The 9’ DX Whip — More Aperture. Real Gain. Drop-In Fit.
All-Band Tuning
Nine Feet of Adjustable Upper Radiator. Every Band Benefits.
Adding the 9′ DX Whip extends the upper radiator on any Greyline VDA, shifting the antenna’s electrical geometry across the entire 160–6M spectrum. Every band the antenna covers benefits from the added length — right up until the whip is extended past 5/8λ on a given band, where the lobe pattern begins to break up. Below that ceiling, longer is more efficient on every band.
The whip is adjustable from 3′ to 11.5′, so operators can choose a length that maximizes their highest band of interest. Where the geometry happens to hit 5/8λ resonance, the published literature documents up to 3.5 dBi over a 1/4-wave reference under ideal ground conditions — but that single-band peak is one detail in a broader story. The whip’s real job is to give every band on the antenna a longer effective radiator.
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 |
Every Greyline design decision traces back to named, published antenna physics — Zavrel W7SX, Kraus W8JK, Severns N6LF on ground systems, Maxwell W2DU on transmission lines, Lewallen W7EL on modeling. Not opinions. Cited works.
Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on... 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902