Elecraft AX1 Portable QRP Antenna for KX2 ~ Unbox Test Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
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Using the AX1 with an ATU eliminates tedious length adjustments. Just select a band, tap the antenna tune switch, and go for it. The AX1 is resonant on 20 meters in one switch position, while the other is designed for efficient 17 and 15 meter matching using an ATU.
Whether you use the AX1 as a ‘stealth’ field antenna, for pedestrian mobile, or as a versatile backup, it’ll be ready when you are.
Resonant Frequencies
20 m (~14 MHz) and 17/15 m (~19 MHz). Resonant frequencies may vary +/- 300 kHz or more due to changes in terrain, body capacitance, and antenna height.
Supplied Radial Wire 13 feet (4.0 m) long. Wire has pre-installed lug for attachment to the transceiver’s ground screw.
Max. Power
30 Watts. If RFI symptoms are observed, reduce power or move antenna farther from the transceiver.
Construction
Corrosion-resistant whip and hardware; Lexan outer tube; high-Q inductors wound with 20 AWG, high-temp enamel wire.
Dimensions Whip: 6” (15 cm) collapsed, 45” (115 cm) extended. Base: 6” (15 cm) long x 0.75” (19 mm) diameter.
Weight Antenna: 3.2 oz. (90 g); supplied radial wire: 0.6 oz. (17 g).
I’m excited just seeing how excited you got! That’s awesome, dude! Keep making videos - love to see them.
Yeah I was happy this worked because it allows me to operate in a lot more places I couldnt go to before
Excitement plus work don’t mix
Hey Tom, It's Scott KA6IOM. Found this video. Surprised. I was using an old Heathkit AT-1 transmitter with a VF-1 VFO and A HR10 receiver. The VFO drifts a lot. Your set up did great. Using an A3 Beam antenna. I fixed the drifting somewhat. 73's Scott KA6IOM
Scott, that was great you worked on the vintage setup. It is not a problem not to drift on a modern Yaesu or Icom, but the fact that you worked on vintage radios as they worked in the past adds a lot more to the qso. I myself love vintage radios, got a collection of about 200 radios, but those are receivers only, and can imagine how great it could be to run a vintage transceiver. 73 de R2ARM!
Awesome Scott. I was so happy to make a contact. Once you said, "OLD RIG" I knew what was going on. No worries. I love that you used a Heathkit. Very awesome.
Exactly.
Great to hear the Old Rigs still being used, it's very rare these days to hear anyone that uses separate TX RX. Big 👍👍.
It was funny watching a modern rig trying to track your sigs😊😂would have been so much easier receiving with an old FT101 or something similar with Analogue readout.😉👍
That was tough! Just imagine that at one time both radios would drift..lol. Awesome work Tom! Glad to see that the antenna worked like a champ, right out of the box. Exactly what you were looking for!
Yeah, you can see I was shocked. I thought maybe it was another dummy load HI HI I had ordered. Didn't expect a fish on the first cast! I'm most excited about the spots I can go now that were off limits before. I don't have to setup a tower, or use a tree or take the 20+ minutes to use doing that. Out and in like Flynn. I might do a hike today or tomorrow and go by a bluff.
Oh and that Heathkit was interesting wasn't it? I love these guys that keep these old kits alive and running. It was distracting, but I appreciate what he was doing. I guess that's where the Tone part of RST comes into play. What signal report would you have given? 465?
" Dude, I'm making a contact with that antenna. " That's super cool that you're this excited about radio. Good work, and thanks for making the video and inspiring the rest of us...as well as showing us what works and doesn't in the field.
Yeah as I mentioned I'm excited about the new and interesting places I can go to setup fast and on the down low. : )
Great video. I’m working on learning CW and I love how you put up the QSO so I can follow along. 73
Absolutely awesome! Guess I'm going to have to order one of these now. (I wondered what was going on with the drifty signal but found the answer in the comments down below.) Just WOW, no wonder you were so excited!
Glad I could help!
Great video. Your enthusiasm is contagious and now I'm more motivated to get my set-up finished and up on the air. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Thanks so much. I"m pretty happy with this setup as it now allows me to go operate in MORE places than ever!
That antenna is going to work perfect for you and CW.
Yeah, thanks! I'm most excited about the places I can go now and operate where I wasn't able to before. Both for setup times and height restrictions.
Glad to see the AX-1 worked so well for you. Hard to beat a QRP QSO on a compromise antenna. Looking forward to future locations and situations you come up with for the AX-1.
