[Elecraft] KXAT1 with dipole

[Jack Regan]

Dan,

FWIW, at home I run my KX1 into a trapped 40 meter dipole (only 38ft. long)
that is resonate around 7.040. I have a HI-Q 1:1 balun installed and have
75ft of feedline. The dipole is a flattop running NE to SW up about 40 ft. I
have worked Alaska and NM and AZ and Southern California to mention just a
few of my QRP contacts. I also run 13.8 watts into the unit at home. On the
KX1 it shows a .5 Volt drop to 13.5.  I have the internal tuner for the KX1
installed and I set it for CAL mode and I get 4+ watts and 1.0 SWR out of
it. I can work up to 7.058 and down some with switching to Tun mode.

I also run the unit outdoors into long wires (usuually 28 ft with
counterpoises) and use the TUN mode and get very low SWR readings and
perhaps a half watt less power. The reduction in power might be attributted
to the lower power into the unit. I use a small 2800AH 12 volt batter that
charges to about 13.5 and delivers at least 12 volts by the time I use it in
the field.

Jack Regan, AE6GC
 
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dan Presley
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 12:13 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] KXAT1 with dipole

I was out in the woods of Oregon today (up by the coast range town of 
Jewell) with my KX 1 and a few different antennas. I used a long wire 
for a while, but then for the heck of it I set up a 40M inverted vee 
with my portable mast. The KXAT1 had no trouble with the long wire 
(and counterpoises) bringing it right down to 1:1, but no such luck 
with the dipole ( cut to resonate on 40, and fed w/RG 174).I've used 
this antenna a bunch w/ the K2 and it's pretty much a 1:1, but when 
using the KX1 atu I got around 9:5 SWR! So, I promptly forgot how to 
bypass the tuner (until I got home and re-read the manual;set it to 
'CAL':).But,also in the manual it states that it'll match most coax 
type dipoles, etc.Elsewhere it's stated that it won't match a half 
wave length,but I wasn't clear if that's only for a half wave end 
fed.I'll bet it's the same for a resonant dipole as it's a ground 
independent half wave, but maybe someone who has come up against this 
before can clarify as far as the tuner is concerned. I usually bring 
a separate antenna 'dipper' just to check the antenna in case there's 
a short or bad coax,etc., but that got left behind. Just for 
reference, I use the lightweight dipole kit from N2CX with a nice 
sealed center insulator and RG 174 (I know it's not the most 
efficient, but for a short run it's fine and very lightweight). I'm 
still trying to find more of the type of wire he used in there-it's 
springy yet has a great slick and tough coating which holds up well 
in trees, etc, It's also a light yellow in color so it blends 
nicely.N2CX quit making these kits a while back and ran out of that 
wire.The 'Wireman' sells some similar stuff,(524?) but it's still not 
the same.
Any thought appreciated on the tuner-I'm trying to get as much 
outdoor radio time in before summer ends:)
-- 
Dan Presley-N7CQR-Portland, Or QRP-L #502 ARS #71
n7cqr at arrl.net
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