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Reviews For: Elecraft AX1 Multiband, Ultraportable whip

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Elecraft AX1 Multiband, Ultraportable whip
Reviews: 22MSRP: 99 w/o accessories
Description:
The AX1 is a two-piece telescoping whip antenna covering
20, 17, and 15 meters. It is targeted at pedestrian
mobile, "stealth," emergency, and ultralight backpacking
applications. An ATU (automatic antenna tuner) is
required for 17 and 15 meter matching. (The company's KX2
and KX3 transceivers both feature internal ATU options
that meet the AX1's requirements.) Features:

* Two high-Q base-loading inductors, with total
inductance switch-selected

* In one switch position, the antenna is resonant in the
20 meter band

* In the other position, the antenna is resonant between
17 and 15 meters, allowing it to be efficiently matched
to both bands using an ATU (typically internal to the
transceiver)

* Two-piece construction, with a 6" (15 cm) base unit
(BNC connector), and a whip of that same length when
collapsed; this size is compatible with transporting the
antenna in a jacket pocket or a small bag (such as the
Elecraft CS40)

* Supplied with durable 13-foot (4 m) counterpose wire
suitable for use on all three bands

* Options include a unique "whip bipod" (AXB1) for use on
a table top; tripod adapter (AXT1); and replaceent whip
(AXW1)

* The bipod has adjustable legs that adapt to rough or
inclined surfaces; it allows the AX1 to be used with a
right-angle BNC adapter without tipping in light to
moderat
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15224
G4YVM Rating: 2023-03-17
Excellent for what it is...it works! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What can I say? It works. I know that aerials are not magic - I make them as a business (qrz my callsign and see Bantenna) so I know what is needed BUT...I got this aerial last Friday so wanted to get out and test it. The matching on 20m is tricky because the bandwidth of the aerial is so tight (but we expect that, right??) The counterpoise might need adjusting for position (which Elecraft say anyway) and the whip might need twisting to move any fine grease or dirt I guess, but I managed to get a 1:1 match using the KX2 internal tuner within about 2 minutes and a couple of changes of counterpoise position. The band WAS QUIET as they always are when away from home and in the sticks. I was moderately suspicious because whereas many American stations who activate POTA etc etc usually get to about 12 million feet ASL here in the UK of course if you reach 800 feet ASL youre doing good!! I went up Pepperbox Hill in Wiltshire (Marconi also worked from here!!) at c220ft ASL and rigged the aerial and KX2 on the wing of my Land Rover. Counterpoise stretched out to a wire fence. It wouldnt tune at all. I changed the counterposie position from the fence to just on the ground and it matched 1:1. A few CQ calls between rain showers and I worked LY2BNL with ease...thats 1056 miles away. Now call me an old softy but when Elecraft sell an aerial they say works and I manage over 1000 miles first call, I reckon they're delivering on that!!! The aerial LOOKS fabulous and is very small, it does exactly what they say. I also have the extender for 40m but because of rain havent used it yet. I will report back on that in due course but for now, the 20m aerial works fine. It deserves a 5 because it does exactly what they claim. Another winner from Elecraft (and because my postal service caused massive delays I had reason to email Madelyn several times. - usual first class customer service!! If you fancy playing small aerials, have a go with this...it's great fun. This antenna is absolutely what the KX2 has been waiting for. I'm sure it will be a winner with mcHF and Xiegu 6100 as well.

EDIT. Today, 17th March 2023 I tried the AXE40 40m extender. You know what? It works too. I had a very nice QRP QSO with Alan, G4BLI. He was using 1 watt from a HB radio and I was on 5 watts into the Elecraft aerial from the KX2. No difficulty at all. What can I say? Thanks Elecraft.
WA4JM Rating: 2022-09-23
Save Your Money Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is just another miracle antenna that does not work. It is no where resonant on 20 meters using the supplied counterpoise A tuner is required for 17 and 15 meters. All that does is provide a match for a grossly inefficient antenna. Now did I expect it to compare to a dipole? No, but it should operate on 20 meters as advertised. Shame on Elecraft for marketing something that does not work as advertised.
K4RHG Rating: 2022-09-16
Great Little Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am very impressed with how well the AX-1 performs sitting in a window sill with no tuning.

A friend, Derek Rowell (AK1WI), gave me a two-watt WSPR kit he had designed -- easy and fun to build. I connected the unit, on 20 meters, to the AX-1 sitting in a window sill facing west. I strung the out-of-the-box counterpoise over a lamp shade and bed headboard. No idea what the SWR is, but it must be pretty good.

I immediately began receiving propagation reports and within 24 hours had reports from 240 unique stations. The farthest was VK5ARG (17,276 km) with a SNR of -21. Even though the window faced the west, propagation into Europe was strong with SV9KI (7,800 km) reporting -26 SNR.

Great little antenna!

---

Here's a photo of the rig: https://gruner.com/k4rhg/andover_ma.png and the propagation map: https://gruner.com/k4rhg/wspr_2watts_sep16_2022.png



