Elecraft

Elecraft KX2 military use

Classic

List

Threaded

7 messages Options

wayne burdick

Elecraft KX2 military use

Administrator

FYI:

I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote:

* * *

"We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed. Its form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes. Unfortunately, we have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell phone and internet networks were non-existent."

* * *

I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above.

If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two, between ops.

73,
Wayne
N6KR
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Clay Autery-2

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

I would have traded redundant parts of my anatomy for something like the
KX2 back in my day. There are few things worse than NOT being able to
talk to the folks you need to talk to..... And not far away on that
list is having to hump a heavier ruck. <smile>

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 02/08/20 12:23, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> FYI:
>
> I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote:
>
> * * *
>
> "We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed. Its form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes. Unfortunately, we have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell phone and internet networks were non-existent."
>
> * * *
>
> I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above.
>
> If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two, between ops.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

Mike Morrow-3

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Wayne,

This information is extremely interesting and more than a little unexpected. I am fascinated by the capability of the KX2 (mine is 2.5 years old), but its internals have very little isolation and protection from adverse ambient conditions...an essemtial requirement for most gear in military service.

1. Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to amateurs? It would be interesting to know if and what its military users have fashioned some protection from the elements. At the least, the aftermarket Kx22 heat sink, SideKX left side panel, and SideKX cover would seem appropriate.

2. Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power? I'd predict short life for the speaker connections with frequent removal of the bottom cover for KXBT2 replacement.

3. The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m. Is a special firmware load being used to permit general coverage transmit?

4. Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio equipment compliant with standards established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which manages the use of all federal spectrum. Agencies self-evaluate equipment specs using information supplied by the equipment manufacturer. The CAP currently shows at

https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/emergency-services/radio/communications/radios-radio-network

a broad spectrum of ham and commercial gear in which only the FT-817 with TXCO-9 meets NTIA specs. They evaluated the K2, K3S, and KX3. I suspect the military users of the KX2 have not formally evaluated its NTIA compliance.

US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no changes. In 1965 the Collins KWM-2A MF/HF SSB/CW transceiver was adopted as the RT-718/FRC-93 ...and it had very little protection from adverse environmental conditions.

73
Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----

>From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Feb 8, 2020 12:23
>FYI:
>
>I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote:
>
>* * *
>
>"We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed. Its form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes. Unfortunately, we have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell phone and internet networks were non-existent."
>
>* * *
>
>I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above.
>
>If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two, between ops.
>
>73,
>Wayne
>N6KR

rich hurd WC3T

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

I know for the KX3 that it can be “unlocked” to be used outside the ham
bands. I would assume the KX2 has the same facility. For my KX3 I needed
to show my operating authority as an Army MARS operator.

On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 17:08 Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Wayne,
>
> This information is extremely interesting and more than a little
> unexpected. I am fascinated by the capability of the KX2 (mine is 2.5
> years old), but its internals have very little isolation and protection
> from adverse ambient conditions...an essemtial requirement for most gear in
> military service.
>
> 1. Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to
> amateurs? It would be interesting to know if and what its military users
> have fashioned some protection from the elements. At the least, the
> aftermarket Kx22 heat sink, SideKX left side panel, and SideKX cover would
> seem appropriate.
>
> 2. Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power? I'd predict short
> life for the speaker connections with frequent removal of the bottom cover
> for KXBT2 replacement.
>
> 3. The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside
> the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m. Is a special firmware load
> being used to permit general coverage transmit?
>
> 4. Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio
> equipment compliant with standards established by the National
> Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which manages the
> use of all federal spectrum. Agencies self-evaluate equipment specs using
> information supplied by the equipment manufacturer. The CAP currently
> shows at
>
>
> https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/emergency-services/radio/communications/radios-radio-network
>
> a broad spectrum of ham and commercial gear in which only the FT-817 with
> TXCO-9 meets NTIA specs. They evaluated the K2, K3S, and KX3. I suspect
> the military users of the KX2 have not formally evaluated its NTIA
> compliance.
>
> US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no
> changes. In 1965 the Collins KWM-2A MF/HF SSB/CW transceiver was adopted
> as the RT-718/FRC-93 ...and it had very little protection from adverse
> environmental conditions.
>
> 73
> Mike / KK5F
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> >Sent: Feb 8, 2020 12:23
> >FYI:
> >
> >I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces
> commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote:
> >
> >* * *
> >
> >"We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where
> military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed. Its
> form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our
> communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. In
> addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with
> civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such
> as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes. Unfortunately, we
> have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the
> ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been
> instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell
> phone and internet networks were non-existent."
> >
> >* * *
> >
> >I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked
> that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say
> that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above.
> >
> >If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy
> to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two,
> between ops.
> >
> >73,
> >Wayne
> >N6KR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

--
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988 (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
*FN20is*
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

wayne burdick

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

Administrator

In reply to this post by Mike Morrow-3

Hi Mike,

> Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> 1. Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to amateurs?

