[Elecraft] Best Antenna Portable/Tabletop Operation for KX3

[Bruce Beford]

> Looking for the best out of the worst kind of antenna for my KX3 all band.

 

I think you just summed it up nicely yourself. These telescopic antennas
with loading coils at the bottom are all going to be many dB down from even
a modest wire antenna on a push up pole, like a Jackite kite pole. 

 

possible exception: you are on a beach with your ankles in salt water.

 

Fact is, you -can- make contacts on anything, including a dummy load, when
conditions are great. Another fact is, conditions are not always great. My
opinion is that if you put some thought into how to get some wire in the
air, something that is packable and easy to set up, (Like the kite poles)
you will be far more satisfied than messing with the small tapped coil (or
adjustable coil) jobs. Yes, they will work- sometimes. But you'll get far
more operating performance and enjoyment out of  something else. It's fairly
simple to bungee a pole to the edge of a picnic table, and you can easily
have an 88ft doublet up as an inverted vee in no time.

 

Good luck,

Bruce, N1RX