Nice review. I think for the money and functionality though, the MFJ might be the better way to go. I'm thinking a head to head comparison may be in order.
Over the weekend I made a 20 minute CW QSO with 10 watts from California to South Carolina on 20m using a KX3 and AX1. The signal rpt was 449. I also made a SSB phone contact from California to Tokyo with 15watts. Both were made sitting at a park bench. I was happy with that. There were two pileups on SSB that were impossible for me to crack. I was thinking this will be more efficient on 17m, but I haven't tried it yet.
Funny I was eye balling the AX1 just yesterday. And doing so for much the same reasons you mention. Quick deploy almost anywhere with my KX2. And small enough that you have it as part of your kit. I do look forward to your comparison with the MFJ. Mark w6xyz
I just bought one… it’s on it’s way to my QTH. I’ve had my KX2 for five years now… and have had phenomenal performance from it afield. I use a 7m mast, wire antennas of all sorts, preferring my LNR Precision Trail Friendly, or a simple resonant speaker wire dipole. That said, the best performance came from a wire vertical, resonant @ 7.250mHz and an elevated radial @ 3’ sloping up to the feedpoint @ 7’, hanging from a 12m Spiderbeam mast. The radial being directional, I have worked a gray line down into Singapore. Prop was crap too that dusk… Elecraft has never let me down… the AX1 may have it’s limits, but it will deploy fast, and get me on the air more. 72! de W7UDT
I have the MFJ 1820T 23.95 , I can't see the AX1 being much better if any better. With my KX2 and adjusting the antenna length have been able to tune all 3 bands the AX1 does. I also hooked a wire to the antenna and tuned 40m not saying it would work but hey in a pinch lol, I have wires for that. Just a note on the 1820T, it too will unscrew and break down small enough to fit the larger KX2 case, just need to heat it up carefully and unscrew. I have talked to Hawaii, BC and Alaska on my 1820T so it works but doesn't have the bling that the KX1 has. Thanks for the review.
Yea the car seems to work even a metal trash can lol' but i have added a radial just put i under the magnet. I haven't done a lot of testing but it works ok like you said its quick. I had the antenna in Arkansas and Oklahoma received stations from CA to FL couldn't make a contact receive is good 10w out not always good. The guys that do CW probably do the best. 73's
It’s a very surprising antenna-quite hard to make contacts with, but the ones you do make can be frankly a bit mind blowing. My first QSO was southern GA from OH using it like a HT whip in my backyard, and my first QSO portable was to the far NW of WA. You can go an hour with no contacts and then BAM nab something ridiculously far off. Maybe the low launch angle coupled with a bit of luck from the propagation gods?? Try the 40M extension if you can-it works.
wish people would stop calling impedance matching as "resonance". resonance is a completely different thing - it is where +j0 (or X=0) and is quite frequently different from the point of lowest SWR.
I enjoyed your review. When it comes to antennas I prefer to build my own. I build my antennas using designs like windom, zepp, double zepp, etc. Wire has been my mainstay plus adaptation of the CB 102 inch stainless steel whip. I consider my antenna to be the most important piece of equipment of my system with the operator being the most important. While the AX1 is a nice compromise antenna that many will purchase and use, it is not my preference for an adequate antenna. You might check Paul, AA8WQ Kitchen Table Portable use of the AX1, th-cam.com/video/8f96PotvDsI/w-d-xo.html. Happy New Year Josh.
Pretty pricey for what it is. You could stick the Elecraft name on a length of string and people would pay $20 a foot for it. I'm also not sure that it giving a low SWR on a particular band equates to it being an efficient radiator. My 50 ohm dummy load has a SWR of 1:1 across the entire HF range but I've yet to make a decent contact through it 😉
This antenna is too expensive. Also the Kx2 really needs to incorporate the same feature as the X5105 for antenna analysis. Elecraft is a good product but the price difference when comparing with the X5150 make me think 🤔!
You saw the video? Where I said I think this is more of an outdoor, mobile antenna? I'm saying for pack size, the AX1 is nice. Portable Mag Loops are much bigger. Also the AX1 is pretty broad-banded.
Nice review. I think for the money and functionality though, the MFJ might be the better way to go. I'm thinking a head to head comparison may be in order.
They do now make a 40m extender for this, would love a review if you can!
Over the weekend I made a 20 minute CW QSO with 10 watts from California to South Carolina on 20m using a KX3 and AX1. The signal rpt was 449. I also made a SSB phone contact from California to Tokyo with 15watts. Both were made sitting at a park bench. I was happy with that. There were two pileups on SSB that were impossible for me to crack. I was thinking this will be more efficient on 17m, but I haven't tried it yet.
I love how portable it is!
Yeah it was great setting up on a park bench with such a small foot print. Very stealth - park rangers didn't even come by though they did drive by.
Amazing amazing review again, Josh. You are the go-to guy for ham radio reviews. Nice job from Malaysia.
Thank you Karl!
Funny I was eye balling the AX1 just yesterday. And doing so for much the same reasons you mention. Quick deploy almost anywhere with my KX2. And small enough that you have it as part of your kit.
I do look forward to your comparison with the MFJ.
Mark w6xyz
Fantastic video! Always full of great information. Thanks for sharing. Elmer of the year!!!
Thanks Tony!
Thanks for the review Ambassador Josh.
A honest review. Thanks Josh
Used the AX1 for a QRP POTA Activation in SC. Had 599 reports from CA AK CAN RI in
That is awesome. I ended up getting a QSO to Japan from Arizona this year. I was shocked.
