[Elecraft] KX-1 Operation

[Mike WA8BXN]

Hi Arnie - 
 
I have a remote station set up at a friend's house in Delaware. Antenna is a
somewhat bent inverted V about 100 feet long fed with open line. There are
nearby power lines. 
 
With several rigs I got about the same feeling you did that there were not
any signals on, I was just hearing noise for the most part. Occasionally I
would hear a strong signal or two. I recently installed a Kenwood TS-480
there. I know that powerline noise usually is not gotten rid of with a noise
blanker, but the blanker on that radio is amazing. With it off noise is at
least s9+10 db and its hard to hear much of anything. When I push that noise
blanker button, the S meter drops and I hear many signals on bands that
should have them. 
 
I'm not sure what the real source of the noise is. There are nearby houses
and phone/cable lines nearby. 
 
I might suggest going to a park, toss the antenna wire up on a tree or bush,
tune the tuner and see what you hear on 40 meters. Have you tried listening
to 30 M? 
 
73 - Mike WA8BXN 
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
From: arnie lewin 
Date: 3/12/2011 8:15:43 PM 
To: 'Mike WA8BXN' 
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] KX-1 Operation 
 
Mike, 
 
Sorry, I forgot to give ALL the info...yes I do have a built in tuner. 
Funny, however I did not hear a lot of noise...it was just tuning across the

Band and hearing a constant low noise level. 
Currently, I am in Pasadena and one evening, I will go into the center 
Courtyard around the pool and try there. Problem is that I am surrounded by 
A 6 story building on 3 and a half sides.... 
 
Oh, lastly, this was done at about 8 PM 
 
Arnie 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Mike WA8BXN [mailto:hubby2k at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2011 5:05 PM 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net; arnie lewin 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX-1 Operation 
 
Hotels can be very noisy. I would try to get the antenna wire out a few feet

>From the building before letting it drop down. 
 
 
 
During the day, good chance you would not hear much on 80 meters. Try your 
Experiment outside in the evening. 
 
 
 
Do you have the built in tuner? Without it, that 24 foot wire is not going 
To work very well. 
 
 
 
73/72 - Mike WA8BXN 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
 
 
From: arnie lewin 
 
Date: 3/12/2011 7:50:31 PM 
 
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
 
Subject: [Elecraft] KX-1 Operation 
 
 
 
Dear folks: 
 
 
 
I am using, for the first time, a KX-1. The antenna, as recommended on the 
 
Elecraft FAQ page, is a 24 foot wire and a 16 foot radial. They are 
 
Connected to the KX-1 with a BNC to a double banana plug. 
 
 
 
I am on the road from time to time and spend a number of evenings in hotel 
 
Rooms. Earlier this week, I fired up the KX-1 for the first time since 
 
Purchase. 
 
 
 
I took the 24-foot antenna and dropped it out the 6th floor window. That 
 
Gave me about a 2 to 3 foot horizontal run to the window and the remainder 
 
Straight down. 
 
 
 
The radial was spread out in the opposite direction along the "dresser" and 
 
Then dropping down to the floor for the duration. 
 
 
 
Turning it on, I heard absolutely no signals on 75, 40 or 20. 
 
 
 
Today, I was outside and spread out the antenna and radial in a horizontal 
 
Fashion at about a 45 degree angle to each other. 
 
 
 
Signals were heard on 20, but again, nothing on 40 or 75. 
 
 
 
What suggestions do the seasoned KX-1 users have? 
 
 
 
Thank you VERY much 
 
 
 
Arnie 
 
W7BIA 
 
 
 
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