[Elecraft] KX-1 80M Question

[Fred Jensen]

On 3/16/2015 11:10 AM, Phil Hystad wrote:
> I have a KX1 with 80/30 and I very rarely use it.  In fact, I probably could have
> done just fine without ever having an 80 meter capability with the KX1.

I have 20-30-40 and would never use 80 with the KX1.  I really can't 
imagine getting 3W with a compromise antenna any farther than the road, 
maybe 700 ft out front of our place.
>
> As for antennas, consider getting a Buddipole or Buddistick.  I have the Buddistick
> and have used it successfully but never on 80 meters.

I had a BP for quite awhile.  It's a good antenna, but basically has two 
configurations despite the photos and diagrams in the literature: 
Horizontal and Vertical.  Horizontal, it's an OCF loaded dipole and 
except for 12 and 10, is too low at any achievable height.  I tried an 
extension mast made from copper water pipe, but with the stock tripod, 
it became top heavy and blew over in the lightest of winds.

I had my best results as a center-ish loaded vertical ground plane.  I 
ultimately got three of the 9' telescoping whips, used one for the 
radiator and two for two drooping radials.  Didn't need loading on 10 
and 12 meters.  Unfortunately, on SOTA summits, verticals tend to 
radiate downslope.

I tuned it with an MFJ-259.  Setup and tuning took quite a while [~30-45 
min] and band QSY took maybe 30 min.  It was fairly heavy, about 17 lbs. 
  I finally sold it and bought an Alexloop.  It, and a very lightweight 
tripod weighs less than 3 lbs, it sets up in 5 min, and works amazingly 
well.  It is insensitive to ground, I sit under it so I can reach up to 
the knob.  Tuning is a little touchy on 40, better on 30, and fine on 20 
and up.

Tuned magnetic loops are resonant transformers.  Bypass the ATU and tune 
the loop to 1:1.  If you "get it close" and then run the ATU, you'll 
have a fairly good, non-radiating dummy load.  Usual disclaimer, other 
than writing checks, I have no financial interest in Buddi-anything or 
or Alexloop.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org