[Elecraft] AX1 Disappointing Performance

[Dennis Moore]

Jim, I worked JA on FT8 with the AX1 on 17m from my back patio. I had it 
set up on a tripod with a 25' RG58 cable.

Check out the SuperAntenna MP1. Easy to set up and tune, package is 
about the same size as the original Buddistick package but I think it's 
easier to set up. I set mine up a couple of weeks ago in the middle of a 
redwood forest near Santa Cruz and got good signal reports from as far 
as Florida (not QRP).

I just bought a KXPA100 this week to go along with the fantastic KX3/PX3 
combo I bought from you.  Got it yesterday and I've been playing with it 
on the kitchen counter with a dummy load all day getting it configured. 
Heading to Half Moon Bay during CQP to operate from a bluff overlooking 
the ocean. I'm giddy.

Best of luck on the surgery.

73, Dennis NJ6G

On 9/26/2024 3:05 PM, James Bennett via Elecraft wrote:
> Understood about the losses, even though I’m only running 25 feet of it - trying to keep my POTA “bag” fairly light. My main concern was how far away from the desired operating frequencies the AX1 turns out to be. Not even close to the “specs” +- 200 KHz.
>
> I still have some experimenting to do before I give up and take another approach to the antenna situation. As I live in a high desert, many of the POTA sites within easy driving distance are tree-less. That means either the AX1 or a Buddistick, or having to put up some sort of anchored fiberglass mast to run an EFHW to. More crud to have to transport. I’ll get it done one way or the other. Till then I’ve got some prostrate surgery coming up that most certainly will impact my mobility for a while. :-(
>
> Jim Bennett / K7TXA
>