Elecraft AX1 Antenna Tiny ~ SWR Analysis & Testing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
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Elecraft AX1 Mini Antenna ~ SWR Analysis & Testing
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).
It was a good test. Better to find out in your backyard, rather than while you're out camping.
Yeah, I' took it out again tonight and made a contact and a video. Stay tuned coming soon.
I realize Im kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good website to stream newly released series online ?
@Johnny Kyson lately I have been using flixzone. Just search on google for it =)
@Luciano Harold Yea, have been using FlixZone for since april myself :)
@Luciano Harold thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I appreciate it!!
As a new ham and learning cw, qrp cw is my top interest! You have become my favorite channel! Keep it up. I would love to see your absolute favorite set up for ultimate portability. (I don't have any equipment yet!) thank you.
Hey, John. Comments like that make me more and more motivated to make more videos. I really appreciate it. If just 1 person enjoys or learns from them then I'm happy. The thing about this hobby is that we are all chasing that perfect setup. We never quite achieve it though... so we end up spending more and more money LOL. So I made a TH-cam channel to help me pay for that hobby in pursuit of the perfect setup. Keep watching as I refine my setup every time....and fail sometimes too.
Love your opening clip.
Thanks Pat
Catchy AF! Tune is Movin’ On Up (Ja’net DuBois) [Colin Campbell Cooper]
The height and length of the counterpoise make a big difference in resonance.
I hear ya Peter, I tried a longer counterpoise and it didn't move. I wanna try a longer whip
LOVE that intro :-)
Thanks, Thomas. They are fun to make.
Hi Tommy. I don’t have that antenna but felt your disappointment. Been there. Couple things I thought to try: Lowering the whole antenna closer to ground. Raising radial off the ground. Make a short heavy wire attached to alligator clip to put on end of vertical to lengthen. Wish you success. 73
Yeah, as far as my mount goes I wasn't sure if I could get it closer to the earth. I will def try your ideas.
@@hamradiocq Yep, try that. The antenna seems a little to short for the bottom of the band.
The idea of attaching an alligator clip with a random length of wire to lengthen the vertical radiating element seems like a good start.Use thinner,varying length wires,starting perhaps with 20’,then shorten to 16’6”,and check again,using your analyzer to find resonant frequency.Somewhere,with a certain length wire,it will drop into resonance,with 17 meters probably requiring a different length,altogether.I use four 20’ radials on mine to get a symmetrical cloverleaf radiation pattern.Haven’t had a lot of luck with mine,but when I did try,propagation had been terrible....plus 14.068 is a little high up in the CW portion of 20M to expect much,if any response.Drop down 10 Kc’s and you’ll be in business.
Capacitance hat! LY2H has a vid on this, as does QRPer so they can get the AX1 resonant for use with radios lacking tuners!
"Ugh...that's not good." That made me laugh. Yeah, they messed up or...something.
Should be able to have enough length in the whip to adjust for a close match. Does it have a 3/8 mount on the bottom? There's always the MFJ line of telescoping whips....😁
Nice video and music !
lol, thanks for letting me know. Yeah, I already started looking up longer whips. I went into my garage and found some (not in the video) and none of them are longer than what I was using.
This antenna is designed to be used with an ATU. For 40m you need the 40m coil.
Try elevating the counterpoise
I kinda thought about that and looked around and did not find a place to attach it. I will try though thanks Douglas
Nice antenna, but I prefer my Wold River Coils TIA. It does 80-6, but yours would be great for a backpack portable operation.
Yeah, I have the Chameleon and the Super antenna. Both are quickly deployable, but I want this to work for those super fast ops I wanna do.
@@hamradiocq I think it will do the job admirably!
Those RBN numbers are great with 10 watts and a compromised antenna. I would never get that in California with even a resonant dipole with 10 watts.
Actually yes, those are better than I expected.
I did a QSO on 5 watts SSB over 8000 km with this antenna. I was blown away... It is possible in certain conditions....
Awesome
Neat setup. It's a shame you could not get the SWR down. Elecraft should have added more inductance to the coil so you could have adjusted the whip to cover any part of the band. As you said, considering what the antenna is, I think you did pretty good.
Barry, KU3X/QRP
Thanks Barry.
They have a 40m loading coil accessory for it that works fine.
I have 837 FT8 QSOs(628 confirmed) that I have done with the AX1 used indoors sitting on the couch in front of the window of the apartment. A lot of them were done with the 40m accessory...
The 40m coil goes between the main coil and the whip. It also comes with a longer counterpoise, but I just leave them both connected all the time. Indoors, I do not pick up much SSB, but at a friends house about 25 miles away in the center of his house, I got SSB very well... Old wooden house...
I have an mcHF qrp rig with antenna tuner but my SWR is VERY variable... From 1 to over 5! With the AX1 I usually get 1.25 to 2 on 20m.
Just now I had been getting 1.75 on 15m and when I checked it was at over 7! Ran the tuner again and now I am at 1.25! WTF! I think there may be something wrong with my tuner.
Keep the great videos coming Brian, love your channel. Hope to work you some day! K3DBI 73
Well, my name is Tommy. I'm not Brian but thanks K3DBI!
@@hamradiocq oops! Sorry I must have heard you make a contact with a Brian or something
Hello !
Low SWR does’nt mean necessarely that your antena is radiating !
I understand, this thing is a toy, however checkout my followup to this video where I make a QSO. th-cam.com/video/qgTGMFVjiAY/w-d-xo.html
Ham Radio CQ it may radiate, depends on conterpoise and environment ! Anyway I like your videos it’s stimulating the Hamradioworld : thank you !
I’m disappointed in the AX1. Considering this is an Elecraft product that SWR is dismal. They should have enough length on the whip to fine tune to a 1:1, or at least be able to get it below 1.5. You should consider contacting Elecraft to see if you got a faulty antenna.
Thanks for the video!
I agree. I did manage to make a contact with it yesterday I'm making a video today. I don't expect too much from a pocket sized antenna, but it should be resonant at least at 14.060 and not 14600
you didn't have the 40 meter coil on the antenna
Right
I attach a 100mm piece of wire with a Croc clip to the top of the whip and only then does it become useful. Just one more telescoping section and the wire would be unnecessary. Pretty annoying.
Nice ! I have a Mountain Topper. Your radio is better 73
I havr an mtr3b also
what paddle is that?
Pico Paddle
More radials
agreed
I think that 2.6 is the true swr
Probably so
I have had the antenna but not much success. I sold them again. Too much frustration.
Yeah, I have low low expectations for this antenna and I don't recommend it.
Install a hexbeam...!! lol. Not a lot can be done with these small antennas.
It's for fast deployment in the field though. I want easy up and down by that lake video I made.
Need to speak up can't hear 😩
I hear ya