Elecraft AX3 Field Report
By: Conrad Trautmann (N2YCH)
My new Elecraft AX3 antenna arrived in the mail. The weather when it arrived was 73° F and sunny with a slight breeze. Space weather was calm. It seemed like the perfect recipe for a POTA expedition to the unofficial antenna testing range at Silver Sands State Park (US-1716) here in Connecticut on the Northern shoreline of Long Island Sound to try out the AX3. Given that this antenna is specifically designed to be light and portable, I chose my Elecraft KX2 to pair it with, which is also light and portable.

The AX3 operates on six bands. Out of the box, it can do 30,20,17,15,12 and 10 meters. With the optional AXE1 adapter, you can add 40 meters as well. Elecraft says an ATU is required, which I have built into my KX2. I tested using FT8 on 30/20/17 & 15 meters, the four positions labeled on the front “jumper block.” Using FT8, I was able to use the PSKreporter.info website to get a sense of where my signals were being received. This antenna is capable of handling 30 watts, which is amazing for its size. I ran 10 watts from the KX2.
Unlike the AX1, which needs something to hold it in place such as a tripod or the optional bipod, the AX3 comes with three legs to turn the base into a tripod.

At the park, I tried using the legs which lasted all of 30 seconds before the Long Island Sound breeze blew it right over on its side. Anticipating that it might be too breezy down at the shoreline, I brought a slightly heavier tripod along. The good news is that the bottom of the antenna is tapped with a ¼-20 hole to connect to any standard camera tripod. The heavier tripod did the trick.

I used a three foot piece of coax as recommended and I had no problem with RFI into the radio or the computer. The KX2 was able to tune to 1.0:1 SWR on all bands except for 17 meters, which was right around 2.0:1. I should note that I had the 13’ counterpoise laying on the ground for this test.

I began on 20 meters and in 20 minutes, I had the 10 QSO’s needed to activate the park.

Next I QSY’d up to 17 meters.

Here, I had plenty of spots, yet I struggled to get two in the log before I gave up and QSY’d to 15 meters. Changing frequency is as simple as pulling the jumper block out and moving the arrow to the correct frequency.

Thankfully, 15 was open and my first QSO was with a station in Ukraine and my second was in California.


I made contacts on 20, 17 and 15 meters. Could I manage something on 30? I tried but to no avail. I was spotted by stations on PSKreporter, but after calling for some time, I figured that midday in Connecticut was just not the best time for that band. Before I packed up for the day, I went back to 17 meters which was definitely better than earlier and I logged three more for a total of five on the band.

I took the opportunity to go back to Silver Sands a few days later to try the antenna on 12 and 10 meters, which I did not do on the first trip out. I also wanted to see how elevating the counterpoise might affect the performance. It was downright windy, so I brought along a camera tripod this time to provide more stability. Obviously, the extra weight carrying a full size tripod wouldn’t be ideal for a SOTA activation, but for my test, I brought it along.

The high band propagation was miserable when I went out, I was wondering if I’d be able to make any contacts at all. I was pleased to see that elevating the counterpoise allowed 17 meters to easily match to the antenna with a 1.0:1 SWR. I then tried 15, 12 and 10 meters which also tuned right up and I made contacts on all bands. 10 and 12 meters were open to my south. I made QSO’s with Belize, Mexico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.


