HF Vertical Antenna · 160–6M · No Radials · Made in USA
The DXV16 — Versatile. Deployable Anywhere.
The DXV16 covers rooftop, deck, and field installations. No flagpole hardware — clean bare vertical. 16 feet of aperture delivers solid performance from 160 through 6 meters. No radials, no ground system. Deploys on any surface.
DXV vs DXF — Same Physics, Different Profile
The DXV is the bare vertical — no flagpole hardware, no flag kit. Same OCF VDA physics as the DXF. Choose DXV for rooftop, deck, commercial, POTA, or any install where the flagpole aesthetic isn't needed. Want the flagpole version? See the DXF16 →
Band Coverage
160–6M
All HF bands. One antenna.
Wind Rating
132 MPH
ASCE 7-10 engineered. Single rating, no flag load.
Guarantee
7 Years
Free shipping USA. Made in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Field Report — Phoenix, AZ HOA
“160–6M with the 16' DX Flagpole and SGC-237. Excellent solution for HOA community ham radio operation.” Confirmed SWR on every band from 160 through 6 meters. HOA height restriction: 16 feet maximum.
— Roy · KJ7CWQ · 16' DXF (same VDA core) · Verified Owner
The Physics
Why No Radials — and Why It Works
Traditional quarter-wave verticals feed at the current maximum at the base — pushing maximum I²R loss directly through soil. Every ohm of ground resistance sits in series with your radiation resistance, stealing signal before it leaves your yard.
The Greyline VDA is a vertical dipole. Covers 160–6M from a single feedpoint with no radials. Return current flows through the lower element, not through a buried radial field — significantly reducing ground coupling. Strong performer on 20M and above. Near 1/2λ on 10 meters. Consistent on any mounting surface.
The physics behind the no-radial vertical dipole is established, published work — the full reference shelf is cited below, and a deeper VDA explainer lives in the Signal Lab for further study.
Before You Install — Run a Noise Audit
The VDA's 2-inch pole footprint is the smallest ground signature of any full-HF-coverage antenna. A traditional radial field extends hundreds of feet at 160 meters — running toward every noise source on the property. The VDA goes where you choose. Grab a battery-powered AM radio, tune off any broadcast station, walk your property, and find the quietest spot. That's where the pole goes.
Full Installation Guide →In the Box
Everything You Need. Nothing You Don't.
Antenna System
- 16' DXV HF Vertical VDA Radiator
- RF Choke & Precision Feedline Hardware
- Ground Sleeve Kit
- Assembly Manual & Tuning Guide
- 7-Year Performance Guarantee
Structural Engineering
Built for Real Weather
Every DXV carries a single wind rating — no flag load variable. ASCE 7-10 engineered throughout.
| Model | Wind Rating | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| DXV12 | 175 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXV16 | 132 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXV20 | 105 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXV24 | 82 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
| DXV28 | 65 MPH | ASCE 7-10 |
Ratings per ASCE 7-10.
Take It Further
Upgrades That Actually Move the Needle
9' DX Whip
Adds 9 feet of aperture. Up to 3.5 dBi additional gain potential on the key DX bands. Lightweight, stealthy.
View Whip →LDG RT-100 Bundle
125W weatherproof remote tuner at the feedpoint. DC over coax. One-button tuning 160–6M. Bundle and save.
View Bundle →Want a Flagpole?
The DXF16 delivers identical VDA performance in a premium flagpole with HOA documents included.
See the DXF16 →Feed System Note
The DXV is a balanced VDA — tuner and RF choke must maintain a floating balanced feed. See the Tuner & Balun Configuration Guide →
Specs & Shipping
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 16 feet |
| Band Coverage | 160–6M (all HF + 6M) |
| Design | VDA — Vertical Dipole Antenna, OCF |
| Power Handling | Legal limit — constrained only by ATU rating |
| Radials Required | None |
| Material | 6061-T6 Aircraft-Grade Aluminum + Fiberglass |
| Wind Rating | 132 MPH — ASCE 7-10 |
| Shipping | Free — USA. International rates at checkout. |
| Made In | Sun Valley, Idaho — USA |
| Guarantee | 7-Year Performance Guarantee |
DXV or DXF? Same VDA core. The DXF16 adds flagpole hardware, flag kit, and HOA Architectural Brief. Choose DXV for rooftop, deck, or any non-HOA install.
Wind Rating
132 MPH
ASCE 7-10 · Single rating — no flag load
Strong suburban rating. Compact lots, rooftop installs, side yards. Meaningful step up on 40M and 80M over the 12'.
