[Elecraft] {KX1} Antenna Matching Question

[stan levandowski]

When following the instruction in the KXAT1 manual and using a wire 
between 24-28 feet and a 16' counterpoise for 40 and an 8' counterpoise 
for 20, the best I can ever get is a 1.6 SWR on 20 and 2.8 SWR on 40.  

I've spent lots of time shortening and lengthening wires and writing 
down results and I can't hit the magic combination.


The manual also makes it clear on page 8 that a 1:1 SWR is NOT necessary 
for good performance.  I believe this because the little KX1 makes me 
plenty of contacts with this setup, including DX.


I suppose I could just be happy....


However, it bothers me that these SWRs are the best I can do. I don't 
like seeing these high ratios on the display.   I built this KX1 but had 
Don Wilhelm build and install the 30/80 module for me.  As part of his 
service, he went over my KX1 and told me that it was up to spec.


So my question is:  Has any KX1 user out there figured out a wire 
length, length and number of counterpoises, etc. that gives a better 
match with the KXAT1's capabilities??


When I say I use a wire, I mean I throw it up into a tree and get it as 
vertical and possible, then I lay out the counterpoise wires and it all 
attaches directly to the KX1 with a dual binding post.  Just real 
simple!


Thanks for any words of advice and 73,
Stan WB2LQF