[Elecraft] KXAT1 with short whip antennas?

[eqtc at xs4all.nl]

Martin,

I understand that a whip attached directly to the BNC jacket of the KXAT1
could give mechanical frictions. The BNC is soldered directly onto the
KXAT1 pcb without support of the enclosure and that makes it somewhat
fragile.

Have fun on the bike and 73 from bikeland nr. 1 : Netherlands ;)

Dick/PA2DW

> Hi.
>
> I read the manual for the KXAT1 and the advice for
> antennas states that short whip antennas should only
> be used in emergencies.
>
> Text of the manual included below.
>
> This seems strange because when I read the HFPack
> yahoo group I can find lots of HAMs who are using the
> KX1/KXAT1 with various HF whips attached to bicycles
> with varying degrees of success.  Any HF whip
> connected
> to a bicycle must be a "short" whip, probably loaded.
>
> Anyone have an opinion or personal experience who
> can shed some light?
>
> I'd like to fit the KX1 to my bike!
>
> Martin.
>
> Manual text:
>
> Backpacking Verticals: The KXAT1 may improve the match
> to a backpacking-style vertical. If the
> antenna has a loading coil, you should first adjust it
> for minimum SWR, since such antennas can be very
> narrow-banded. Set the ATU menu entry to CAL mode
> (bypass) for this purpose, then back to TUN
> mode to further match the antenna using the KXAT1 (if
> necessary).
>
> Whip Antennas: Short whip antennas connected directly
> to the KX1 may damage the antenna jack or PC
> board, and so should only be used in an emergency.
> They are also very poor radiators.
>
> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
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