Antenna and battery for KX1

[PHILIP GRAITCER]

I'm on vacation with my KX1 and my antenna isn't doing well. It is 65 feet of telephone hook up wire and a 15 foot counterpoise. Nicely up 20' in a tree but getting no tuning on 40 or 80 but tunes nicely on 30 and 20. I'm on the road so can't make too many adjustments. Any emergency fixes so I can get on 40?

Also am powering with Li AA cells and getting about 2 watts. Usually I use an external 12v battery so am a little surprised at output. Also battery voltage seems to go down quickly. A new set at now below 9v after 30 minutes of trying to make a contact. Is this normal?

Sorry for dumb questions I have no manuals with me.
Phil W3HZZ

Sent from my iPhone
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

[Mike K8CN]

Hi Phil,

Shorten the radiator to 44 feet, but leave the counterpoise alone for now.  The 65 foot length is nearly a perfect half-wave on 40 meters and will present a very high impedance, possibly beyond the range of your tuner.  The shortening won't help you on 80 meters, but if you can lengthen the radiator to 88 feet you'll be in better shape for 80 meters.  Is your counterpoise on the ground or elevated?  Do you have additional coax to the radiator or just run the wire directly to your KX1?

73,
Mike, K8CN
Durham NH

[AD6XY]

Or if you don't want to or can't easily alter the antenna, lengthen it electrically by adding a small inductance (10nH) in series at the feedpoint. Say 12 turns on 3" diameter former (plastic bottle, whatever). If you lengthen the wire to 86ft you will have a 5/8th wavelength that you should be able to match. Adding a small inductance has the same effect as lengthening the wire if you can't adjust the actual antenna, or want to be able to remove it easily.

Mike