[Elecraft] Elecraft AX-1 Whip Antenna

[Wayne Burdick]

> On Sep 22, 2022, at 9:47 AM, Jim Clymer <ws6x.ars at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Sep 22, 2022, 11:28 AM Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
> Yes indeed.
> 
> This is why you need an ATU when using such antennas. The ATU can correct for terrain, counterpoise length and deployment, body capacitance, conductors associated with other connected devices, etc.
> 
> Wayne
> 
> So that would lead me to believe that matching requirements for bicycle mobile with a trailing counterpoise would be a moving target.

I haven't tried that myself but yeah, probably.

However, radios like the KX2 and KX3 are tolerant of dynamic SWR variations. For example if you hit the ATU button at some point and the SWR goes to 1:1, then walk (or bike) over varied terrain that causes the SWR To vary from 1:1 to 2:1, the radio won't complain. Only if the SWR gets really high will power rollback occur.

Without the ATU, and using an electrically short/narrowband antenna, you might see SWR vary from 1:1 to 10:1. 

Wayne
N6KR