[Elecraft] KX3 and AX1 working great today

[Hank]

Just wanted to mention how my little KX3 keeps impressing me!  We took the jeep up a rough old FS road to get us near W4G/HC-037 so we could hike the last little bit.  The old fire tower is still there but slated for demolition.  I set up the KX3 on a big rock facing down the powerline ROW.  I attached the AX1 to the rig and laid the counterpoise off down the steep hill.  I connected the rig to an external LiFePo battery so I could run all 15 watts.  I spotted myself on 20 meters SSB and made a few calls when F4WBN came back and gave me a good signal report!  I worked Kansas, New Hampshire, and Minnesota to name a few.  

I also attached a 1/4 wave whip and counterpoise directly to the KX3 and held it over my head and made a few 2 meter FM contacts on 3 watts- one 5 counties away on another mountain top!

My only disappointment was my little 7.5aHr battery that couldn't keep voltage high enough to run 15 watts and I ended up the day working with only 5 watts.  It was still a good day in the woods - hiking and 4 wheeling!

Hank
K4HYJ