Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths
a couple of other (Phone only) Caribbean QRP deployments when I >>> had my FT817 and ATAS 25. 3 years ago in Panama it was winter field day and >>> 10m was open so I created a pileup. It was a blast and I was bitten by the >>> bug! (If you search ve3bwp QRP Costa Rica on YouTube you can see a few of >>> the reactions I got - intrigued, the hotel staff kept the Marquita's >>> flowing so I may sound a bit tipsy). >>> >>> Then last year I tried It from Panama. Didn't_make_a_single_contact! Heard >>> lots but no-one heard me. I realized how ill prepared I was and relying on >>> a compromise antenna near a solar minimum (with no CW or digimodes) would >>> be even that close to the equator. >>> >>> So this year with a new KX3 and my wife's super thin MacBook life I'm going >>> getting serious and I have a proper antenna! I've started reading through >>> the Elecraft message archives trying to find all random wire success >>> stories. I got some of the Wireman silky wire and now in search of what >>> lengths to try. I saw Wayne's recommendation for 25ft for 40-6m so I've cut >>> some for that. I'm looking to precut a few different lengths to try for >>> various band combinations. Maybe even some band specific resonant ones for >>> 20 to 10m so if anyone has some tried and true lengths for those I would >>> appreciate hearing about actual lengths. This will be my first time with >>> end feds or random wires. I'm also giving serious thought to packing my >>> CrankIR as it can be made resonant very easily but it's 13.5lbs and would >>> be the heaviest and bulkiest item of all. I may take it though just in case >>> since it is comparable in performance to my base dipole. With it I've had >>> regular phone ragchews at 5w with >>> many assuming I was running way more power. >>> >>> Anyway if others have has similar ambitions/successes... would love to hear >>> about it. >>> >>> Thanks and regards, >>> >>> Brian ve3bwp >>> >>>> Message: 19 >>>> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 16:30:57 -0500 >>>> From: murphy <mac3...@gmail.com <mailto:mac3...@gmail.com>> >>>> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net> >>>> Subject: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths >>>> Message-ID: <cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com >>>> <mailto:cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com>> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >>>> >>>> I love my new KX2 and the installed auto-tuner. The manual mentions a >>>> random wire antenna with a counterpoise and recommends #26 ?Silky? from >>>> The Wireman (catalog #534). After obtaining 100 feet the first question >>>> is how long? Obviously I want it to tune 1:1 SWR, 80 to 10 meters but a >>>> quick search of the archives and manual came up dry for specific random >>>> wire lengths. So I cut 29 feet x 2 and boom - no joy. The 5MHz band >>>> got no better than 4:1 SWR and 80 meters was, well, hopeless. The rest >>>> was good. Ok searching the net the best I could find was >>>> http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html >>>> <http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html> with the magic >>>> number lengths: *29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 >>>> 423*. Still, no guarantee which would meet requirements on the >>>> KX2/KXAT2. So, after a splice and another cut, I can now officially >>>> announce that a 58 foot "random" wire with a 29 foot counterpoise will >>>> give a 1:1 SWR on all bands 80-10 on the KX2 using the KXAT2. :-) >>>> >>>> Message: 26 >>>> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 02:38:20 +0100 >>>> From: "Emory Schley" <silverlo...@gmx.com <mailto:silverlo...@gmx.com>> >>>> To: Elecraft <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net>> >>>> Subject: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas >>>> Message-ID: >>>> >>>> <trinity-d32bc86b-748e-42a8-bde9-d162f4e183b0-1485653900435@3capp-mailcom-bs04> >>>> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 >>>> >>>> My KX2 Owner's Manual, page 10, says "A length of about 25 feet for each >>>> wire, matched to the KX2's output using an antenna tuner (see ATU, pg. 11) >>>> will typically provide good performance on 40-10 m. (Without an ATU, >>>> resonant lengths are required for each band.) This antenna is ideal for >>>> outings where all gear must fit into a small bag (e.g., our model CS-40)." >>>> >>>> I just bought my KX2 in late November/December 2016, so I presume this is >>>> the latest edition of the Owner's Manual. >>>> ? >>>> Emory Schley >>>> N4L >>>> >>>> > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths
