Re: AX1
¿ªÔÆÌåÓý? ?Thanks Doug for the info. I¡¯ve been an active ham doing portable CW/QRP operating since the mid 1970¡¯s. ?Back then I was hauling around my TenTec 509 with 2 6V lantern batteries and a fan dipole..then became a NorCal club member. amongst other activities including working with Russ Carpenter on the Adventure Radio Society. I¡¯m pretty familiar with most types of portable antennas,including a wide variety of verticals. ?Not long after I built my K2 I became acquainted with Vern Wright W6MMA and his Super Antennas,and got the PW-1 (which I still have and it¡¯s superbly well made). I¡¯m very familiar with the concept that a larger vertical would have higher Q,and potentially be more efficient than a smaller one.? So-why would I continue to use something like the AX1 when a larger vertical would be better? Well..as they say a picture is worth a thousand words,and I¡¯ve attached a couple. What you see my version of the ¡®shack in a box¡¯ with KX2,AX1,AEX1, Begali Adventure paddle and assorted accessories including battery,radials, a random wire end fed and other assorted items. And you can see next to it the vertical we built based on your plans. The point of this is to show the size difference and all important form factor. Oh -and I forgot to include the tripod needed to mount the vertical. The AX1 doesn¡¯t need that I can mount it directly to the KX2. I figure I¡¯d need a bag about twice the size to carry the larger gear and extra mounting hardware¡ Here¡¯s the deal-the bag you see has been hauled around the world and hiked to numerous SOTA and POTA sites since 2016. Is the AX1 less efficient than the larger vertical? Yes, but I wouldn¡¯t have taken the larger one due to size and weight requirements. The small bag allows me to take the radio practically anywhere in the world,just tucked into a corner of my carryon or suitcase,and I can be set up in about 2 minutes or less. And the very low profile of the AX1 is ideal for many locations where otherwise I¡¯d probably not set up and operate. And that stinkin¡¯ little antenna has made thousands of DX , S2S and P2P contacts worldwide-Wayne & Co. at Elecraft have made it as efficient as possible given the size. ? Regardless of where or when I operate I always try to use the ?best antenna I can reasonably carry. If I¡¯m traveling by car,then I can definitely take a bigger unit,and I have a bunch of great options. Same when hiking to a summit-carry as little as possible to get the job done. It¡¯s ultimately a matter of trade offs. Given all of these factors the small package and flexibility of the AX1 is for me a good trade off for some less efficiency,and the difference between taking and operating in many situations. For some folks the cost is an issue but for me spreading out the initial outlay over the past 9 years($11/year )is a great balance. I don¡¯t mind paying a fair price for well made item that gives me lots of use. I have operated in many interesting places and in situations where a larger setup wouldn¡¯t be possible. And now with the KH1 (which has the same antenna) it¡¯s even easier to travel and operate. Money very well spent in my opinion. I often ask hams- ¡®do you want to operate or equivocate?¡¯ ? Dan Presley 503-701-3871 danpresley@me. com? N7CQR@... On Mar 24, 2025, at 10:06, John KY4WW via groups.io <jmdanner@...> wrote:
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