5/8λ Sweet Spot
10M
Near 1/2λ on 10M
Approaches half-wave on 10M. Strong 15M and 12M. Covers 160–6M, no radials, no traps.
Construction — 6061-T6 Aircraft Aluminum
Outside: 2" OD, full length — uniform profile top to bottom. Clean. Sleek. Invisible as an antenna. Inside: wall graduates where the physics demands it — 0.125" lower 30% where base bending stress peaks, 0.065" upper 70% where reducing mass at height lowers dynamic wind loads. Zero plastic. All-metal. McMaster-Carr hardware throughout.
At 16 feet, the Greyline VDA presents 2.67 square feet of wind surface — height × outer diameter. A competing design using a larger diameter at the same height presents proportionally more. Wind force scales with projected area linearly and with velocity squared — doubling the diameter does not double the problem, it dramatically compounds it. More mass at height also increases dynamic fatigue loading on every oscillation cycle. Material where the physics demands it. Not where it adds weight without benefit.
Every Greyline wind rating is derived from ASCE 7-10 structural engineering values — actual geometry, actual math, published methodology. A wind rating without a cited standard is a guess dressed as a spec. Ask any antenna maker which standard they used. If they can't cite one, you have your answer.
Limited Edition · Artisan Production Run
This unit was built by hand — one at a time — by someone who knows every inch of it.
Same engineering. Same guarantee. Threaded metal-to-metal section marriages — no compression collars, no through-bolting. Cleaner joint, less weight, same ASCE 7-10 wind ratings.
Manufacturing expanding. Things coming this year. Watch this space.
Common Questions
Before You Order — Answered.
What's the current lead time and availability?
Each antenna is hand-built to order during our current artisan production run — typical lead time runs a few weeks, returning to ship-from-stock as the run completes. Current lead time is always posted on our Order Status page → Call 435-200-4902 for a specific ship date.
How long does shipping take once it leaves Sun Valley?
USA shipping is free. Ground transit runs 2–5 business days from Sun Valley, Idaho. Tracking sent at shipment. International rates calculated at checkout.
What's included — do I need to source anything separately?
Everything to assemble and mount is in the box. You supply coax and an ATU. That's it.
✓ VDA Radiator (your chosen height)
✓ RF Choke & Precision Feedline Hardware
✓ Ground Sleeve Kit — in-ground, tower, roof, deck, dock compatible
✓ Assembly Manual & Tuning Guide
✓ 7-Year Performance Guarantee
Do I need an ATU — will my radio's internal tuner work?
Yes, an external ATU is required. The VDA presents variable impedance across its operating range — that's how it covers 160–6M from a single feedpoint with no traps and no radials. Most internal tuners won't handle the full impedance range on every band.
An external ATU lives in one of two places, and both are right depending on your run. For a short feedline run, a desktop ATU at the radio is the simpler path — it stays warm and dry indoors and you can hear it tune. For a longer run, a weatherproof remote ATU at the antenna base keeps the match close to the feedpoint; the LDG RT-100 is a low-cost 125W fit for that job. Either way, note that all ATUs carry a reduced power rating for digital modes (FT8, Winlink, JS8Call) due to 100% duty cycle heat loading — check your tuner's digital rating before running full power on those modes. Running high power? The antenna handles the full legal limit on every band — the tuner is the only ceiling, and higher-power ATU options are available. Antenna + ATU bundles →
Is the ATU bundle the best value?
Yes. Every DXV is available bundled with the LDG RT-100 at a discount. Free shipping USA. Shop all bundles →
How difficult is installation? How long does it take?
Most operators are on the air in under an hour. Dig a post hole, build the antenna sections (15–30 min), drop it in, run coax, connect the ATU. All stainless hardware comes pre-fastened — no loose hardware to lose in the grass.
Assembly documents at Setup & Manuals → Questions during install? Call 435-200-4902.
What does the 7-Year Guarantee cover?
Seven years of performance coverage. If it fails under normal operating conditions, we make it right. No questions asked. A customer's antenna fell in a severe ice storm — we sent a replacement immediately. Full terms at 7-Year Warranty Policy →
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.
The full shelf — Zavrel, Kraus, Severns, Maxwell, Lewallen — lives under The Signal Lab · The Shelf We Read From in the menu, open to everyone.
Ham Radio is fun again! Pass it on... 73, The Greyline Performance Team · Sun Valley, Idaho · 435-200-4902