QRP & Tea: Pairing the Elecraft KX2 & AX1 under shelter at Tuttle Educational State Forest

[@texasstealthcamper8139]

My wife was asking about morse code and I showed her your video. 😎🏆

[@ink3n]

And I like to watch "real-time real live videos";) thank you for your very good and regular videos

[@paulmeier5689]

Enjoy your videos Thomas, they are informational and informative. 2 big words there! One point of safety from an old backpacker. NEVER, NEVER put your cup on a stove and pour water into it. Fill your cup and then place it on top of the stove. If you ever tip a stove over pour water you will have a fire fast and larger than you an put out.... Please only add water to a cup before placing on a stove. Thanks and I look forward to working you one of these days from a park in my area. Paul K7PM Oregon

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Excellent point! Yes, I know better, but did it anyway. :) This last video (filmed yesterday), I poured the water in advance.

[@adam-g7crq]

Tea with no milk, its just wrong 😁 Yorkshire breakfast tea with milk and sugar and a egg and bacon butty with brown sauce heaven. Oh yeah great video 👍

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha! Now that would require a bit more kitchen infrastructure than I normally bring! :) Sounds like breakfast heaven, though!

[@sockeatinggolden8316]

I really enjoy the tea and ham radio videos. It's inspired me to get a similar set up and go activate in our cold dreary late fall. Thank you for the videos! de W8SEG

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It certainly turns a dreary day into something much more pleasant! Thank you! Thomas

[@rabbit6914]

Maybe the new motto should be "Practice makes theory exciting" Why is that short antenna doing so much better than one would expect? Fun to speculate. In any event, in this recording the voice quality on youtube is excellent, so maybe, as to audio, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Noted! Thank you, Roger!

[@WilliamParmley]

After seeing your results in earlier videos I added the AX1, AXE1, and AXT1 to my KX2 order. First time out of the box with the AX1 I had a nice SSB ragchew with a Florida station -- we were both impressed! I worked several DX stations on 20m and 15m CW during the recent CQWW contest. (Quite surprised at how well it tunes up on 15m.) I've had almost no luck on 40m with the AXE1 so far, but I have to admit that I haven't put much effort into that band yet. I know it will be more difficult than 20/17/15. I didn't get the Elecraft AXB1 "bipod" -- instead I got the AXT1 tripod adapter so I can put the antenna on a photo tripod and connect to it with a short coax, which seems to work very well. Thanks and 72/73!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Brilliant! If you activate a park or summit on 40M with the AX1, you'll find that it does an admirable job. Such a handy little antenna to take about. Thank you!

[@WilliamParmley]

@@ThomasK4SWL I got out in the yard today to test the AXE1. Had a nice CW ragchew then went up on SSB and had a two-way contact with a QRP POTA station. Looks like it's working just fine!

[@maddog222333]

Your videos always inspire.

[@phildurall7466]

Thomas ... love your content Sir! You are teaching me how to do POTA and at the same time, showing how to ENJOY the hobby!

[@brian-k3es680]

Wow, that AX1 just keeps racking up the contacts! I'm glad to have been one of them. I took my TX-500 out for a walk this weekend. Called CQ twice and got 35 contacts in 70 minutes. You really are an inspiration. 73 de Brian - K3ES

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Oh that TX-500 is such an amazing machine. Thank you so much, OM! 73, Thomas K4SWL

[@JayN4GO]

Great to see you having fun Thomas. Hope the girls are doing well too

[@ThomasK4SWL]

They are indeed. Just very busy this time of year even though there are less big in person events. Plus, the end of fall school work rush. They're ready for some vacation which we'll squeeze in before Christmas. Hope you and your family are all well, OM!

[@KK4Z]

Thanks for working me and my fumble fingers. I just got back from a 2 day activation at Ft Mountain State Park, GA (K-2176). Got you in the log. My morning brew was Charleston Coffee Roasters Organic Espresso Dark and the afternoon brew was Darjeeling.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Great to get you in the logs, OM! I had their Organic Espresso Dark last year and it was amazing! I'm very much a dark roast guy.