The AX3 did not disappoint.
Making QSO’s from California to the Ukraine and down into South America while sitting at a picnic table in a park in Connecticut with just 10 watts using such a small antenna is simply amazing to me. I like the AX1, which I used primarily on 20 meters. Having the multi-band flexibility of the AX3 is very nice, especially now that the upper bands are active, and it provides more flexibility for operating portable and being able to change bands on the spot to adapt to the ever changing band conditions.
I don’t nor will I ever do digital. I wonder how well it would perform on SSB? It looks like a pretty neat antenna. At $274 plus tax and shipping it’s not very economical. I wonder if my 40m coil from the AX1 would fit or if it’s even an option? I don’t see anything on the website.
Thank you for the report.
W2ITG
Some questions answered following the link in the post. My bad, sorry.
Mark yes I can confirm it does SSB just fine. I have made contacts on 15 17 20 and using the AX 40m coil. Its not a DX commander but for me its 10 times more fun. I don’t like easy contacts at all. I love to be challenged every time I go out. As of late most of my contacts have been CW. But I still operate ssb. This thing is pricey for sure. I don’t really have a shack so what I saved on a tower and LMR 500 I can splurge.
Save the planet run QRPP
Looks like you had a great activation. Testing a new antenna and doing a POTA activation = double the fun!
Question: what is that window to the right of WSJT-X that has the boxes with the callsigns and locations? That looks so useful and I’ve not seen it before.
Hi Steve,
That’s JTAlert, a companion app to WSJT-X. It allows you to sort incoming decodes a number of different ways. I have the top window sorted by the strength of the received signal. Strongest at top, weakest at the bottom. The bottom right window is set to show stations calling CQ POTA, so I can get park to parks. And the bottom left window shows the stations calling me. It’s very handy. The other neat tool in my digital toolbox is JTSync, which listens to all the stations you are decoding and averages out the time allowing you to set your computer time to match up. It usually gets the time so close that the delta time between my station and the received stations is about the one tenth of a second.
Thanks for the comments,
73
I’m going to go try and find the JTALert app. Thanks for replying.
JTSync sounds like an interesting program too. For field timing, I use the MULTIPSK CLOCK program. It can use either GPS or WWV / CHU on HF.
Thanks you Conrad for a nice review…Impressive results…
I got my AX3 in the mail Saturday, but have not had a chance to use it yet….Maybe a backyard activation this weekend? I will try to offer some incites…
My initial reaction is similar to the one posted…I was a bit disappointed in the tripod, but I have a mini (12″???) tripod for my digital SLR camera, so I tried both that and the Elecraft version…The camera tripod was much more stable than the Elecraft…I have used it before with the AX1&2….Well worth the small investment on Amazon…Thank goodness Elecraft included the 1/4 – 20 thread at the base for that….
Hi Charles,
The tripod will work fine on a calm day and I’m glad it’s built in. But I watched the news last night and the weatherman reported that we were having 20mph gusts, so something a little beefier is needed. Yes, I’m very glad it has the threaded hole at the bottom.
Have fun with it!
73
I have created two gadgets the will make the AX3 ever more usable in high winds. If you follow Thomas vids you will remember the clamp I created for the AX1 and gave to Thomas. I have a clamp made for the AX3 that will be downloadable from Pintable’s very soon. Also I will have something that will help hold down the antenna in high winds using the supplied tripod from Elecraft. I have had half a dozen activations on my AX3 so far and love it. Sad to say my trusty AX1 will be going on the shelf.
Save the planet run QRPP
Just received my AX3 a few days ago and dying to try it in the field. Unfortunately it has been monsoon type weather here in Ohio since I received it. As I write this now, it is pouring outside with lightning, rain, hail and potential tornadoes. Need some sunny Spring weather. 73 and have fun.
Jim WA3JAT
Jim,
that weather you described came through here last night. Hopefully it’ll clear up soon so you can go test your AX3.
73
Good report! Looks like you were using a Manfrotto PIXI. I have one that I use with the AXT1 tripod adapter and the AX1. Works great! A couple of thoughts, FWIW:
I carry a few Gear Ties, which are handy for securing a tripod, EFHW transformer, etc. to a picnic table.
Another thing to consider is a monopod, which is much lighter than a tripod, and can double as a hiking staff. Of course, it won’t stand on its own, but can be lashed to a table, chair, bench, etc. and helps to elevate and stabilize the antenna. (An idea that I got from someone else here on QRPer.)
Looks like a fantastic antenna, still weighing the pro$ and con$…
Thanks William, and yes, that’s the Manfrotto tripod. I was using that for the AX1. Thanks for the tips on how to battle the wind.
I think if you decide to get it, you won’t be sorry.
73