On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 10:37 AM, Scott KA9P wrote:
I'm not anti-AX1 or Elecraft, God knows Wayne has enough of my money.? But it would be fun to see a Super AX-1A that is more efficient, easily packed and exploits the superb tuner in the KX2 to its maximum benefit., I might have to part with more money then. :)
My packable go-anywhere antenna is the Gabil GRA-7350TC (available on Amazon).? It is perhaps best-described as a small manual-screwdriver-type antenna with a removeable telescopic whip. When assembled it is about 7 feet long (i.e. Hamstick sized) but it packs into a sleeve (I use a Soprano recorder case) only 13 inches long which fits nicely either inside my daypack or in the mesh water bottle pocket on the outside of the pack.? The base has 3/8-24 threads so it can be used with any 3/8" mount but it is best paired with the absolutely tiny but highly functional companion Gabil GRA-ULT01 Tripod.? This is the smallest packing functional antenna tripod I have even seen.? When packed up it is about 4 inches in diameter and about 6 inches long. The antenna covers 40m through 6m and the the tuning granularity on the telescopic coil is fine enough that I always just extend the whip fully for HF and tune via the the coil. The newest version has the graduated tuning scale laser etched for longevity.?
I use this primarily as a vacation antenna, along with my KH1 or KX2 for those times when I want a little better performance than the AX1 delivers, so I guess it sort of fits the function of a "super-AX1A".?
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FWIW, the build quality of the Gabil components is excellent. I also have the optional Gabil shock-corded? whip which is physically a bit longer than the telescopic whip when when deployed, but also doesn't pack quite as small.? Its certainly more rugged than the telescopic whip.??I have a few other friends who also have the Gabil and agree that for the size it is versatile and performs quite well as a portable antenna or on a mobile antenna mount for stationary mobile operating.?
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Cheers
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Michael VE3WMB?
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P.S. Having 3/8-24 threading at the base means that this antenna can also be extended with Buddipole (or other antenna parts). I normally operate my Gabil with a short arm (11 inches) designed for the Buddistick to move the coil up from the base of the antenna to improve efficiency slightly.? The short arm fits into the recorder case along with the coil and whip.?
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