yone has some tried and true lengths for those I would >> appreciate hearing about actual lengths. This will be my first time with end >> feds or random wires. I'm also giving serious thought to packing my CrankIR >> as it can be made resonant very easily but it's 13.5lbs and would be the >> heaviest and bulkiest item of all. I may take it though just in case since >> it is comparable in performance to my base dipole. With it I've had regular >> phone ragchews at 5w with >> many assuming I was running way more power. >> >> Anyway if others have has similar ambitions/successes... would love to hear >> about it. >> >> Thanks and regards, >> >> Brian ve3bwp >> >>> Message: 19 >>> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 16:30:57 -0500 >>> From: murphy <mac3...@gmail.com <mailto:mac3...@gmail.com>> >>> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net> >>> Subject: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths >>> Message-ID: <cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com >>> <mailto:cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com>> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >>> >>> I love my new KX2 and the installed auto-tuner. The manual mentions a >>> random wire antenna with a counterpoise and recommends #26 ?Silky? from >>> The Wireman (catalog #534). After obtaining 100 feet the first question >>> is how long? Obviously I want it to tune 1:1 SWR, 80 to 10 meters but a >>> quick search of the archives and manual came up dry for specific random >>> wire lengths. So I cut 29 feet x 2 and boom - no joy. The 5MHz band >>> got no better than 4:1 SWR and 80 meters was, well, hopeless. The rest >>> was good. Ok searching the net the best I could find was >>> http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html >>> <http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html> with the magic >>> number lengths: *29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 >>> 423*. Still, no guarantee which would meet requirements on the >>> KX2/KXAT2. So, after a splice and another cut, I can now officially >>> announce that a 58 foot "random" wire with a 29 foot counterpoise will >>> give a 1:1 SWR on all bands 80-10 on the KX2 using the KXAT2. :-) >>> >>> Message: 26 >>> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 02:38:20 +0100 >>> From: "Emory Schley" <silverlo...@gmx.com <mailto:silverlo...@gmx.com>> >>> To: Elecraft <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net>> >>> Subject: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas >>> Message-ID: >>> >>> <trinity-d32bc86b-748e-42a8-bde9-d162f4e183b0-1485653900435@3capp-mailcom-bs04> >>> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 >>> >>> My KX2 Owner's Manual, page 10, says "A length of about 25 feet for each >>> wire, matched to the KX2's output using an antenna tuner (see ATU, pg. 11) >>> will typically provide good performance on 40-10 m. (Without an ATU, >>> resonant lengths are required for each band.) This antenna is ideal for >>> outings where all gear must fit into a small bag (e.g., our model CS-40)." >>> >>> I just bought my KX2 in late November/December 2016, so I presume this is >>> the latest edition of the Owner's Manual. >>> ? >>> Emory Schley >>> N4L >>> >>> __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths
Hi Brian, I’ve also got a KX3 and use it in the summer on the back patio and occasionally from the family room when it is not sitting on my shack desk, tethered to the KXPA100. When I do those “portable” operations I use an end-fed vertical that I came across at the web site of EARC - the Emergency Amateur Radio Club in Honolulu. URL below. Very simple antenna - is uses a 30 or so length of wire strung vertically and a 9:1 un-un. I homebrewed the un-un - piece of cake. While it isn’t the same as a super long wire antenna up 80 feet, it does pretty darn well. In fact, I will be taking my KX3 (barefoot) and this antenna on a three week vacation this spring to the southern Philippines - Mindanao. No (or very little) SSB, but primarily CW and possibly digital modes. Easy to build or cheap to buy, lightweight to transport, and performs very well... Here is the address of the EARC: http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed6_40.pdf Jim Bennett / W6JHB Folsom, CA > On Jan 29, 2017, at 9:12 AM, Brian “VE3BWP” Pietrzyk <ve3...