DX Performance Parts · Greyline VDA Compatible
The 9’ DX Whip — More Aperture. Real Gain. Drop-In Fit.
The 9’ DX Whip extension adds 9 feet of radiating aperture to any Greyline DXF or DXV antenna. It installs in minutes, adds no visual bulk worth mentioning, and shifts your antenna’s 5/8λ sweet spot up by the equivalent of a full model size. The 20-foot becomes a 15M full-size performer. The 24-foot hits 5/8λ on 17M. These are real, measurable improvements — not approximations.
Direct Fit
Compatible with all DXF and DXV models — 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 foot. No tools beyond hand-tight. No modification to the antenna required.
Aperture Added
9 Feet
Shifts 5/8λ sweet spot by one full model size.
Peak Gain Added
Up to +3.5 dBi
At the 5/8λ sweet spot for the new combined height.
Installation
Minutes
Install whip into top cap. Hand-tight. Done.
The Physics
Why 9 More Feet Matters
For a vertical antenna, the 5/8λ point is peak gain — up to 3.5 dBi over isotropic at the optimum DX radiation angle. Below 5/8λ, gain is building. Above it, the pattern begins to rise in angle and the gain advantage diminishes. Adding 9 feet shifts your entire operating point up the gain curve toward — or to — the 5/8λ sweet spot on a higher band.
The effect is most pronounced on the bands where your combined height is closest to 5/8λ. On bands where the antenna is already well past 5/8λ, the whip has less effect — which is why the 28ft model sees diminishing returns from the whip on 15M (already at sweet spot) but meaningful improvement on 20 and 30 meters.
Physics foundation: Zavrel W7SX · Antenna Physics: An Introduction (ARRL, 2020) · gain figures at optimum angle over average ground.
W7SX Gain Data
What the Whip Does to Your Antenna — By Height
| Base + Whip | Total | 30M | 20M | 17M | 15M | 12M | 10M | New Sweet Spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 + 9 | 21 ft | -0.47 | 0.64 | 1.35 | 1.88 | 2.66 | 3.24 | 5/8λ 10M |
| 16 + 9 | 25 ft | -1.14 | 1.04 | 1.86 | 2.54 | 3.42 | EDZ | 5/8λ 12M |
| 20 + 9 | 29 ft | -0.47 | 2.27 | 3.54 | 2.50 | EDZ | EDZ | 5/8λ 15M — matches 28ft bare |
| 24 + 9 | 33 ft | -0.02 | 2.27 | 3.54 | EDZ+ | EDZ | EDZ | 5/8λ 17M + 1/2λ 20M |
| 28 + 9 | 37 ft | 0.38 | 2.89 | EDZ+ | EDZ | EDZ | EDZ | Low-band improvement; high bands past sweet spot |
dBi gain at optimum angle over average ground. Source: W7SX · Antenna Physics: An Introduction (ARRL, 2020). EDZ = Extended Double Zepp region — pattern lobing rises above DX-favorable angles. Gold = band sweet spot for that combined height.
Best Upgrade in the Lineup
The 20ft + whip (29ft total) achieves 5/8λ on 15 meters — matching the 28ft bare antenna. If you own a 20ft and want flagship 15M performance without replacing the antenna, this is the answer.
The 24ft + whip (33ft total) hits 5/8λ on 17M while simultaneously at 1/2λ on 20M. That’s the Founder’s home station configuration — the closest you can get to a 32ft antenna in a standard Greyline setup.
From the Founder
“I run a 32-foot at home and work Africa and Asia regularly on 10 through 30 meters. Real gain across every one of those bands. Go as tall as your lot allows — the multiband improvement is real.”
— Jon Kimball KL2A · Founder, Greyline Performance
Installation
Two Minutes. No Tools.
Install
Remove the existing top cap from your antenna. Thread the whip into it. Hand-tight. The ATU will automatically re-tune on first use — it detects the new configuration and updates its memory.
After Installation
If using an LDG remote ATU: reset the tuner memory on each band for the first tune. The new aperture means new impedance profiles — the tuner needs one pass per band to learn the configuration.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 feet |
| Compatibility | All DXF and DXV models — 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 ft |
| Material | Aluminum — lightweight, corrosion resistant |
| Installation | Uses existing top cap — no modification required |
| Peak Gain Potential | Up to +3.5 dBi at 5/8λ sweet spot (height dependent) |
| Shipping | Free — USA |
| Made In | Sun Valley, Idaho — USA |
Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on... 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902