[Elecraft] AX1 Disappointing Performance

[Dan Presley]

Life and portable QRP is always full of trade offs. In my case I’m only using about 6 feet of 316 so the advantage of being able to pack everything except the tripod in the Elecraft/Lowepro case is worth any small loss,as opposed to packing larger heavier coax.,especially if I’m hiking any distance. Speaking of Tom N6BT, I spent some time talking to him about maximizing the AX1 and his conclusion was elevating it and using 2/3 radials at a 45 degree angle,and making sure you get the best location-either by water or on the edge of a slope facing the direction you want to work. I’m already doing these things so the validation felt good. Careful antenna placement and attaching the radials will more than compensate for the feed line loss especially for short distances. Give it a try Jim as it sounds very similar to what I’m doing here in OR,and I bet you’ll have better results. 
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley at me. com 
N7CQR at arrl.net


> On Sep 26, 2024, at 15:58, Dennis Moore <dennis at mail4life.net> wrote:
> 
> 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
>> 
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