Performance for me has nothing to do with SWR, but am I making QSOs. I do. With
the AX1 attached directly to the radio, KX2 and KX3, using the internal
matching unit ("tuner", which has little to do with tuning the antenna), I have
made 68 activations, 10-40 meters cw. From California, I have worked into China
and asiatic Russia on 17 meters.
The silly thing works, and works well. Propagation must be in your favor. It
has not worked every day. I have had to resort to digital modes occasionally to
complete an activation (add another 32 activations). It was my main radio
system, along with a KH1 on my two recent trips, one a three month cross
country pota trip.
The SWr was 1:1, usually, with the internal tuner. I always used the AX1
attached directly to the radio with a 3D printed antenna support.
I have used other radios and antennas, usually when stopped for more than a few
hours, but the AX1 and kx2 have allowed for me to make a quick stop, usually
less than one-hour total, to activate parks. Again, direct connection to the
radio, 40-15, modified AX2 for 10, internal tuner, one radial as supplied by
elecraft.
Don't overthink it. SWR does not equate to resonance. Remember tube radios-we
had the SWr/tuner/matching device built into the radio, usually as a pi network.
John
NS6X
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
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