I just bought one… it’s on it’s way to my QTH. I’ve had my KX2 for five years now… and have had phenomenal performance from it afield. I use a 7m mast, wire antennas of all sorts, preferring my LNR Precision Trail Friendly, or a simple resonant speaker wire dipole. That said, the best performance came from a wire vertical, resonant @ 7.250mHz and an elevated radial @ 3’ sloping up to the feedpoint @ 7’, hanging from a 12m Spiderbeam mast. The radial being directional, I have worked a gray line down into Singapore. Prop was crap too that dusk…
Elecraft has never let me down… the AX1 may have it’s limits, but it will deploy fast, and get me on the air more. 72! de W7UDT
How did you use the counterpoise wire with the Xiegu X5105? Thanks.
I added a ring connector to the antenna port and use a banana plug with the radial.
Nice review.... ypu made it even better when you said you took your 5-yo son out with you: that's seriously baller, dude!
I have the MFJ 1820T 23.95 , I can't see the AX1 being much better if any better. With my KX2 and adjusting the antenna length have been able to tune all 3 bands the AX1 does. I also hooked a wire to the antenna and tuned 40m not saying it would work but hey in a pinch lol, I have wires for that. Just a note on the 1820T, it too will unscrew and break down small enough to fit the larger KX2 case, just need to heat it up carefully and unscrew. I have talked to Hawaii, BC and Alaska on my 1820T so it works but doesn't have the bling that the KX1 has. Thanks for the review.
Hi Chuck, I’ll be doing a 1820t review soon. I really want that antenna to work. I can get the swr super low, but it just seem to punch out there.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I have a MFJ mag mount with a BNC mount and I think that works pretty good, easy to put a analyser on and tweak.
Where do you connect the radial in that case? Just the car is good enough?
Yea the car seems to work even a metal trash can lol' but i have added a radial just put i under the magnet. I haven't done a lot of testing but it works ok like you said its quick. I had the antenna in Arkansas and Oklahoma received stations from CA to FL couldn't make a contact receive is good 10w out not always good. The guys that do CW probably do the best. 73's
i need to join the FB group!
Good review, looking forward to the comparison with the MFJ. I just subscribed
Thanks for watching!
how did u hook up counterpoise on xiegu?
That's the question I was about to ask. I think the only option may be a crocodile clip on the edge of the BNC socket
.
Wondering whether this would be a good companion for the upcoming ICOM IC705 (for SOTA)...
No. The swr is too high.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Specifically for 20m though, it's 1:1 no?
Where did you connect the radial? I want to use this antenna on a trusdx
The coax lug on the radio.
I saw that on the QST, but never have imagen that antenna is such mini!
It is very small for its size.
Can't seem to find the 1899T video... ?
There isn’t one yet. It’s a very quirky antenna all things said.
Could you do a performance comparison lets say via WSPR to other verticals? I dont think it's performance reflects the price
Good idea. I can do that in the future.
It’s a very surprising antenna-quite hard to make contacts with, but the ones you do make can be frankly a bit mind blowing. My first QSO was southern GA from OH using it like a HT whip in my backyard, and my first QSO portable was to the far NW of WA. You can go an hour with no contacts and then BAM nab something ridiculously far off. Maybe the low launch angle coupled with a bit of luck from the propagation gods?? Try the 40M extension if you can-it works.
hall where can you buy the antenna thank you DO8EP from germany
It’s available from Elecraft. Link in the description
wish people would stop calling impedance matching as "resonance". resonance is a completely different thing - it is where +j0 (or X=0) and is quite frequently different from the point of lowest SWR.
ok.
I wish people would get a life and quit trolling harmless videos
What did you go to grad school for?
Thank you for posting, 73 de Karl KE3KWE
hm i think i will stick to my buddystick antenna for now ;-)
I enjoyed your review. When it comes to antennas I prefer to build my own. I build my antennas using designs like windom, zepp, double zepp, etc. Wire has been my mainstay plus adaptation of the CB 102 inch stainless steel whip. I consider my antenna to be the most important piece of equipment of my system with the operator being the most important. While the AX1 is a nice compromise antenna that many will purchase and use, it is not my preference for an adequate antenna. You might check Paul, AA8WQ Kitchen Table Portable use of the AX1, th-cam.com/video/8f96PotvDsI/w-d-xo.html. Happy New Year Josh.
Pretty pricey for what it is. You could stick the Elecraft name on a length of string and people would pay $20 a foot for it. I'm also not sure that it giving a low SWR on a particular band equates to it being an efficient radiator. My 50 ohm dummy load has a SWR of 1:1 across the entire HF range but I've yet to make a decent contact through it 😉
LOL, well yes, but a lower SWR means its not just getting soaked up by the tuner. It is at least making it "out" of the radio.
This antenna is too expensive. Also the Kx2 really needs to incorporate the same feature as the X5105 for antenna analysis. Elecraft is a good product but the price difference when comparing with the X5150 make me think 🤔!
How much of a difference does the Kx2's 10 Watts make over the x5105g's 5 Watts?
ax1 on a chinese kit. ooooof lol
Very PC video It’s way to expensive for what it is
Expensive garbage. Avoid.
I do not think the antenna is good
a Mag Loop is a much better portable option that actually works.
But they cost a lot more, unless you have found one on the cheap, if so please let me know. N4KBM
Tommy Cheshire cost more, yes but work. it’s solar minimum after all. these tiny antennas mostly waste time.
Mag loop much bigger.
Ham Radio Crash Course A box sitting on a table with a loop ain’t that big lol.
You saw the video? Where I said I think this is more of an outdoor, mobile antenna? I'm saying for pack size, the AX1 is nice. Portable Mag Loops are much bigger. Also the AX1 is pretty broad-banded.
Overpriced, there are much less expensive and better RF options.
such as?
you always talking too much!
How else am I suppose to convey information?
God blessed you with two ears and one mouth, Reiner. Use them proportionally for best results.