It’s designed for /PM and stealth ops. In many other situations, of course, a longer/higher antenna will be more efficient.
73, Wayne N6KR ---- elecraft.com > On Aug 26, 2019, at 9:26 PM, David Gilbert <xda...@cis-broadband.com> wrote: > > > I think users of the AX1 would be better off thinking of IT as the > counterpoise, and making the most out of what they normally consider to be > the counterpoise wire. > > Look at it this way. Unless you have a lot of current on the shield of the > coax (in which case IT is doing a lot of radiating), roughly equal currents > are going to try to go both ways from the feedpoint ... into the AX1 and into > the "counterpoise" wire. The AX1 is typically physically shorter and it > certainly has more loss, and since the radiated field is a function of net > current and length, in most cases the counterpoise wire is at least trying to > do the most radiating. I say "in most cases" because the typical position of > the counterpoise wire puts it along the ground or near some other RF-sucking > structure. > > In my opinion, probably the best way to use the AX1 is to put the > counterpoise wire as straight, high, and in the clear as possible and let the > AX1 act like the shortened other half of the circuit (i.e., the > counterpoise). If that isn't possible, make the counterpoise wire as > straight and vertical as possible ... climb a tree and let the wire hang > down. ;) > > If I had a good EZNEC model of the AX1 I'm pretty sure I could prove that > assertion, but for those who have an AX1 I'd bet some field strength > experiments would bear me out. > > I'm not saying that the AX1 isn't a worthwhile investment, and I'm not saying > it doesn't radiate. I just think there are some misconceptions on what it's > actually doing and how to best make use of it. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > >> On 8/26/2019 3:51 PM, MaverickNH wrote: >> I brought along a NanoVNA this trip and used it to array the two counterpoise >> attached to my AX1 antenna - adjustments of counterpoise brought SWR down >> from 9+ to <2. SNRs in the low ‘teens with a 200mW WSPRlite vs upper 20s - >> *inside* a hotel room with sealed windows. >> >> As Wayne said, the AX1 is particular wrt configuration. When it’s good, it’s >> very, very good, but when it’s bad, it’s terrible. The NanoVNA is pretty >> cheap/light kit to add if you’re not bringing an ATU-enabled rig. >> >> Bret/N4SRN > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
