Elecraft

K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

Classic

List

Threaded

6 messages Options

Smith B.

K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with
their K3? I am instrested in your results and how
you attached the Pixel antenna to your k3.

Smith Bradford
W9HAK

______________________________________________________________
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

Jack Smith-6

Re: K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

Treat the Pixel as a second antenna. You will need the KXV3 for this.
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_Antenna_Routing.pdf should answer your
questions.

Use the automatic disable feature of the Pixel's DC power coupler. The
power coupler manual provides a hook up diagram for that purpose.

Jack K8ZOA

On 6/4/2013 8:51 PM, w9hak wrote:

> Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with their K3? I am
> instrested in your results and how you attached the Pixel antenna to
> your k3.
>
> Smith Bradford
> W9HAK
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

N8MSA

Re: K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

In reply to this post by Smith B.

I use a Pixel Technologies RF PRO-1B magnetic loop with my K3 (and other receivers). How precisely you would connect it will depend on whether you have the second receiver installed, but the basic way is to connect to the RX Antenna port. You have a couple of options for feeding the second receiver, depending on how you connected the antenna input.

The Pro is very effective below 15M, allowing me to "null out" much of the urban noise I cope with. Highly recommended!

73,

Mike Alexander - N8MSA

----- Original Message -----
From: "w9hak" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 8:51:56 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with
their K3? I am instrested in your results and how
you attached the Pixel antenna to your k3.

Smith Bradford
W9HAK

______________________________________________________________
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
______________________________________________________________
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

N5GE

Re: K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

In reply to this post by Smith B.

I have mine mounted with the base at about ten feet and attached to a
Channel Master Rotor. It is very effective in high noise situations.

I mostly use it from 40 meters down to 80 meters, but have used it as
high as 20 meters. It is connected to the RX Ant connection on the
K3.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:51:56 -0500, w9hak <[hidden email]> wrote:

>Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with
>their K3? I am instrested in your results and how
>you attached the Pixel antenna to your k3.
>
>Smith Bradford
>W9HAK
>
>______________________________________________________________
>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

Amateur Radio Operator N5GE

Fred Smith-2

Re: K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

In reply to this post by Jack Smith-6

The hookup is simple you use the receive antenna input on the K3 all else is
taken by the control unit itself works well and disables receiver during
transmit. Everything is plug-n-play with the antenna.

If you live in the country or a very low noise area you will see a small
improvement. On the other hand if it's a high noise area like in a town or
close to a city it makes a lot of difference. It will give you directional
performance also and turns with a small TV rotor.

I live in the country on a farm and have seen very little improvements over
my other receive only antennas. My main reason for one was for 160m receive,
it was no help over my other antennas.

At this time have decided to sell the complete antenna in factory box. Just
a few months old with everything I bought extra for it 300' of coax, wire,
rotor cable, New RS TV rotor & control. This is also an excellent LOWFER
antenna as well.

Anyone interested contact me off board,

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jack Smith
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 8:10 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

Treat the Pixel as a second antenna. You will need the KXV3 for this.
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_Antenna_Routing.pdf should answer your
questions.

Use the automatic disable feature of the Pixel's DC power coupler. The power
coupler manual provides a hook up diagram for that purpose.

Jack K8ZOA

On 6/4/2013 8:51 PM, w9hak wrote:

> Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with their K3? I am
> instrested in your results and how you attached the Pixel antenna to
> your k3.
>
> Smith Bradford
> W9HAK
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________
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

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3184/6382 - Release Date: 06/04/13

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3184/6382 - Release Date: 06/04/13

______________________________________________________________
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 K2MK

Re: K3 using Pixel magnetic antenna

In reply to this post by Smith B.

Hi Smith,

You've probably read all of the eHam reviews so you have a basic understanding of the Pixel loop. As others have stated it hooks up easily to the K3 using the KXV3A board. The transmit protection feature provided by Pixel is very reliable and easy to implement. Compared to my vertical it is a vast improvement on 80 and 40 meters. On 30 meters sometimes it is better and sometimes not. I use a hex beam on 20 and above and the loop can't compete with a directional antenna. On 160 meters I have a pretty quiet dipole so generally the dipole and the loop are equals.

When conditions exhibit in and out fading the loop is very effective with a sub receiver in diversity mode. Without in/out fading it's usually sufficient to just press the K3 RX ANT button to quickly decide whether the loop or your main antenna is better. If you have a sub receiver you can use a simple external splitter to send the loop signal to both the KXV3A input and the sub receiver aux input.

I originally had the loop at about 8 feet high and it worked very well. I later raised it to about 22 feet and it works about the same. Try to keep it clear of your house as it will pick up electrical noise from the house when it is pointed in that direction.

73,
Mike K2MK

w9hak wrote

Has anyone used the Pixel magnetic antenna with
their K3? I am instrested in your results and how
you attached the Pixel antenna to your k3.

Smith Bradford
W9HAK