http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Is-it-my-KX3-antenna-or-is-it-lousy-band-condx-tp7633243p7633348.html
> Great advice!
>
> With one exception, every transmitter and receiver I've ever seen has
> had an balanced output -- that is, a coaxial connector of some sort.
> Current flows in loops -- the center conductor feeds one side of the
> loop, the chassis feeds the other. The exception was my very first
> transmitter, a military surplus BC-459, which had a single terminal
> fed from the output of an internal matching network. The return for
> output current was the chassis, which was mounted to the chassis of
> the military vehicle or aircraft in which it was used, and the chassis
> of that vehicle or aircraft acted as the other half of the antenna.
>
> The suggestion to use a BNC to female "dual Banana" adapter is a very
> good one. I've used one for exactly this purpose with my K2 and KX3
> when operating portable. It makes a very easy way to connect wire
> antennas.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On 8/13/2017 5:43 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
>> Forget about "what you've been told". Do your own research using
>> various publications such as ARRL Antenna Book or other like
>> publications. Personally in the "I've been told" area, it seems
>> hams have more incomplete and inaccurate information than correct and
>> complete information.
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Aug 13, 2017, at 7:31 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]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> You can get a quick look at band conditions at
>>>>
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/ (my blog)
>>>>
>>>>> On Aug 11, 2017, at 9:54 AM, Tommy <
[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.)
>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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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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