#hamradiofornontechies

[johnlinebarger]

@30:07 "Dam things hot" he said!!!! 😂😂😂 @31:25 "Preferably without burning the absolute piss out of myself." You got to stop your killing me smallz. I'm dead! ☠☠☠ Swear to God we are related. I really do love your videos but this one is special, and I love it. Sorry if it hurt, just glad to know that it is not just me.

[Jim.Hummel]

Nice video that covers all the essentials! Well Done!! If I recall, I think Callum includes a length of smaller diameter aquarium tubing that you'd use at the top for the loop over. Your hack was essentially the same thing except you made a removable loop for the end and you loop your element through that.

You've earned another subscriber! Your content is informative and fun! You've come a long way in a short time with your Ham journey. Congratulations!!

[MAV]

Cracking video bud - looking forward to the next one.

[TheNoCodeTech]

Wish I had the room for one of those.
Great video man. Thanks

[DKONV]

Hey Scot, afterwards a happy 50th birthday to you. And thx for another episode of HR4NT! 73's & happy wednesday de Your Friend Uncle Guenter

[TIGBB]

Excellent video and useful for Expedition build. 73s de TI2GBB- Greg

[edwymer]

Nice video
For the loop on the top section use a cotter pin and shove it gently into the top and glue it in.

[Ron-xnwf]

Another good video. What do you think about doing a video on how to use a Rigexpert. I see a lot of people use them but I haven't seen anyone explain how to use it.

[brentOhlookAsnake]

Ordered mine on Sunday, I live in New York, it’s already in Tennessee and it’s 2am Wednesday morning

[kevinmatthews]

ratchet crimpers all the time, i have had a pair for @ least 25 years never failed me, and still as good as new, nice video no fluff or bs too :)

[BigJohnsHamShack]

@31:25 is when I knew that we could be friends. LoL 73

[wlicanthony]

Great review and build. Maybe one day we can try out 10m again. Also can't wait to see it in person being used.

[brentOhlookAsnake]

I ordered the expedition over the classic as my wife would eventually, by next season, prefer to have a flagpole antenna as a permanent antenna. Up until the, all of my antennas are portable or modular to compliment my ft891 go box.

Plus I already had a expedition pole I ordered 2 years ago, I play to add 80 and extend the wire pole to pole

[MakeDoAndMend]

Hi its old George in the UK. I am a bit confused . Ham Radio For Non Techies. I got my Ham Licence in 1983 after going to College. We had to make an audio amplifier, then the Intermediate Stage. (IF) followed by front end (RF) That had to work. Followed by an exam which included rules, regulations and propagation. Soldering test and On Air Operation and if we passed we got out licence. Have they made it easier to get a licence these days. I've just got back into radio last month and the modern radios are certainly more technical than me. Spectrum displays programming chips. But I still get asked to solder PL259 plugs as some Hams cannot do this simple task. Crazy old world. Cheers from grumpy George. 🤠👍

[donausmus]

Regarding sealing, I think that Lexol non-silicon caulk might work as well. I ordered this antenna a few days ago.

[happyhome]

Orders placed - thanks for the suggestions. About the 3.4 on 10m, I thought there was tuning involved -- cutting the elements long, then running through the calculator to shorten as needed to move the respective frequency band ?

[mikeramsey]

The antenna looks awesome but the top few feet looked flimsy, I liked that you had less wires as compared to the classic.

[FiredogKC]

Thanks for the video! Just curious what type of coax and length you are using. 73's

[norbertstepien]

Might have been an idea to wrap tubing around pole to size it, then cut and feed onto hose clamp. Not a big issue, but removes guesswork.

[alexanderkhabibulin]

Great job!
Would like to know where I could buy these cube