Field Report: The Elecraft AX1's secret power? Speed of deployment.

qrper.com/2023/02/pota-field-...
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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL
Chapters:
0:00:00 Intro in car
0:07:10 Setting up KX2 & AX1
0:12:30 On the Air 20 Meters
0:41:42 QRT & Quick Summary
0:46:30 Packing up the KX2 and AX1

[@w2aew]

Cool - thanks for the shout out! Nice to see the complete setup process - so quick with the AX1.

[@KU9L]

Those darn bears, LOL. Every year one of our inexperienced tent campers will come to Colorado with a brand new tent and leave a cooler full of food in it when they leave for the day. A juvenile bear will come by and ultimately destroy the tent even though Our damp host warned them to take the cooler with them for the day. They usually see the bear damage and ultimately abandon their campsite for someone else to clean up, LOL. It is funny as I rarely see a bear myself. Last summer I was weed-eating and got rained out. As I was packing away my equipment I saw what looked like a dog run through the small 11-site campground with matted wet hair from the rain. When it got to one of the 50-foot cliffs a couple of small scrub oak trees jutting out, it leaped up the vertical face in 3 powered push-offs of the little oaks. At that point I realized it wasn't a dog, it was a mountain lion and it wasn't liking me look at it very long, it had been annoyed at my electric weedeater and had been waiting for me to get out of the way so it could travel about its business, LOL. At that point, I decided not to do my lunch-hour gold panning even though the rain had subsided to a light sprinkle, LOL. Cheers es 72, Dave - KU9L

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, more people need to be bear aware. It's scary how reckless people are with food, etc. in bear country.

[@McPilot_W3DDS]

Hey Thomas. glad to be your first contact in this video. I'm in an HOA and just deployed a 29 foot stealth wire on top of the pool fence. It works ;)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It works indeed!

[@jwag869]

Dear Complaint Department, you need to start throwing those wire antennas as high as possible in the trees. Everytime I hear you activating a park you are right down in the static here in Kansas so unsuccessful stalking you at this time. Or I need about a 10db gain antenna. Please send check.....LOL. Good video as usual Thomas. Jeff W0JMW

[@randalltom9750]

Your in Kansas, I’m in Idaho… what are the chances of a relay (HiHi)! Thomas seems like the ideal Elecraft AX1 poster child… he has the knack with the AX1. I have had little success with my AX1. A wire reigns supreme in my KX2 world, any wire. 72! de W7UDT (dit dit)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I'm going through a little AX1 testing at present, but I'll be back to my long wire antennas before you know it! :)

[@W4EMB]

Thomas, being new at CW myself, watching you cheer on AA9SK was just plain heart warming. It encourages us who are slow , to try it. Thanks for that. You set the bar high my friend. The standard . W4EMB. Ed in TN.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

We have all been there and I know the feeling as if it was yesterday. It's an honor to work a new CW op. Each and every time.

[@AA9SK]

Thomas. Thanks for the encouraging words. John AA9SK

[@W4EMB]

Well done.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

My pleasure! Thank you for reaching out over the airwaves!

[@thogevoll]

My son has an AX-1 that he picked up at Hamvention this year. He was not particularly happy with it beause it was high out of bsnd on both 20 and 17 meter bands. Yes, he uses the counterpoise. He runs it on a tripod. We added 5-6 turns to the top coil and this brought the resonance down to the bottom of both bands. Now he's happy with it. I think we could have taken two turn back off and it might have been in the middle of both bands but he uses it for digital and it's perfect as is now.

[@philippehaake6123]

Hello a nice little BIG antenna, I made a ssb qso with my KX3 from Geneva Switzerland to Brasil....... 73 qro to all of you HB9GUR

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Brilliant!

[@MentalWhiplash]

Your encouragement and patience with new cw ops is exemplary....thanks,Thomas! And I'm glad I'm not the only one that sings some of the states..."PA....ba-da-da-bup ba-da"

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you, Todd. Yes! I hear states like that now! :)

[@vaamorais]

Hi Thomas, lovely scenery for a radio activation therapy. Using the right tool for the job in hand makes working the job more pleasurable. Thanks for sharing

[@ae4xo]

you: I only have 30 minutes KZbin: you made a 52 minute video. aweomse though. I love it .

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! Yes, it was a very welcome surprise when I got a text from my daughters stating "not to hurry" as their group was running behind. :)

[@tysonherzog8010]

Love your videos….. you rock !