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hi Murphy, your post comes at a good time for me. Thanks for this info. I'm > preparing to take my new KX3 to the Dominican Republic next month for a QRP > deployment on the beach at a resort. I'm planning to do WSPR, JT65, PSK31 and > PHONE. I've not kept up my CW so I'm hoping to try some fldigi assisted CW > contacts although it doesn't seem to copy human sent code very well so we'll > see how that goes. > > I've tried a couple of other (Phone only) Caribbean QRP deployments when I > had my FT817 and ATAS 25. 3 years ago in Panama it was winter field day and > 10m was open so I created a pileup. It was a blast and I was bitten by the > bug! (If you search ve3bwp QRP Costa Rica on YouTube you can see a few of the > reactions I got - intrigued, the hotel staff kept the Marquita's flowing so I > may sound a bit tipsy). > > Then last year I tried It from Panama. Didn't_make_a_single_contact! Heard > lots but no-one heard me. I realized how ill prepared I was and relying on a > compromise antenna near a solar minimum (with no CW or digimodes) would be > even that close to the equator. > > So this year with a new KX3 and my wife's super thin MacBook life I'm going > getting serious and I have a proper antenna! I've started reading through the > Elecraft message archives trying to find all random wire success stories. I > got some of the Wireman silky wire and now in search of what lengths to try. > I saw Wayne's recommendation for 25ft for 40-6m so I've cut some for that. > I'm looking to precut a few different lengths to try for various band > combinations. Maybe even some band specific resonant ones for 20 to 10m so if > anyone has some tried and true lengths for those I would appreciate hearing > about actual lengths. This will be my first time with end feds or random > wires. I'm also giving serious thought to packing my CrankIR as it can be > made resonant very easily but it's 13.5lbs and would be the heaviest and > bulkiest item of all. I may take it though just in case since it is > comparable in performance to my base dipole. With it I've had regular phone > ragchews at 5w with > many assuming I was running way more power. > > Anyway if others have has similar ambitions/successes... would love to hear > about it. > > Thanks and regards, > > Brian ve3bwp > >> Message: 19 >> Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 16:30:57 -0500 >> From: murphy <mac3...@gmail.com> >> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Subject: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths >> Message-ID: <cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >> >> I love my new KX2 and the installed auto-tuner. The manual mentions a >> random wire antenna with a counterpoise and recommends #26 ?Silky? from >> The Wireman (catalog #534). After obtaining 100 feet the first question >> is how long? Obviously I want it to tune 1:1 SWR, 80 to 10 meters but a >> quick search of the archives and manual came up dry for specific random >> wire lengths. So I cut 29 feet x 2 and boom - no joy. The 5MHz band >> got no better than 4:1 SWR and 80 meters was, well, hopeless. The rest >> was good. Ok searching the net the best I could find was >> http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html with the magic >> number lengths: *29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 >> 423*. Still, no guarantee which would meet requirements on the >> KX2/KXAT2. So, after a splice and another cut, I can now officially >> announce that a 58 foot "random" wire with a 29 foot counterpoise will >> give a 1:1 SWR on all bands 80
[Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths
Hi Murphy, your post comes at a good time for me. Thanks for this info. I'm preparing to take my new KX3 to the Dominican Republic next month for a QRP deployment on the beach at a resort. I'm planning to do WSPR, JT65, PSK31 and PHONE. I've not kept up my CW so I'm hoping to try some fldigi assisted CW contacts although it doesn't seem to copy human sent code very well so we'll see how that goes. I've tried a couple of other (Phone only) Caribbean QRP deployments when I had my FT817 and ATAS 25. 