I forgot to answer one question¡since I¡¯m 6¡¯7 and almost always using the KH1 standing,the radial(s) are much more than a¡®foot or two¡¯ off the ground ?.?
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com?
N7CQR@...
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On Mar 25, 2025, at 17:54, Dan N7CQR via groups.io <N7CQR@...> wrote:
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We can (and should) debate the relative merits of various antennas,but the bottom line is what compromises are you willing to accept? In my case being able to have very small and portable setup is worth it especially traveling to remote locations. I¡¯m not doing a dxpedition but operating more casually. Not about to fill my luggage with a big heavy antenna. My choice. ?And guess what? For the past 9 years I¡¯ve made many great contacts:SOTA,POTA,DX, S2S and P2P-all QRP CW and many times using the AX1 and now the KH1. And many of those I work are also QRP and portable. I¡¯ve doing portable QRP since the late 1970¡¯s so have a pretty good idea of what works and how to be successful. Lightweight portable QRP radio has become enormously popular with many new radios and antennas to choose from. ? And as they say, ¡®buy once cry once¡¯?
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com?
N7CQR@...
On Mar 25, 2025, at 16:55, Dave AB7E via groups.io <AB7Echo@...> wrote:
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It is VERY similar, but MFJ sold a slightly weaker version that came
from China.? The Chameleon SS17 is made in the U.S. and is slightly
stronger.? There are minor differences in the dimensions.? There is
a YouTube video comparing the two if you're interested.
Dave?? AB7E
On 3/25/2025 3:39 PM, MIKE N6ZW via
groups.io wrote:
Those are
the same that MFJ used to sell before they went closed their
doors. I use one for several HB antennas and it works very
well alone. You can even base load one easily.? 73,? Mike n6zw
On 03/25/2025 3:28 PM PDT Dave AB7E via groups.io
<ab7echo@...> wrote:
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I forgot to include the link to
the SS17 whip:
The pictures in the first review are mine (Alice is my
wife's name).
Dave? AB7E
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Except that the AX1 isn't
enough of a vertical to actually act like a short vertical.?
If you model an AX1 and look at the current distribution you
will see that most of it is in the counterpoise wire.? To be
honest, the AX1 whip is mostly a convenient lossy tank
circuit to act as a counterpoise for the counterpoise wire
... or in some case, the shield of the coax feedline.
I know how to use EZNEC.? I've used it continually since
1993 or so when it was still called ELNEC, and I'm actually
a big fan of vertical antennas for portable operation.? My
choice, though, is the Chameleon SS17 collapsible whip with
elevated radials.? My version weighs about 3.5 pounds ...
with steel stakes ... and I can set it up in less than ten
minutes.
An an end fed wire doesn't have to be very far off the
ground to avoid being a worm warmer.? Why do you think
elevated radials work when they are only a foot or two off
the ground??? I'm not actually a big fan of end fed wire
antennas, but for portable use I don't think they can be
beat for performance, size, weight, or cost.? I wish I had
an AX1 to compare against various alternatives using WSPR,
but I'm not willing to spend the money on one just to prove
... or disprove, if that should be the case ... my point.?
Curiously, almost nobody who owns an AX1 has bothered to do
a similarly rigorous A-vs-B comparison either.? Presumably,
like you, they don't really care as long as "it works".
Dave?? AB7E
On 3/25/2025 2:44 PM, Dan N7CQR
via groups.io wrote:
I¡¯ve used this strategy on bare
summits above 3-4000 feet with some success. Unfortunately
at sea level or low elevation you¡¯re just warming the
earthworms. Any type of short vertical with an elevated
radial will provide a decent takeoff angle. You can model
this in EZNEC. A good resource for using short verticals
effectively are the writings of Jerry Severns for the ARRL
Antenna handbook or the website for antenna ¡®guru¡¯ LB
Cebik.?
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com?
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On Mar 25, 2025, at 12:42, Dave
AB7E via groups.io <AB7Echo@...>
wrote:
You should try the EFRW
sometime just laying on the ground, or maybe laying
across a rock.? I'll say again ... most of the
radiating from an AX1 comes from either the
counterpoise or the shield of the coax (if not using a
common mode choke), and for the majority of uses
either of those are lying on or very near the top of
the ground.? The surface of most "ground" isn't an RF
ground, and if the soil is dry or fairly
non-conductive the actual RF ground is probably
several feet below the surface.? Not sure what the
ground characteristic in the Orkneys is, though.
Dave?? AB7E
On 3/25/2025 12:18 PM, Dan
N7CQR via groups.io wrote:
I forgot to mention that I also
carry a EFRW in my little bag,that of course is more
efficient than almost short loaded vertical. Mine is
Adam¡¯s K6ARK clever design that incorporates a 9:1
balun into the BNC connector. But you have to have
either a tree or a pole to toss it into. If you¡¯ve
been to the Orkneys you know that there¡¯s not many
trees there¡?
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com?
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On Mar 25, 2025, at 11:22,
Dan N7CQR via groups.io <N7CQR@...>
wrote:
It¡¯s a matter of trade offs that
each operator is willing to make. No doubt that
other larger antennas can be more efficient,but
how much are you willing to pack around? Last
summer I made a trip to the Orkney Islands,and you
are definitely limited in how much baggage you can
bring on a very small plane. . Wanting to get some
radio time in,it¡¯s an easy decision to bring my
small bag and still have room for clothing and
other essentials. And I successfully got on the
air with the AX1 at 5W. Worked 10 countries in one
45 minute session. For me that¡¯s a good trade off.
?Back home I use the best antenna I can reasonably
carry. Lately I¡¯ve been using the Chelegance MC
750 vertical which is a full 1/4 wave on 20-10
Meters with the KH1 and having excellent results.
It breaks down into a relatively small package-but
still nothing I¡¯d ever fly or take a longer hike
with. We have so many great options these days.?
Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com?
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