W6KIC Rating: 2022-03-08
OK for listening. Fiddly, some QC issues. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the most fiddly antenna I've dealt with and I can't recommend it, although it may fit your needs if you're aware of its shortcomings.  I bought it in July of 2020 and have gotten some use from it listening at my local park.  It resonates far higher than the promised +/-300 khz on 20, and nothing I do with repositioning, changing radial or whip length, etc., gets it anywhere near the band.  I can get a theoretical match on 20 using the Elecraft T1 tuner or the internal tuner of my Xiegu, which is equally good, but I suspect I'm not radiating much power and have limited success in making QSOs.  (Yes, I know you need to be patient with QRP, but patience has its limits).  I recently bought the 40 m extension and do get better performance and a closer resonance to the band on 40, but 30 meters won't load under any circumstances.  I get a 10:1 SWR or higher on 30 and have never had a match.
I emailed Elecraft during the warranty period asking for advice.  Someone who seemed knowledgeable called me and basically said  to experiment and it should work.  I did and it really didn't. I emailed again after the warranty had expired, again asking for advice, and was told "Request an RSA to send it in and have it checked, but the service is on the clock, and will be at least one hour minimum.  Our hourly labor rate is $125.00 / hour, plus you're responsible for the cost of shipping both directions." After spending $150 total on the antenna and 40 m extender, I don't think so.
It's a decent listening antenna, but nothing I've figured out for transmitting gets more than the occasional pickup by the Reverse Beacon Network. UPDATE: And occasional contacts.
A second problem, mentioned by someone else on this site, the band-switch button that toggles between 20/17 and, with the extension inserted, switches between 40/30, is misaligned.  I was told to adjust the metal caps at the top and bottom of the coil to permanently tighten the mechanism, but in order to make the switch operable and change bands, I have to loosen both the top and bottom, slide up the plastic tube, toggle the switch, and re-tighten each time.   I could enlarge the access hole in the plastic tube, but messing with the casing is a last resort. In short, this antenna is a great idea, I don't think it works very well and there seem to be some problems with quality control.
UPDATE March 2022
I'm giving the antenna an extra star, from two to three, since there are few other options for ultra portability and quick set-up. I use it mainly for listening from my local park and manage occasional contacts when conditions are very good. I'm guessing that if I were operating POTA or SOTA from a national or state park with an Internet spot and people actively searching me out, I'd do better. On the negative side, the antenna has never loaded on 30 meters, which it should tune when using the 40 meter extender and the Elecraft T1 or Xiegu internal tuners (I've tried both). And I find the 20/17 meter switch on the base unit difficult to operate, at least on mine, so I leave it in the 20 meter position (which sets it to 40 with the extender in place) and I have a usable but highly compromised 40-20 antenna. Again, good for listening and, on a good day, for QSOs. I'm guessing, based on what I've heard, it's good for POTA/SOTA where people are willing to dig you out the mud.
KD2JIP Rating: 2022-03-07
Highly portable and it works. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I worked a station in Italy from NJ on 40m with 12W on my first outing yesterday with this antenna and the 40m coil add-on. Very satisfied.
W7PK Rating: 2021-05-10
mine is not resonant on 20 meter as stated Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Perhaps I got the proverbial LEMON? it worked so poorly I had to put my antenna analyzer on it just to see what it was doing, in the 20 meter position where it is advertised to be resonant it was actually resonant at 19.360 Mhz and yes the whip was completely extended, in the 17 meter position it was resonant at 27.690 Mhz.

it looks to me like this was designed for a longer whip. perhaps it was a change in the manufacturing process or it just shipped with the wrong whip. I will put a call into Elecraft and see if there is a remedy.

they have always been good to me in the past

UPDATE

Called Elecraft today and they are sending me a replacement antenna at no charge even tho it is over a year old and out of warranty.

Love Elecraft thank you
AF5KA Rating: 2020-09-18
Flimsy, Unsuitable for SOTA Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This antenna may work for a calm day in the park, but it is unsuitable for SOTA on real mountains. The construction is flimsy, cheap, and loose, with the only mechanical support being the BNC connector. The Colorado mountains where I do SOTA have gusty winds 30-60 mph as typical conditions. A Buddipole vertical stands up to that, but this would not. The mounting accessories are overpriced.
K4ALE Rating: 2020-07-06
Excellent accessory Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wayne and Eric have once again pulled a rabbit out of their hats [think: Rocky and Bullwinkle.] The AX1 is an excellent accessory to the marvelous KX3. I have owned and used the AX1 since it was introduced several years ago, primarily on 20m. I have been very surprised at how effective this naturally compromised antenna is. My deployment is usually on a photo tripod, often on a table [e.g. picnic], with a feed point at about 6 feet. The early version did not have an included counterpoise, but I was able to make one easily out of some zipped small gauge speaker wire. A little experimentation got it trimmed. I have a separate wire for 17m.

I have made contacts with my KX3 and this antenna to the far end of the US [from Virginia] and to Europe. Aiming the counterpoise helps, or using two extended in opposite directions. I have found that feeding the antenna on the tripod adapter at 6 feet above ground helps its effectiveness considerably, and therefore strongly recommend this set up.

I have recently obtained the 40m extender coil. My very positive comments on that additional part are on the separate review page.

This antenna has also been borrowed by several of my friends for use on trips. All have been happy with its performance. I think this tends to prove its durability and ease of use.
KM5YQ Rating: 2020-05-24
Fast and Portable! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I made a PSK31 contact on the Elecraft AX1 this morning from a city park picnic table. Texas to Michigan on 20m at solar minimum, not bad. The radio was a KX3 at 5 watts. This is a compromise antenna, but it delivers on portability and quick and easy setup. My other portable antenna is a buddipole, great antenna and I enjoy using it, but it takes a bit longer to carry and setup. However, for this apartment dweller who just wants to get his Starbucks, then make a short stop at a park to try some HF, this is a great antenna. I also purchased the AXB1 bipod mount, and the AXT1 tripod mount. The setup time for everything, radio, Signalink and antenna is about 5 minutes. The small size of the antenna makes it easy to pack in my camera backpack with everything else!
K2WO Rating: 2019-10-01
Love My AX1 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Hard to beat! It is a compromise, but it works. Well made and very innovative. Just got the 40/30 Meter coil. Can't wait to try it! Thanks to Wayne and Eric for another great QRP product.