[@ai5dd]

Great attitude about the elements, I should practice that more often. I love the FT60 HT you have, I have it on my EDC bag for daily use. 73!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you and yes, the FT-60 is an amazing simple analog HT. Hard to beat!

[@AA0Z]

Great video as always. A few comments. 05:14 I want to know what a car looks like after a bear breaks into it!!!! 41:00 my contact with you. This is what a Maestro with a remote Flex sounds like. I live in the city of St. Louis and my Flex is remoted around 2 hours way in the foothills of MO. Always great to work you.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The Flex sounds amazing! Those are such fantastic systems for remote operation. Regarding the bear damage, I was very lucky. He opened all four doors of the car (and both of my truck's doors!). We had no food inside, of course, so he only did a bit of digging. While in there, he scratched up a lot of the door and center panels and also dug into the headliner which ripped out a few important wires. He also pulled most of the gaskets/seals off the doors. The car is actually in the shop right now. :)

[@ukrainehamradio]

Great mood! Tea is the main thing. I may not take the radio and antennas, but tea will be required! Well, some whiskey too)

[@carolannefisher1516]

Ahhhh, tea goes even better w/ Sunday morning POTA! Even better than that is what I am enjoying right now in bed because it’s way too windy out to be doing POTA - chai w/ a dollop of whippers! Bet I’m warmer than you are… I’m loving my AX1, too. It always surprises me.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That does sound ideal! :) Might have to bring some Chai along in the future! Glad you're enjoying the AX1.

[@dk3uh847]

Hello Thomas, I like your Videos and the landscape around you... Greetings from Germany!! Uwe 73 DK3UH

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Many thanks, Uwe!

[@mikemiles3068]

Good video Thomas❗️ I like to watch your videos and copy the code along side with you. I fill like i am getting a two for one this way because i am trying to re-activate this old brain again after over thirty years on not using CW. 73. KV5P

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you! I love knowing people listen to the videos to practice their code. It doesn't get more real world than real world. :)

[@mikelukasik9996]

Best idea I have had is looking at water boil..... Mi ke VA3MD

[@potatoslim2332]

Holy cow this is a fast upload.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Ha ha ha!!! I detect no sarcasm there! :)

[@potatoslim2332]

@@ThomasK4SWL I love your content. Happy trails.

[@ellisc.foleyjr9778]

Well you talked me into it Tom, I got thru to the point of your sipping your tea, and I couldn't refrain myself. put video on pause ran out made some toast with butter and Blackberry jam, big cup of coffee and came back and enjoyed that and your tea as the same time. Wow! what an activation!. My thought for the day is have you ever evaluated the RF exposure sitting that close to that antenna? or any whip or antenna that close to you when operating. ? Just curious. thanks again for a great way to spend a Sunday morning!. 73 de Ellis WA1RKS

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Hi, Ellis! Thanks for joining me for tea! And blackberry jam on toast? How can I put that in my field kit? :) In terms of RF exposure, I know Elecraft ran those numbers, but keep in mind my power output is only 5 watts with a duty cycle of 50% or less. I suspect there's not really an issue and wouldn't even be up to 10 or 15 watts.

[@ohiohamguy]

Just found your channel, and love it! I enjoy the content and the way you present it. Thanks and keep it coming. 73 kc8mxw

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thanks so much!

[@barrykery1175]

I just love that little stove. Barry, KU3X

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Me too. It couldn't be more handy.

[@edframbes5296]

Thank you! de K8EAF

[@Blake-jl8lh]

Nalgene will replace the bottle and give you a shirt

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Wow--now I have to remember if I've already tossed it.

[@Ray-VK3CEO]

I always enjoy your videos, the parks in the USA seem to be well maintained, a lot different to those here in VK3. Though I do enjoy the Australian wildlife, and the smell of the eucalyptus forests. VK3CEO

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thank you Ray! It can vary state to state, but in general state and national parks are very well maintained. Eucalyptus forests? That sounds fantastic! We used to have one tree in our back garden in England. I loved the smell.