[Elecraft] KX-1 Antenna Recommendations

[Jim Sheldon]

Tom & other interested parties,
My portable antenna of choice has been my own rendition of the PAC-12
take-apart vertical.  I've used it quite successfully and have mine built to
break down in pieces small enough to fit in the carrying case with the KX1.
I also use one with my K2 and have had many fine contacts with both.  The
bands of choice are 40, 30 and 20 for both rigs in the field.  It's easy to
change coils on the PAC-12 to change bands, and being ground mounted on a
spike and only needing 5 or 6 ten foot radials (these will wind up nicely in
one "camper's clothesline" reel which you can get for $1.49 at Wally World)
and I carry a small wire spool with 80 feet of RG-174/U coax fitted with BNC
connectors on both ends.  The 80 feet is an arbitrary length, and
corresponds to some that was given to me with connectors already
commercially installed.  I believe it came out of a de-commissioned GE MRI
medical imager.  Sure comes in handy though.  I've worked some pretty exotic
DX with this combo and the QRP K2 and a couple of weeks ago while standing
in for Elecraft at a hamfest, the propagation on 30 meters was fantastic and
quite a few of the hamfest goers worked W1AW from Enid, Oklahoma using both
the K2 and KX1 from our display table.  

I have the KX1, PAC-12, 2300 MaH AA cells in a 10 cell pack for 12 volts
worth of battery, PAC-12 parts to make up the antenna for 40, 30 and 20
meters and the 80 foot roll of coax in a nice little camera/tool case I got
from Harbor Freight for $12.99 plus tax.  This case measures 11.5 x 7.5 x
4.5 inches on the outside.  I used some thin PVC sheet I happened to have
laying around to compartment it and make packing it easier.  I have the K2
fitted in a larger case that cost around 30 bucks from the same source.  The
K2 @ 5 watts will run at least half a day on the internal battery, and I
have a 30 watt solar panel with a charge controller that can pretty much
keep it going all day at that power level on CW and much longer on SSB.  I
probably need to take some pictures of these cases and post them somewhere
so everyone can see them.

72 & enjoy -- 
Jim Sheldon, W0EB
K2 #4338 & KX1 #1268
> 
> On 11/15/05, tjdooley at comcast.net <tjdooley at comcast.net> wrote:
> > I have a question for the collective out there.  What is 
> your favorite 
> > antenna to take to the field or backyard.