[Elecraft] Elecraft KX1 Success to Bed

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

While I'm the first to acknowledge, and strongly recommend, the use of a
counterpoise with any end-fed wire, last night I turned on the KX1 and =
stuck
the banana plug for one of my outside wires in the antenna connector (I =
use
a BNC/SO239 adapter - let's me connect an antenna using a "UHF" plug or =
a
banana plug with one adapter).=20

The wire was too close to 1/2 wave long on 40 meters for the ATU to =
handle,
so I pulled the ground off just for fun. It found a decent SWR that way,
thanks to a lousy, lossy ground, no doubt. Then I heard Doc, K0EVZ =
calling
CQ on 7040. I've worked Doc a number of times at his QTH in Bismark, =
North
Dakota. It's a short hop from my QTH in Northwestern Oregon so I gave =
him a
shout to say "Hello". He came right back with a 559 from his NEW digs in
northern New Mexico using his K2! We continued to chat for half an hour
before my list of chores that needed finishing last night made me =
finally
say 73.=20

The moral of the story is, if it loads, try it. You'll NEVER know how =
much
better it might get out with a better wire, counterpoise or ground, but =
you
might not care either <G>

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
Wayne, what length did you use to wall mount?  I am thinking about =
putting
up a loop! ;-} I could skip the ground counterpoise.

Bill=20
K9YEQ
=20
KX1 (FT - #35),  K2 (FT - #35)
=20