Rapide Ham Radio Antenna (40m – 6m)

Overview

Now with:

NEW grey high-density polyethylene marine UV stable Plastic Spreaders

Alloy Screw Bases

Based on exactly the same principles as the All Band Classic, this version – the Rapide is based on a 7m telescopic DXC pole (physical length of circa 6.5-6.8m) which delivers exactly the same result as the Classic with pure quarter wave elements for 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m (with 6m band delivered by the 30m element as a 1 1/4 wavelength element). In testing, we achieved perfect matches for all bands and a fabulous pattern for DX.

Swap out 30m for 40m with a coil. See user guide.

Because it’s sslightly smaller and almost half the weight, the Rapide is easier and faster to build than the original Classic and is also supplied with 100m DX10 wire. The Rapide uses only 25m of wire for the elements leaving you with 75m of wire for the radials. That’s almost 4-wavelengths of wire for 20m band. Works superb on 30m or 40m (you choose).

Concentrating on the Rapide’s new features, this delivers every band from 30m up to 10m (6m with slight nudge of ATU) on a 6-element arrangement. For speed, users may choose to run less elements, say 30m, 20 and 17m – or any other pattern you may wish for.

Properly tuned, this antenna does NOT need any tuner, it should give you better than 1.5:1 on pure quarterwaves on: 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m with legendary DX Commander performance – and optionally 40m in place of 30m.

You want CB bands and not 12m? Fine, make the 12m element a tiny bit shorter and you have CB at your fingertips. Alternatively, cut the 30m element longer for a 5/8 (actually 3/4 wave) on 10m and with the spare slot, cut an 11m element. But you lose 30m.

You still want 40m band? You can do this my making a coil half-way between the base and the first spreader. See video at the top of page. ALL detailed in the user guide.

AFter making up the element, cut the remainder into 24 x 3m (about 10 feet) radials, you will have 4 x wavelengths of radials for 20m on the ground, possibly the most efficient you can achieve without burying lots of money or moving by the sea. Why 24 radials? You have 6 ground connections on the ground plate and if you crimp (or solder) 4 radials per fork connector, there’s 24 radials. This is fast to deploy.

Can’t do 360 degree circle of radials? This will work on 180 degrees – even 90 degrees.

In the box:

7m telescopic DX Commander pole

Plenty of fork connectors

Stainless wing nuts, bolts & washers

Some paracord for guying

Marlow Dyneema Shock Cord

Hex HCL EzyClamps as the stay-up kit

100m DX10 Wire

Aluminium Ground Plate

Aluminium Driven Plate

3 x NEW spreader plates(Guy, Mid and Upper Spreader)

SO239 assembly (with flying lead and fork connector attached)

Glue Lined Marine Shrink Wrap tubing

Actually everything you need apart from guy stakes.

Note: We don’t supply those little plastic carabiners for the shock-cord ends any more. They becomne brittle and break. We moved to a superier solution of stopper knots and loops. See User Guide.

NOTE: Tested at 1,600W key-down for 65 seconds at 14MHz. For QRO proof experience on 12m and 10m see user guide.

Attention International Customers

If you are purchasing from outside the UK, we can offer to send all DX Commander units to you with the VAT and import fees pre-paid! Simply place the order online without VAT, and we will contact you to let you know how much the additional fees are. The fees will be your local VAT rate plus a £16 courier handling fee.

If you would prefer to pay for the fees before placing the order, please contact [email protected] and we can send over a single payment link.

Product Information

Now with:

NEW grey high-density polyethylene marine UV stable Plastic Spreaders

Alloy Screw Bases

Based on exactly the same principles as the All Band Classic, this version – the Rapide is based on a 7m telescopic DXC pole (physical length of circa 6.5-6.8m) which delivers exactly the same result as the Classic with pure quarter wave elements for 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m (with 6m band delivered by the 30m element as a 1 1/4 wavelength element). In testing, we achieved perfect matches for all bands and a fabulous pattern for DX.

Swap out 30m for 40m with a coil. See user guide.

