ELECRAFT AX1, AXT1, AXB1 Owner's Manual
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ELECRAFT AX-LINE OWNER’S MANUAL
AX1
DUAL BAND (+)
WHIP ANTENNA
Page 2
AXB1
WHIP BIPOD
Page 5
AXT1
TRIPOD ADAPTER
Page 6
E740330 Rev. B2 , 4 Oct. 2018 Copyright 2018, Elecraft, Inc. All rights reserved
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Introduction
The Elecraft AX1 is a compact telescoping whip that
disassembles into two 6” (15 cm) pieces, so it’ll fit into small
“grab & go” bags... or your back pocket. A two-position switch
selects 20 m (resonant) or 17/15 m (compatible with a lowloss match via an antenna tuner on both bands).
The AX1 is ideal for pedestrian mobile, “stealth” operation, or
whenever dipoles, verticals, long wires, and other full-size
antennas cannot be erected. It can be used in three ways:
• HT-style (shown here with an Elecraft KX2 all-mode, 8010 meter transceiver)
• On a table-top with a right-angle BNC adapter and an
AXB1 whip bipod (see page 5)
• Mounted on a tripod or other support using an
AXT1 tripod adapter (see page 6)
FOR BEST RESULTS, USE THE AX1 WITH AN ATU
(automatic antenna tuner). The ATU will handle variations in
terrain, radial length, height, body capacitance, etc.
All Elecraft transceivers have optional wide-range internal
ATUs that are fully compatible with the AX1. An external
ATU such an Elecraft T1 may also be used.
Caution
• The AX1 is not intended for vehicle-mounted use or
for permanent outdoor installations.
• To avoid damage to the telescoping whip, keep it
collapsed when not in use.
• Always use at least one radial (included). This
improves transmit signal radiation by up to 20 dB, and
reduces the risk of getting an RF burn from the mic, key,
or chassis at higher power levels.
NOTE: All BNC plugs have some “play.” It’s normal for the
whip to tilt slightly when attached directly to a transceiver.
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AX1 Setup
• Thread the whip into the base, then fully extend it.
• Plug the AX1 into your transceiver’s BNC jack for HT-style
operation. For right-angle use with an AXB1, see page 5.
For use with a camera tripod and an AXT1, see page 6.
• Select the 20 or 17 m switch position on the AX1 as
shown at left. Use the 17 m position for 15 m. (An ATU
is always required for 17 and 15 m use.)
• ATTACH AT LEAST ONE COUNTERPOISE WIRE (or
radial) to your transceiver’s ground screw. Otherwise,
your transmit signal will be as much as 20 dB weaker (4 to
5 S-units). A 13’ (3.3 m) insulated wire with a solder lug
at one end is supplied with the AX1. When using a KX2
or KX3, secure the solder lug to the rig at the thumb screw
closest to the antenna jack. (An option for the KX2 is to
use a mini-banana plug, e.g. Elecraft KX2GNDPLUG,
with the quick-release ground jack on the left side panel.)
• Match the antenna to the transceiver using an ATU or with
manual length adjustments as described below.
Using an ATU
The resonant frequency of any short whip can be affected by
many factors. Pedestrian mobile operation complicates the
issue because of changes in terrain and in the location of the
radio relative to the operator. An ATU can compensate,
eliminating tedious whip or radial length adjustments.
To match using an ATU: Tap the ATU tuning switch on the
radio or tuner. If you’re using a K3S / K3 / KX3 / KX2, tapping
the tune switch a second time may result in a better match.
Manual
Adjustment
Non-ATU operation is possible on 20 meters where the AX1
is near resonance.
To adjust antenna length manually: Check the SWR at
both the low and high end of the desired band. If SWR is
higher at the low end of the band, lengthen the radial. If SWR
is higher at the high end of the band, shorten the radial or
reduce the length of the telescoping whip.
NOTE: In cases where it is difficult to achieve a low SWR
(< 3:1), transmitting may still be possible at reduced power.
Elecraft transceivers can be safely used at high SWR.
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