KX1 Question

[Paul Clay]

I finished my KX1 and it seems to be operating
just fine, but I've notice something I've not
noticed on my K2, or on my ham receivers for that
matter.  If I insert a long random length wire
into the KX1 I don't hear receive too many
signals; advance or retarding the RF gain has
little audible effect in the headphones.  But,
when I also attach a wire to the outside of the
BNC connector and then to a ground, the receiver
comes alive with signals.  

At first, I thought this had something to do with
running the unit off batteries vice my Astron
power supply - till I realized (by turning off
the Astron but leaving the KX1 plugged into the
power supply, which is grounded; then by
disconnecting the PS but connecting a ground wire
to the outside of the BNC connector), that its
just having the unit attached to some kind of
ground.  So, does this sound normal or have I
perhaps miswired something?  (Must be a
noncritical mistake if I did, cause every
function on the KX1 seems to work FB.)

Now to build the 30m module and the ATU ...

Thanks!
Paul, N6LQ
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[Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU]

Paul,
This is normal.  You need two wires for your antenna.  If you have the
antenna tuner option, you can use the Elecraft suggestion of the
following: hook a 16, 24, or 33ft wire to the ground side for 20/30/40,
and a 24-28ft wire to the center conductor. The Pomona BNC to binding
post adapter makes this convenient....there is a part number in the
manual.  Then tie a hex nut to the hot wire and throw it in a tree and
put the other wire on the ground.   (You may get away with shorter wires
for ground, but these are convenient sizes for putting in the air as
well...putting both wires in a tree works, too.)

Almost any wire will do, but Teflon-coated silver plated wire is often
available from surplus places, and is excellent.  Or try thewireman.com
for other nice wire.
73,
Leigh/WA5ZNU.
On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 7:54 pm, Paul Clay wrote:
> If I insert a long random length wire
> into the KX1 I don't hear receive too many
> signals; advance or retarding the RF gain has
> little audible effect in the headphones.  But,
> when I also attach a wire to the outside of the
> BNC connector and then to a ground, the receiver comes alive with
> signals.
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[Martin Gillen]

Hi, Paul.

I find the opposite to be true!  When I connect my
26ft
wire to the BNC centre connector the receiver comes
alive
with signals!

When I connect the 16ft counterpoise to the outer of
the BNC, the receive level doesn't change at all.
But it does match better :)

I also get much better signal reports when my
counterpoise is elevated 4 feet from the ground than
when it just lies along the ground, so the
counterpoise
is playing a more active role on the TX side than the
RX side.

How long was your random length of wire?

By the way if you go for the Pomona BNC to binding
post
adapter, be sure to get thick enough bannana plugs.

I got radio shack solderless bannana plugs and they
are a "loose fit" into the pomona adapter.  They are
very loose when connected horizontally into the
"main" bannana plug sockets of the adapter.

I have to insert them into the vertical holes, where
they are a bit tighter of a fit.  But they still
aren't
all that tight... when it's windy and my wire is
flying around, the movement of the bannana plug causes
a lot of noise in the receiver.

Martin.
VA3SIE/QRP/P.
Ottawa, ON, CA.

> If I insert a long random length wire
> into the KX1 I don't hear receive too many
> signals; advance or retarding the RF gain has
> little audible effect in the headphones.  But,
> when I also attach a wire to the outside of the
> BNC connector and then to a ground, the receiver
> comes alive with signals.


       
       
               
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