[Elecraft] "random wire" and the KX3 ATU

[Wayne Burdick]

Jeff,

The KXAT3 has a very wide tuning range and is specifically designed  
for use with random-length antennas. Typically any wire longer than  
20' or so can be tuned up on 40-6 meters. A 74-foot antenna will  
probably be tunable to reasonable SWR on 160-6.

A random wire antenna can work very well -- comparable to a vertical  
or dipole depending on the band, radiation angle, and your ground  
system (if the random wire is worked against radials).

I use random wires almost exclusively. The KXAT3 does an excellent job  
with them. It will also do other magic tricks like make an 80-meter  
dipole work on all bands, or a 20-meter yagi work on 30-6 meters, etc.  
Efficiency will vary, but the transmitter will be happy.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Jun 26, 2012, at 7:55 PM, Jeff Herr wrote:

> I know folks who have had bad experiences using a "random" wire with  
> an ATU.
>
> Although I ordered a buddipole with the kx3 I still am interested in  
> getting
> A 74 foot length of wire up in the pine trees (I will have a  
> counterpoise)
> while up in the
> Lassen national forest.....we go there a lot.
>
> When I mention this I am met with much skepticism.
>
> Am I way off base?  Is this beyond the capabilities of the tuner?
> Is there a descriptive spec for the tuner that describes the range  
> of it
> matching capability?
>
> WW6L
>
>
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