KH1 Picnic Table Ops

My (far) better half and I had plans to go watch our grandson’s soccer game yesterday, but I still squeezed in a short, early morning activation. I headed over to nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park (US-0761, KFF-0761) and allotted myself an hour of operating time. While I was there, I tried out a few things with my Elecraft KH1.

I set up the KH1 at a picnic table and used the whip antenna and AXE1 extender coil. I supported the antenna with a right-angle adapter from Tufteln. This was the first opportunity I had to use the adapter, so I was anxious to try it out. For my counterpoise, I used a homebrew setup with a 13-ft wire and a 20-foot extension for 40M.

The KH1 with the AXE1 loading coil for 40M/30M and the Tufteln right-angle adapter.
The KH1 with the AXE1 loading coil for 40M/30M and the Tufteln right-angle adapter.

I also gave my CWMouse paddles another go. I glued four small magnets to them the night before, so I wanted to see how they worked with my clipboard. KE8PTX had a Facebook post recently in which he mentioned using painter’s tape on the metal surface of his knee board to give his paddles a little extra traction. As luck would have it, I was doing some painting this week and had some tape handy. I put some on the steel strips on my clipboard right before I left the house. 

I glued some magnets to my CWMouse paddles. The blue painter's tape helps the magnets get a better grip. You can see the notation I made in my log for my 10th contact.
I glued some magnets to my CWMouse paddles. The blue painter’s tape helps the magnets get a better grip on the steel strips glued to the clipboard. You can also see the notation I made in my log for my 10th contact.

With everything set up, I tuned up the KH1 and got started. My results on 40M really surprised me. Although my signal reports were on the low side, I was getting some decent spots on the Reverse Beacon Network. It took only 13 minutes to log my first 10 contacts. I continued making contacts for 30 minutes, while brushing ants off of my log. (I think there was an anthill under the picnic table. Doh!)

I spent the rest of my hour-long activation on 30M and 20M. There was less activity there, but I picked up a few more contacts on each band.

When my hour was up, I packed up and gave the ants exclusive use of the picnic table. I finished up with 25 contacts in my log; I’ve done much worse with much better antennas. The KH1 did an amazing job with just the whip antenna, and my modified CWMouse paddles worked great attached to my clipboard. 

As you can probably tell, I’m having fun with my new rig. 

72, Craig WB3GCK

3 thoughts on “KH1 Picnic Table Ops”

  1. I’m glad the repaired rig is doing the job for you, Craig! I’m living vicariously thru you. I could never justify the cost of the KH-1.
    Good luck n keep on beep beepin on!
    Rick N8TGQ

    Like

    Reply

  2. Craig :
    It was great to work you on Oct 23 (yesterday) from CA-5957. Thanks for the call and the P2P ! Your callsign “rang a bell” but it didn’t click who you were (I’m blaming it on not enough coffee that morning) until you started sending your exchange to me.
    My trick for attaching paddles with a magnet base to a clipboard is to slide a stainless steel Cross-Country Ski scraper under the clip part and stick the paddle down to the scraper. Due to their intended usage, these steel scrapers can have sharp edges so I take a file and some emery paper to dull the edges before use so I don’t cut myself on it. You can find the scrapers at any winter sports supply store or on Amazon. I do like the idea of using painters tape, so I’ll try applying some to the ski scraper.
    I’m glad to hear that the KH1 is working well for you. I picked one up last summer. Mine mostly gets used as a backup vacation rig (my primary is a KX2) but I have pulled out the KH1 for a few impromptu pedestrian mobile QSOs from various locations when on vacation as it is also part of my daily-carry when we are travelling. I keep mine in a Pelican 1040 Micro Case and it disappears in my daypack.
    Cheers de Michael VE3WMB (PB #19 – Grrrrrrrr)
    P.S. I also noted that you are using a Gabil GRA-7350TC for a lot of your portable ops. That is what I was using to operate from the car when I worked you most recently. I use a short Buddipole arm to raise the coil slightly so it’s not quite base-loaded and use the excellent Gabil Tripod to support it. I also mostly use the optional Gabil shock-corded whip (its a bit longer than the standard one). I find that it is possible to make small enough adjustments on the coil so the fixed length whip works just fine.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment