I’m interested in where this one’s going. Restrictions on my living accommodations relegate me to an indoor wire. I managed to work coast to coast with the KX3 and JT65 using its internal tuner. I’d like more ideas.
dale W5OHM > On Jul 19, 2015, at 11:45 AM, Wayne Burdick <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi all, > > Have you found the "perfect" above-the-treeline backpacking antenna for use > with your KX3 or other small rig? I've used everything from a 10-meter coat > hanger whip, to a yagi that breaks down into two dozen pieces, to a dipole > held up at the center by a willing (and tall) campmate. The variety (and > price range) of such antennas is staggering. > > I've had pretty amazing results using short, base-loaded antennas on the > higher bands--especially when conditions were good. My personal best is JA > from W6 on 15-meter SSB, running 3 watts to a Maldol 48" whip. These antennas > collapse and break down into just two pieces, taking very little space in my > lightweight go-bag. This leaves room for a couple of 25' wires, adapters, and > weights for times when there are trees available. > > But the search for the ideal miniature HF antenna continues: something both > very compact *and* highly efficient. Ideally it would break down to a length > of 8" or less, do an excellent job on 20 meters and up, and earn a passing > grade on 30 and/or 40 meters. > > One other key factor, at least with the KX3/KX1/K1 genre, is to take maximal > advantage of the rig's internal ATU. A wide-range ATU (such as the KXAT3) can > turn a narrow-banded antenna into one that covers a full band or even > multiple bands, within limits. One general approach is to coarse-tune the > antenna's own inductance, then let the ATU do cleanup. > > Is the best antenna for backpacking a very small magnetic loop? A cleverly > designed, center-loaded telescoping whip? A length of #30 wire lofted by a > small helium balloon? (Or, more intriguingly, some combination of these?) > > I'd be interested in hearing about your antenna theories and field > experiences, backed up by entertaining fish stories, if they aren't > embellished to an embarrassing degree. If your supporting documentation is > too voluminous for the forum (attached photos, etc.), feel free to email me > directly. > > If anything substantive or surprising emerges, I'll do a followup posting. > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
