[Elecraft] AX1 SOTA

[Dan Presley]

Just wanted to pass along my first impressions of the AX1 on a recent SOTA activation. I picked up the antenna at the Seapac hamfest in Oregon last week,and then a group of us hams were headed to a SOTA site this last Sunday in the Oregon cascade range. We went to Clear Lake Butte not far from Mt Hood to a fire lookout tower site. A 2 mile hike up a pretty steep road but we made it. I set up my KX2 and the AX1 on a picnic table and spread out 3 13 foot radials. It tuned right down to 1:1
on 20 and in very short order I had 15 contacts from North Carolina to
Texas,Arizona,Colorado,Missouri and some west coast guys. Running 5 W cw,and then switched to 17 M for a few more coast to coast Q’s. Of course we had a 4500 foot elevation and practically no noise but still it performed very well. Of course the tiny size is a plus when you’re backpacking up a steep grade! Wayne and Eric have another winner on their hands. Thanks guys!


Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley at me. com 
N7CQR at arrl.net