Yes. They may be using aftermarket accessories -- not sure.

>
> 2. Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power?

I believe they use it with both internal and external battery.

>
> 3. The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m. Is a special firmware load being used to permit general coverage transmit?

Just the MARS enable.

> 4. Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio equipment compliant with standards established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) ... [but] US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no changes.

I believe the KX2 was approved for COTS (common-off-the-shelf) military purchase.

The point we were trying to make is that the KX2 fills a functional need that is not presently filled by other gear, with or without compliance to specific standards. They needed a 1-pound radio that covered all modes and all bands. Someone showed them a KX2 and demonstrated that it did the job.

If the KX2 were EMI-hardened and ruggedized and waterproofed to the degree that some manpack radios are, it would simply be another large, heavy, overpriced piece of military gear. As it stands, it does the job they need it to, just has it does for thousands of hams using it for SOTA, hiking, backpacking, etc. To roughly paraphrase, it was a tenth the weight, a tenth the size, and a tenth the price.

With all that going for it, they could afford to lose a few. But the rigs have proven very reliable. (Wish we could post the entire, colorful history of what their rigs have been through. It was scary! Amazing that the soldiers survived, much less the radios.)

73,
Wayne
N6KR

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]

k6dgw

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

As a former DoD contractor: Both the FAR and DFARS have specific
sections defining the requirements for the DoD to purchase Commercial
Off-The-Shelf [COTS] hardware and software products. Much of those
sections is devoted to who owns the patents/copyrights and distribution
rights. It's nearly always up to the Program staff and Contracting
Officer regarding technical specifications, however the competition
rules still apply if there is more than one available product that meets
the specifications. A program can purchase "samples" for evaluation from
any mfr and I'd guess that the KX2 has little or no competition.

Products that are for general military needs [e.g. ruggedized vehicles,
flight and space qualified devices, etc.] are almost always purchased
via contract, often as Task Orders on IDIQ [indefinite delivery
indefinite quantity], multi-vendor contracts.

Personally, I think it's cool! In the 60's in SE Asia, our "portable"
A/G radios were 35 lb back packs [AN/PRC-10's] and the dry cell
batteries would last a few hours ... unless you transmitted. Can't
imagine how a KX2 would have changed things on mission for us. [:=)

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 2/8/2020 4:08 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> Hi Mike,
>
>
>> Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> 1. Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to amateurs?
> Yes. They may be using aftermarket accessories -- not sure.
>
>
>> 2. Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power?
> I believe they use it with both internal and external battery.
>
>
>> 3. The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m. Is a special firmware load being used to permit general coverage transmit?
> Just the MARS enable.
>
>
>> 4. Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio equipment compliant with standards established by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) ... [but] US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no changes.
> I believe the KX2 was approved for COTS (common-off-the-shelf) military purchase.
>
> The point we were trying to make is that the KX2 fills a functional need that is not presently filled by other gear, with or without compliance to specific standards. They needed a 1-pound radio that covered all modes and all bands. Someone showed them a KX2 and demonstrated that it did the job.
>
> If the KX2 were EMI-hardened and ruggedized and waterproofed to the degree that some manpack radios are, it would simply be another large, heavy, overpriced piece of military gear. As it stands, it does the job they need it to, just has it does for thousands of hams using it for SOTA, hiking, backpacking, etc. To roughly paraphrase, it was a tenth the weight, a tenth the size, and a tenth the price.
>
> With all that going for it, they could afford to lose a few. But the rigs have proven very reliable. (Wish we could post the entire, colorful history of what their rigs have been through. It was scary! Amazing that the soldiers survived, much less the radios.)
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>

NK7Z

Re: Elecraft KX2 military use

Perhaps the addition of a thermite infused case for those bad "crypto"
moments...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 2/8/20 4:38 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
> Can't imagine how a KX2 would have changed things on mission for us. [:=)
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]