Because it’s sslightly smaller and almost half the weight, the Rapide is easier and faster to build than the original Classic and is also supplied with 100m DX10 wire. The Rapide uses only 25m of wire for the elements leaving you with 75m of wire for the radials. That’s almost 4-wavelengths of wire for 20m band. Works superb on 30m or 40m (you choose).

Concentrating on the Rapide’s new features, this delivers every band from 30m up to 10m (6m with slight nudge of ATU) on a 6-element arrangement. For speed, users may choose to run less elements, say 30m, 20 and 17m – or any other pattern you may wish for.

Properly tuned, this antenna does NOT need any tuner, it should give you better than 1.5:1 on pure quarterwaves on: 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m with legendary DX Commander performance – and optionally 40m in place of 30m.

You want CB bands and not 12m? Fine, make the 12m element a tiny bit shorter and you have CB at your fingertips. Alternatively, cut the 30m element longer for a 5/8 (actually 3/4 wave) on 10m and with the spare slot, cut an 11m element. But you lose 30m.

You still want 40m band? You can do this my making a coil half-way between the base and the first spreader. See video at the top of page. ALL detailed in the user guide.

AFter making up the element, cut the remainder into 24 x 3m (about 10 feet) radials, you will have 4 x wavelengths of radials for 20m on the ground, possibly the most efficient you can achieve without burying lots of money or moving by the sea. Why 24 radials? You have 6 ground connections on the ground plate and if you crimp (or solder) 4 radials per fork connector, there’s 24 radials. This is fast to deploy.

Can’t do 360 degree circle of radials? This will work on 180 degrees – even 90 degrees.

In the box:

7m telescopic DX Commander pole

Plenty of fork connectors

Stainless wing nuts, bolts & washers

Some paracord for guying

Marlow Dyneema Shock Cord

Hex HCL EzyClamps as the stay-up kit

100m DX10 Wire

Aluminium Ground Plate

Aluminium Driven Plate

3 x NEW spreader plates(Guy, Mid and Upper Spreader)

SO239 assembly (with flying lead and fork connector attached)

Glue Lined Marine Shrink Wrap tubing

Actually everything you need apart from guy stakes.

Note: We don’t supply those little plastic carabiners for the shock-cord ends any more. They becomne brittle and break. We moved to a superier solution of stopper knots and loops. See User Guide.

NOTE: Tested at 1,600W key-down for 65 seconds at 14MHz. For QRO proof experience on 12m and 10m see user guide.

Attention International Customers

If you are purchasing from outside the UK, we can offer to send all DX Commander units to you with the VAT and import fees pre-paid! Simply place the order online without VAT, and we will contact you to let you know how much the additional fees are. The fees will be your local VAT rate plus a £16 courier handling fee.

If you would prefer to pay for the fees before placing the order, please contact [email protected] and we can send over a single payment link.

Shipping And Returns

Shipping:

We have several shipping options for our products, including next-day and Saturday/Sunday delivery for certain items. Please see these options at checkout.

Returns:

If you have any equipment that needs to be returned to Martin Lynch & Sons, please fill out the form below:

Click here for returns form

Upon receipt of goods you have 14 days to return goods however the goods must be returned in original packaging and care must have been taken with the goods you wish to return. Under distance selling regulations you are not entitled to any refund on carriage charges or modification charges made at your request.

Warranty Terms and Conditions

Outside of the 14 faulty return period, returned items cannot be accepted, unless covered by manufacturer's warranty. We will repair as much as possible on site however in exceptional circumstances products may have to be returned to the manufacturer of distributor.

For repairs/replacements under manufacturer’s warranty for any item please download a ML&S return form from the link above and return to ML&S with the faulty product.

International Warranty information

Warranty service for items we sell is available in the U.K. only, unless otherwise noted. It is your responsibility to pay freight for returned items to the U.K. and back to you for desired warranty coverage. All of our NEW products come with a minimum 12 month warranty, (Yaesu & Icom 24 months), with up to 90 days on second-hand equipment. Items returned for service must state "returned goods for repair" on the return air waybill or U.K. import customs duties apply and will be added to your invoice. For more info about returning items please contact our customer help desk, [email protected]