Nice! I have that antenna, after watching this and your previous video, I ordered the tripod adapter. Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for the great comment. Yeah, I knew right away after reading about it, it's better to be separated from the radio, so I got the adapter. Now, please don't let me lose it....
Tom, thanks for the great video! It was absolutely breathtaking the way you managed to conduct the qso! Great antenna, please do experiment more. I am envious there are correspondents with such speeds in your area, in mine - all work at the speed of a mashine gun, no chance to communicate. I am actually wondering whether all these super fast correspondents use computers for cw, which is no fun to me! And congratulations for having Rigexpert - a very good tool, I myself boughy Rigexpert AA-600, covrring up to 600 mhz. 73 de R2ARM!
Thank you Alexei for that very nice comment. I have practiced the basic format you see there and I have that down. RST, Name QTH. I do believe those fast speeds are computers so I don't talk to them mostly. I have plenty of fun at the slow speeds. 73 CU on the air.
Pretty impressive. I set up my little MFJ 20 meter telescopic whip the same way. First via remote mount. I cut one tuned radial for 20 meters and checked the SWR with my Rig Expert. Mine antenna is resonant at 14.150. I then attached the whip to my KX2 and attached the radial. Got the same results.
You have a nice setup. I need to do more operating with mine. I'd like to make an SSB contact using the KX2 as a hand held, just one time.......and then it's back to CW for me.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
Congrats, what a great qso, with an old Heathkit no less, wow
Yeah, I was happy to find out that was an old rig he was using.
Congrats! I was sceptical about the AX1 but it seems to work well enough. It would be interesting to see WSPR map on how well it propagates . Cheers! 73
I understand, I was skeptical too, I was thinking well, at least I can listen in hotel rooms with it if nothing else. It's still a compromise, but I'll be able to operate much more and in tight spots from here on out. Tnx fer comment.
Activate your RIT option,and follow him as his frequency drifts.Your RIT should allow you to follow him within the threshold width of your passband.You may lose him periodically,if he drifts just outside of that threshold,but you will capture most of his transmissions.The RIT will allow you to chase him wherever his signal drifts to...More than likely it is his power supply no longer functioning properly,with erratic voltage output causing his VFO to drift up or down the band on transmit.Thanks for this review of the Elecraft AX-1.
Great idea! I've never used RIT before but this might be the case to do it. Thanks.
Nice QSO! Looks like KA6IOM was running an old tube rig... was really drifting bad, and yet you succeeded. Good work! 73!
Yeah, that was distracting, yet interesting. I wish I had more ragchew in me and I'd tell him about my setup. I just don't have that many brain cells for filming, radio, qrp etc. : )
Ham Radio CQ maybe I can set up a QSO with you sometime in the future. I'm getting a G90 soon. I currently have a QCX 40m only. 73!
Great video and I am going to order the AX1 with the 40mtr coil on Monday as I need a small antenna for the Xiegu 6100 I have coming.
Good choice! Hope it works out for you.
I've got the x6100 on order from HRO and just got the antenna today with the 40 meters. Going to POTA/SOTA with it. Hooked up and was surprised in my house on 2nd floor with counterpoise out the window with my IC 705 and did some FT8 CQ just to check the reports. Amazing how it worked out. Can't wait to get the 6100 to go along with my IC 705. 73
@@BikingHikingRadio l ordered my AX1 today to go with my Xigue 6100 that I ordered through Radioddity last week, this will be my first QRP Radio, 😜 can’t wait till it gets here and glad you had good results with it. I have been watching Thomas K4SWL on TH-cam and he has great luck 🍀 with it on the Xiegu X5105.
@@mikemiles3068 Mike awesome job getting a QRP radio. I've got several of them and my IC 705 is my most used one. I like the idea of the x6100 having the built in ATU, which the AX1 needs, so it's less wires. Curious when you get your x6100 what you think of it. And, I've written some articles on Tom Witherspoon's QRPer website and he's a good guy. I was listening to one of his videos recently with the AX1 and heard my QSO with him, had no idea that was the antenna he was using and I heard him just fine. 73.
They do work
Yeah, I didn't think I'd get a fish on the first cast.
I just ordered the same antenna. I am looking forward to trying it with my Xiegu X5105. 73 de Bob M0BOB.
I hope it goes well
You should not have to pay for any thing. You are my favorite ham you tubber. Always stay true
Sorry I missed this lovely comment. Thanks so much friend!
