[Elecraft] Is it my KX3/antenna or is it lousy band condx?

Sun Aug 13 12:52:57 EDT 2017

Great advice!

With one exception, every transmitter and receiver I've ever seen has 
had an balanced output -- that is, a coaxial connector of some sort. 
Current flows in loops -- the center conductor feeds one side of the 
loop, the chassis feeds the other.  The exception was my very first 
transmitter, a military surplus BC-459, which had a single terminal fed 
from the output of an internal matching network. The return for output 
current was the chassis, which was mounted to the chassis of the 
military vehicle or aircraft in which it was used, and the chassis of 
that vehicle or aircraft acted as the other half of the antenna.

The suggestion to use a BNC to female "dual Banana" adapter is a very 
good one. I've used one for exactly this purpose with my K2 and KX3 when 
operating portable. It makes a very easy way to connect wire antennas.

73, Jim K9YC

On 8/13/2017 5:43 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> Forget about "what you've been told".   Do your own research using various publications such as ARRL Antenna Book or other like publications.   Personally in the "I've been told" area, it seems hams have more incomplete and inaccurate information than correct and complete information.
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 13, 2017, at 7:31 AM, rich hurd WC3T <rich at wc3t.us> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all, particularly Walter (since he mentioned it):
>>
>> I've been bedeviled by a question with multiple possible answers.
>>
>> I'm a fan of the idea of using a field antenna as Walter describes by using
>> a BNC - to binding post connector directly to the radio.
>>
>> I'm leery of that because it flies in the face of what I've been told about
>> these antennas:  I'm assuming the radio BNC connection is unbalanced and
>> the wires form a balanced antenna, more or less.  I've seen deployments
>> with end-fed 9:1 baluns and without, even documented on YouTube with great
>> successes.
>>
>> I can tell you that the 9:1 balun setup doesn't seem to be working for my
>> current field deployment but I'd sure like to understand why a balun isn't
>> recommended in this setup.  I'd love to just take the wire and put it on my
>> WonderPole and go for it, but I'd like the understanding first.    Why does
>> this work?   :)
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 13:19 Walter Underwood <wunder at wunderwood.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> You can get a quick look at band conditions at http://bandconditions.com <
>>> http://bandconditions.com/>
>>>
>>> Using Buddistick on 40 m is a real challenge. I would not be surprised if
>>> that was an S-unit or more below a full-size dipole.
>>>
>>> Try the simplest field antenna for the KX3, two wires connected directly
>>> to the rig. Get a BNC to double binding post adaptor. Get a wire 26 to 29
>>> feet long, throw it in a tree and hook one end to the red post. Get a 16
>>> foot wire, lay it on the ground and connect it to the black post. Let the
>>> ATU tune it and see you can hear.
>>>
>>> wunder
>>> K6WRU
>>> Walter Underwood
>>> CM87wj
>>> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>>>
>>>> On Aug 11, 2017, at 9:54 AM, Tommy <tommy58 at hvc.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The band has been really crappy lately. Keep tuning around and listening.
>>>>
>>>> 73!
>>>>
>>>> Tom - KB2SMS
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On 08/11/2017 12:33 PM, Mike Parkes wrote:
>>>>> Okay I am reaching our to the Elecraft enthusiasts here for some
>>> feedback
>>>>> if anyone cares to chime in.
>>>>> I am just getting back on the air after years away from the hobby, so I
>>> am
>>>>> not that familiar with band conditions in general. It looks like the
>>>>> sunspot cycle is heading for the cellar (if it isn't already there).
>>>>>
>>>>> Recently bought a KX3 and a Buddistick vertical (like, 2 weeks ago).
>>> Love
>>>>> the KX3 it is a great radio... however... so far my efforts to hear
>>> much of
>>>>> anything, much less make a contact with someone, has been frustrating to
>>>>> say the least. I live in an apartment and am surrounded by power lines
>>> for
>>>>> one thing. The background noise level on 40 is pretty bad varies but is
>>>>> s7-9 mostly. I  took my setup to a nearby park and the bands were
>>>>> definitely quieter. So the local manmade noise level is an issue (and
>>> one
>>>>> reason I chose the KX3 was the hope that its rcvr and filtering could
>>> help
>>>>> with that.)
>>>>>
>>>>> Have yet to make a single contact, so I am just wondering if I just
>>>>> happened to choose a really lousy period of solar conditions for HF? Or
>>> is
>>>>> the base loaded vertical a joke?
>>>>>
>>>>> I would love to be able to find another ham even close by just to try
>>> and
>>>>> get some sort of an HF QSO even if it is with someone down the block.
>>>>> ...I can tune down to the AM broadcast band and was able to hear some
>>> local
>>>>> AM stations. :)
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike AB7RU
>>>>>
>>>>> (On a side note the tuner in the KX3 is great!. That thing was able to
>>> get
>>>>> a match for 80 meters on the Buddistick which was showing something like
>>>>> 25:1 swr. The KX3 tuner clicked and rattled for a while and found a
>>> match
>>>>> to <2:1. Not sure how much actual RF is going out, probably not much...
>>> but
>>>>> I was amazed it could tune to that high an SWR.)
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>> -- 
>> 73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
>> Rich Hurd / WC3T
>> DMR ID: 3142737
>> Northampton County RACES
>> EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
>> Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
>> *FN20is*
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