[Elecraft] KX1 SWR limits: general discussion [+ bonus LED

[Michael Babineau]

 From practical experience I can second Wayne's recommendation of a
near vertical 24 foot end fed wire for use with the KX1.

This is what I used for an antenna for most of the summer, along with
5 X 16 ft ground radials made from computer  ribbon cable and I had no
problems in matching it with the KXAT1.
I also had very good results,  including working a Lighthouse
station in the Orkney's on 20M one afternoon on International
Lighthouse / Lightship weekend.

I did find that I tend to get a better match on 40M with the wire 
mostly vertical
(ie sloping it seems to change the impedance enough to make the match a
bit iffy). I also found that if you are not too picky about 40m you can 
make do with
a slightly shorter wire, say 20ft, which goes very nicely with an SD-20 
or
Blackwidow fishing pole as a lightweight support (I hate to rely on 
mother nature
for antenna supports).  One of these days I will try to figure out how 
much additional
series inductance is needed to make a 20ft wire load nicely on 40M with 
the KXAT1.

I just tie a snap fishing swivel to one end of the wire to clip on the 
loop at the end of
the pole and put a banana plug on the other end.

Michael VE3WMB