3 years ago in Panama it was winter field day and 10m was open so I created a pileup. It was a blast and I was bitten by the bug! (If you search ve3bwp QRP Costa Rica on YouTube you can see a few of the reactions I got - intrigued, the hotel staff kept the Marquita's flowing so I may sound a bit tipsy). Then last year I tried It from Panama. Didn't_make_a_single_contact! Heard lots but no-one heard me. I realized how ill prepared I was and relying on a compromise antenna near a solar minimum (with no CW or digimodes) would be even that close to the equator. So this year with a new KX3 and my wife's super thin MacBook life I'm going getting serious and I have a proper antenna! I've started reading through the Elecraft message archives trying to find all random wire success stories. I got some of the Wireman silky wire and now in search of what lengths to try. I saw Wayne's recommendation for 25ft for 40-6m so I've cut some for that. I'm looking to precut a few different lengths to try for various band combinations. Maybe even some band specific resonant ones for 20 to 10m so if anyone has some tried and true lengths for those I would appreciate hearing about actual lengths. This will be my first time with end feds or random wires. I'm also giving serious thought to packing my CrankIR as it can be made resonant very easily but it's 13.5lbs and would be the heaviest and bulkiest item of all. I may take it though just in case since it is comparable in performance to my base dipole. With it I've had regular phone ragchews at 5w with many assuming I was running way more power. Anyway if others have has similar ambitions/successes... would love to hear about it. Thanks and regards, Brian ve3bwp > Message: 19 > Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 16:30:57 -0500 > From: murphy <mac3...@gmail.com> > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths > Message-ID: <cb8ba97a-f144-d077-e73f-935230939...@gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > I love my new KX2 and the installed auto-tuner. The manual mentions a > random wire antenna with a counterpoise and recommends #26 ?Silky? from > The Wireman (catalog #534). After obtaining 100 feet the first question > is how long? Obviously I want it to tune 1:1 SWR, 80 to 10 meters but a > quick search of the archives and manual came up dry for specific random > wire lengths. So I cut 29 feet x 2 and boom - no joy. The 5MHz band > got no better than 4:1 SWR and 80 meters was, well, hopeless. The rest > was good. Ok searching the net the best I could find was > http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html with the magic > number lengths: *29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 > 423*. Still, no guarantee which would meet requirements on the > KX2/KXAT2. So, after a splice and another cut, I can now officially > announce that a 58 foot "random" wire with a 29 foot counterpoise will > give a 1:1 SWR on all bands 80-10 on the KX2 using the KXAT2. :-) > > Message: 26 > Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 02:38:20 +0100 > From: "Emory Schley" <silverlo...@gmx.com> > To: Elecraft <Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> > Subject: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas > Message-ID: > > <trinity-d32bc86b-748e-42a8-bde9-d162f4e183b0-1485653900435@3capp-mailcom-bs04> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > My KX2 Owner's Manual, page 10, says "A length of about 25 feet for each > wire, matched to the KX2's output using an antenna tuner (see ATU, pg. 11) > will typically provide good performance on 40-10 m. (Without an ATU, resonant > lengths are required for each band.) This antenna is ideal for outings where > all gear must fit into a small bag (e.g., our model CS-40)." > > I just bought my KX2 in late November/December 2016, so I presume this is the > latest edition of the Owner's Manual. > ? > Emory Schley > N4LP > > __ 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
[Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths
I love my new KX2 and the installed auto-tuner. The manual mentions a random wire antenna with a counterpoise and recommends #26 “Silky” from The Wireman (catalog #534). After obtaining 100 feet the first question is how long? Obviously I want it to tune 1:1 SWR, 80 to 10 meters but a quick search of the archives and manual came up dry for specific random wire lengths. So I cut 29 feet x 2 and boom - no joy. The 5MHz band got no better than 4:1 SWR and 80 meters was, well, hopeless. The rest was good. Ok searching the net the best I could find was http://www.hamuniverse.com/randomwireantennalengths.html with the magic number lengths: *29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 423*. Still, no guarantee which would meet requirements on the KX2/KXAT2. So, after a splice and another cut, I can now officially announce that a 58 foot "random" wire with a 29 foot counterpoise will give a 1:1 SWR on all bands 80-10 on the KX2 using the KXAT2. :-) __ 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