That's so cool! I've just started learning code, so this was fun to watch and try to copy as you guys went.
Yeah thanks. I think putting the subtitles on there helps others a lot so I just do that every time now. Makes the video much more watchable for everyone. : )
very cool man. feeling the excitement
I appreciate that. I have more to come.
you inspire me to continue with Amateur Radio
Nice job Tom! First contact right off the bat, it doesn’t get any better than that! 73 KG5SDE
I thought for sure it'd take me days and hours and a hilltop to make a contact. Maybe I just got lucky? : ) We'll find out. Tnx fer comment 73.
Ham Radio CQ Possibly but time will tell. Still pretty cool! Looking forward to more of your videos! 👍🏻
My first contact with the AX-1 was AM70R a 6,000km QSO. Amazing.
Awesome I love that! It works!
Great. Video as usual ! Please keep them coming 👍👍👍
Thank you for the great comment also. More to come!
you inspire me to carry on with Amature radio
Thanks so much
Tks for share the video! 73
Ok, 73
Nice video Tom! Seems like a nice little antenna! Thanks for the review. BTW. Where did you get your notepad cover? Keep up the good work!
Amazon for the notepad cover. Thanks for the comment!
Very good.
Thanks
It’s Elecraft. Everything works.
They know their business
Beautiful
Thank you
So cool! I want a KX2 "Shack-in-a-box," but my wallet wants an X5105. *lol*
That radio is like cheating. Almost too easy.
@@hamradiocq Yeah, but think of the chicks I'll get with it. hahaha
Great post. Thank you for all work kc1bkc
Thanks for the nice comment also.
Tom. Fun to watch. Still learning cw. Helps that you type out the words. Question. Would love to see how it works with just the Elecraft counterpoise. 73. W6PYJ
Hey Tom congratulations that tiny Toy it seems to work!
It's the clear plastic on antenna polycarbonate?
Thanks man. 73
Not sure what it's made of...
Is that antenna QRP only? Have you tried SSB with it?
It can take up to 30 watts. I have not tried ssb yet. Just got it.
@@hamradiocq Thanks.
Nice antenna. Wondering if it would be usable on the back of an 817 with a right angle adapter.
Yes it would. But I heard it works better if you separate it from the radio... counterpoise is a must.
Ham Radio CQ Yep. I clip a counterpoise onto the ground lug of the 817 when I use the MFJ whips.
Does the receive audio really sound that crap crappy and unstable???
Another fine video. Could you please explain the use of RR, and is 5NN, a shortcut for 599? Thanks, hope to have my first CW QSO soon!
N is Niner (9)
Roger Roger (Understood/yes/ok) n = cut number for 9
Keep calm, listen and slow down your cps if your partner isn't so fast. In this case someone Is trying to improve his cw with a non-state-of-the-art rig!
Amazing Tom, fantastic, well done. 73 ZL1MY
Thanks so much, I caught a fish on the first try! 73
buen trabajo , 73s de ex ea5wg qth valencia spain and locator 99imtg
Gracias amigo mio. 73
I’ve not had any luck with my AE1 yet, but I’ve not given it a lot of time yet. How wide did you have your filter set to? I couldn’t see, I usually open my filter up super wide if I contact someone with an older rig on my KX2 (and now my KX3).
Yeah, it's a rough compromise. I don't make many contacts with it.
What is your battery pack?
I don't remember exactly, but I use Bioenno batteries. See description.
super video Tom...thank u...73.. de ta3le...
Many thanks!
great video now i know how to use spot on my kx3 good to see the excitement i have a similar mjf antenna they are ok for what they are. good to see you having fun. thanks for the video. de vk3ktt
Yeah, that spot is a great feature, but he was all over the place I'm not so sure it helped much. Tnx for nice comment friend.
Very cool, do you think is would work well on phone? de Roger W8RLP
zanado11 I made a contact from California to Japan using 15 watts on USB using the AX-1. Having said that it is very compromised but it does work.
Love to hear that. I accept that compromise in trade for speed and portability!
I am very skeptical about phone. I'll sure give it a try though. Great question.
Какой противный звук телеграфа(
I couldn't copy that myself. I'm just a beginner, but have no problems copying code with that speed normally but the drifting took it way over my head. That's something to practice I guess. Great vid and contact!
Thanks, that was tough to copy, just always do your best in CW and don't be afraid to send the ? and ask.
@@hamradiocq Aye aye!