http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Is-it-my-KX3-antenna-or-is-it-lousy-band-condx-tp7633243p7633341.html
transmission line. It is putting the ATU at the feed point of the antenna."
Ah. I see now. Light dawns on the Rockies. :)
> In July, five SOTA operators put up seven different antennas on a summit
> and compared their performance with WSPR. Six of the antennas were mostly
> within 3 dB of each other. The EARCHI antenna (end-fed with transformer)
> was between 6 and 15 dB worse than the others. So in one experiment, the
> 9:1 transformer did not help.
>
>
>
http://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/seven-sota-antennas-compared-using-wspr-on-a-summit/15635> <
>
http://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/seven-sota-antennas-compared-using-wspr-on-a-summit/15635> >
>
> When the antenna is connected directly to the KX3, there is no
> transmission line, so there is no need to match the antenna to the
> transmission line. It is putting the ATU at the feed point of the antenna.
>
> The 26-29 foot length is chosen to avoid very high or very low impedances
> in the ham bands down to 40 m Especially, it is not a 1/2 wave on any band.
> That makes it easier to match. If you want to work 80 m, use a 53 foot wire.
>
> The 16 foot wire on the ground is a radial “system”. One radial is a lot
> better than none, but you could use more. The length isn’t especially
> important because it is capacitively coupled to the ground. Ground
> resistance swamps any resonance.
>
> I first heard about this antenna on this list. It was recommended by
> Wayne, N6KR. It is documented on page 9 of the instructions for the KXAT1
> antenna tuner, “...for backpacking use on 40/30/20 meters, a wire length of
> 24-28 feet will generally provide good results. […] Ground system: Use a at
> least one ground radial, cut to at least 1/8th wavelength on the lowest
> band used (16' on 40 meters). When possible, use two or more radials, with
> one cut to 1/4 wavelength on each band."
>
>
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740054%20KXAT1%20man%20rev%20B.pdf <
>
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740054%20KXAT1%20man%20rev%20B.pdf>
>
> There is similar advice on page 10 of the KX2 manual.
>
>
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740282%20KX2%20owner%27s%20man.pdf <
>
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/E740282%20KX2%20owner's%20man.pdf>
>
> Finally, stop trying to think about “balanced” and “unbalanced” because
> those words are used in bizarre, inconsistent ways. Voltage, whether DC or
> RF, is always between two terminals. With a center-fed dipole, the two
> terminals are the elements. With this setup, the two terminals are the wire
> in the air and the wire on the ground.
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
> Walter Underwood
> CM87wj
>
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>
> > On Aug 13, 2017, at 5:31 AM, rich hurd WC3T <
[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all, particularly Walter (since he mentioned it):
> >
> > I've been bedeviled by a question with multiple possible answers.
> >
> > I'm a fan of the idea of using a field antenna as Walter describes by
> using a BNC - to binding post connector directly to the radio.
> >
> > I'm leery of that because it flies in the face of what I've been told
> about these antennas: I'm assuming the radio BNC connection is unbalanced
> and the wires form a balanced antenna, more or less. I've seen deployments
> with end-fed 9:1 baluns and without, even documented on YouTube with great
> successes.
> >
> > I can tell you that the 9:1 balun setup doesn't seem to be working for
> my current field deployment but I'd sure like to understand why a balun
> isn't recommended in this setup. I'd love to just take the wire and put it
> on my WonderPole and go for it, but I'd like the understanding first.
> Why does this work? :)
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 11, 2017 at 13:19 Walter Underwood <
[hidden email]
> <mailto:
[hidden email]>> wrote:
> > You can get a quick look at band conditions at
http://bandconditions.com> <
http://bandconditions.com/> <
http://bandconditions.com/ <
>
http://bandconditions.com/>>
> >
> > Using Buddistick on 40 m is a real challenge. I would not be surprised
> if that was an S-unit or more below a full-size dipole.
> >
> > Try the simplest field antenna for the KX3, two wires connected directly
> to the rig. Get a BNC to double binding post adaptor. Get a wire 26 to 29
> feet long, throw it in a tree and hook one end to the red post. Get a 16
> foot wire, lay it on the ground and connect it to the black post. Let the
> ATU tune it and see you can hear.
> >
> > wunder
> > K6WRU
> > Walter Underwood
> > CM87wj
> >
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ <
http://observer.wunderwood.org/> (my
> blog)
> >
> > > On Aug 11, 2017, at 9:54 AM, Tommy <
[hidden email] <mailto:
>
[hidden email]>> wrote:
> > >
> > > The band has been really crappy lately. Keep tuning around and
> listening.
> > >
> > > 73!
> > >
> > > Tom - KB2SMS
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 08/11/2017 12:33 PM, Mike Parkes wrote:
> > >> Okay I am reaching our to the Elecraft enthusiasts here for some
> feedback
> > >> if anyone cares to chime in.
> > >> I am just getting back on the air after years away from the hobby, so
> I am
> > >> not that familiar with band conditions in general. It looks like the
> > >> sunspot cycle is heading for the cellar (if it isn't already there).
> > >>
> > >> Recently bought a KX3 and a Buddistick vertical (like, 2 weeks ago).
> Love
> > >> the KX3 it is a great radio... however... so far my efforts to hear
> much of
> > >> anything, much less make a contact with someone, has been frustrating
> to
> > >> say the least. I live in an apartment and am surrounded by power
> lines for
> > >> one thing. The background noise level on 40 is pretty bad varies but
> is
> > >> s7-9 mostly. I took my setup to a nearby park and the bands were
> > >> definitely quieter. So the local manmade noise level is an issue (and
> one
> > >> reason I chose the KX3 was the hope that its rcvr and filtering could
> help
> > >> with that.)
> > >>
> > >> Have yet to make a single contact, so I am just wondering if I just
> > >> happened to choose a really lousy period of solar conditions for HF?
> Or is
> > >> the base loaded vertical a joke?
> > >>
> > >> I would love to be able to find another ham even close by just to try
> and
> > >> get some sort of an HF QSO even if it is with someone down the block.
> > >> ...I can tune down to the AM broadcast band and was able to hear some
> local
> > >> AM stations. :)
> > >>
> > >> Mike AB7RU
> > >>
> > >> (On a side note the tuner in the KX3 is great!. That thing was able
> to get
> > >> a match for 80 meters on the Buddistick which was showing something
> like
> > >> 25:1 swr. The KX3 tuner clicked and rattled for a while and found a
> match
> > >> to <2:1. Not sure how much actual RF is going out, probably not
> much... but
> > >> I was amazed it could tune to that high an SWR.)
> > >> ______________________________________________________________
> > >> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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> > >>
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> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________________
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>
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>
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> > --
> > 73 (or 72 for the QRP folks),
> > Rich Hurd / WC3T
> > DMR ID: 3142737
> > Northampton County RACES
> > EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
> > Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988 (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W)
> Grid: FN20is
> >
>
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