[@DanielCronin-mm5bo]

Outstanding Thomas! My first experience with the AX1(KX2/5W), was 36 QSOs logged. USA, Canada, France, and Italy. Looks like a toy, works like a charm!

[@mikemiles3068]

Thomas every time you use the AX1 you made great contacts with it, especially considering the compromising characteristics it has. I ordered one after seeing your KZbin video on it a couple of years ago. I need to remember to use it the next I go out, I will check and see if you have what the little case that you use for is it in your field note. Good Video 73 KV5P

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The case I use is this one: amzn.to/3d8RewV I truly enjoy putting the AX1 on the air. It's a little powerhouse for POTA and SOTA!

[@Olly_F]

Love the videos. Have you tried additional additonal radials/counterpoise to the AX1 to see if that improves things even more? Thanks for all your efforts!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Not yet but I'm sure I eventually will!

[@F5MOX]

73 dr om Thomas Thank you for your vidéo in CW. I like to qrp radio BLU and CW. with my FT 817 in Paris et les environs. Toutes mes 73 Thomas de Gérard F5MOX.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Merci, Gérard, La prochaine fois que je voyagerai en France et/ou à Paris, j'aurai le KX2 et l'AX1 dans mon sac à dos ! 73 OM!

[@davidtheriault7652]

Great video. AX1 came in yesterday. Ordering the fatty this am. CW noob here. 73 KO4KHB

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You're going to love the AX1. And all the best on your CW journey. You've got this, David!

[@JeffErdman]

New subscriber here. Enjoying your videos. I'm new to CW but the bug has bit me hard. I learned to send with Google's AI powered morse tool but copy is still difficult. I find watching your videos is a good way to help me learn to copy better by listening along. Hope to get you in the log one of these days as I'm doing a lot of POTA hunting on CW. 73 de K9FRO

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Keep up the great CW practice, Jeff! You've got this and I look forward to putting you int he logs this year!

[@JonathanAdami]

Wow.... just wow! I would at least remove the full break in so when people are just transmitting over each other and myself my brain gets to focus on one thing but you're so on top of this it hurts! haha amazing job! Also ideal setup too, that AX1 does work aye! In another video you mentioned it's probably not the ideal antenna for a non populated area did I get that right? I live in Brisbane Australia, comparatively to the US there's nobody here :D Still feels like it's so neat and easy compared to fiddling around with trees and all. Thanks for the videos, always very instructive!

[@JonathanAdami]

Sorry, you address this at the end, don't mind me! I was commenting while listening :D

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you! You know, someday I'lll test the theory of using the AX1 in Australia. When I travel there, I'll certainly take an AX1. :)

[@JonathanAdami]

@@ThomasK4SWL if that works, I'm getting one! :D :D

[@alistairg6770]

Another cracking video Thomas. Inspired by you, I have started learning CW and love it. Just purchased a Begali Blade straight key with ceramic finish. Amazing and buttery smooth. Hopefully, I will get a chance to work you on the air at some point! 73 M7EBU

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh what a nice key you have! Yes indeed, it would be great working you on the air! Hey: conditions have been opening up into the UK for me. I actually worked a P2P with M0TTQ near Southport the other day!

[@HamRadioAdventures]

Wow! Incredible, I’ve never had much luck with that antenna. Great job with it. 73 and good DX!

[@tommycheshire5508]

Do you keep a master log book and transfer all your little logs to a master log?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Not a master paper log, no. I do have a master electronic log that I keep mainly to upload contacts to LOTW. That said I'm about one year behind on that due to PC problems and needing to sort out an issue with LOTW. Great question and reminder that I need to sort out LOTW!

[@AlpineWarren]

Hey I wonder if the AX1 and bipod will mate right up to the Xiegu x6100??? :) Looking forward to your activation with it! :)

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Why yes it does! You simply need something to clamp to the outside of the BNC to attach the counterpoise. Check out this activation where I pair the X6100 and AX1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5m2hKqBbcxpja8

[@Kibwunga]

I’m excited about getting one myself. Just curious, why do you send 72?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Here's the answer: qrper.com/2023/10/tu-es-72-a-qrp-handshake/

[@Kibwunga]

Kewl @@ThomasK4SWL

[@eddy2561]

The Elecraft AX1 "bipod" IMO is way overpriced!! I use instead an old camera tripod which you can find at a thrift store for next to nothing and a short run of coax and works great GL/K6SDW