K1 enthusiast wonders ??

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K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Carl Bredberg
It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when packing into the wilderness.

The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3, and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.

I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire antenna, headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever owned, used or heard tell about!

If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
 
73 de
Carl, K1KID
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Tony Morgan-2
Built the K2 first and just recently completed the KX1.
Both radios are a blast.
Now I'm going to order the K1.
Can't get enough of Elecraft!

72/73
Tony W7GO
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Sandy W5TVW
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
Can't say too much about my K1!  Have the KAT1 tuner in it and it does
a very good job.  I use a 10 pack of "AA" 2 A/H NiMH batteries with it
by itself.  I also have an "HF Packer" amplifier that will deliver 35-40
watts of RF with 1.5-2.5 watts of drive from the K1!  Nice when things get
tough!  I usually use a 7 A/H gel-cell with that combination.  I still
haven't "built" a 160 meter (not a standard Elecraft option!) and 80 meter
two band board yet for this upcoming winter.  QRP 160/80 a lot of fun when
the bands are right!  The only "minus" I have found is no dial illumination!
That is easy to remedy with a couple of ultra bright white LEDs.  There is a
"mod" for that on the Elecraft web site as I recall.
Portable, I use the MFJ 1910 33' Fibreglass mast.  Like a huge fishing pole!
Collapses to about a meter long and weighs just 3.3 pounds.  I use a
standard photo tripod and a couple of tyraps to support the "pole".
Antenna being a 33' length of wire (80-15 meters) and two 33' radials
laid on the ground.  One radial not enough, a third one doesn't make a big
difference in performance.

73,
Sandy W5TVW
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Bredberg" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:54 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??


| It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft reflecter and
I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my shack, but it is not as
stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio to be bouncing around in the
field. Also it is significantly bigger when packing into the wilderness.
|
| The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to borrow a
friends for a week, and although it definately is a great travelling rig, the K1
outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3, and seems better able to match
whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts
to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.
|
| I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire antenna,
headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes everywhere
with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever owned, used or heard
tell about!
|
| If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
|
| 73 de
| Carl, K1KID
| _______________________________________________
| Elecraft mailing list
| Post to: [hidden email]
| You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
| Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
| Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
| Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
|
|

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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

WA2SI
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
Hi Carl, (& everybody else)

I too love my K1. (#1337) It has a funny story behind it too. I had just
moved into my (Oops, our.) new QTH and to battle the needs of my newfound CW
addiction, (Thanks N2EY.) I decided to put a small portable SW rcvr on the
nightstand. A dedicated "shack" was still in the process of being built from
a converted closet that was itself converted from a crawl space beneath the
stairs. (Anybody laughing yet?)

Early one morning I heard HC1HLO from Santo Domingo, Ecuador...a town which
I'd visited just a year earlier. There I was with no xmit capability, very
frustrating, to say the least! So I decided to check out eBay for a quick
and dirty solution.

I grabbed a 4-band K1 with all the options for a steal, tossed up a 40m
doublet and viola, I was back OTA. I ran the feedline to my father's room
downstairs with the intention of eventually letting him use it for his
SWLing.

Well, it's been about six months and I'm more than halfway toward my WAS,
including a very nice contact with Curt, AH6RE on the heels of the Sunday
Elecraft 40m net. I bagged a 1,000 mi./Watt award for that. All on 5 Watts!
Now I want my WAS to be all QRP, I love it.

Yeah, I now have a K2/100 and a Ten-Tec Jupiter in the "main" shack, but
something always draws me to that K1 in dad's room. (The "secondary" shack,
hi.)

73 de Bert
WA2SI

P.S.    Any AKers want to set up a sked? ;-)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Bredberg" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 11:54 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??


> It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft
reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my
shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio
to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when
packing into the wilderness.
>
> The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to
borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great
travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3,
and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I
use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near
as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.
>
> I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire
antenna, headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag.
This goes everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I
have ever owned, used or heard tell about!

>
> If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
>
> 73 de
> Carl, K1KID
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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RE: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Ron Ricketts
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
I think they're a lot more popular than you say. I have tried to deal for
several of them as soon as they appear for sale but they are either more
than I can afford or disappear as soon as they are posted. I'm almost to the
point of trying to build one myself. I have the necessary skills, but the
eyesight is pretty much gone and even with a magnifier it's a struggle.

Well, I'll keep on looking. Bound to get hold of one if I keep trying. I
have a KX1 and am extremely pleased with it and want to take the next step
to a K1.

73/72 (wishing for 20/20)
Ron WA5VFA

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Carl Bredberg
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 10:54 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??

It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft
reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my
shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio
to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when
packing into the wilderness.

The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to
borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great
travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3,
and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I
use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near
as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.

I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire antenna,
headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes
everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever
owned, used or heard tell about!

If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.

73 de
Carl, K1KID
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Tom Arntzen
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
I have K1 nr.1491.
I have not seen or tried KX1 , but I find my K1 outstanding for fieldtrip
and holiday.

Going to buy a small gel cell  to go with it .

Tom LA1PHA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Bredberg" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 5:54 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??


It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft
reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my
shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio
to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when
packing into the wilderness.

The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to
borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great
travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3,
and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I
use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near
as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.

I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire antenna,
headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes
everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever
owned, used or heard tell about!

If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.

73 de
Carl, K1KID
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Chris Hobbs-3
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
On Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:54:25 -0400, Carl Bredberg <[hidden email]> wrote:
> This goes everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever owned, used or heard tell about!
>
> If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.

This is great to hear -- I'm going for my General in a couple of
weeks, and am looking forward to trying CW ops. The K1 is right at the
top of my list (the wife says I need to pass the tests before I can
order it though :).

I already have a Heathkit HW-7 I picked up on eBay last year. No idea
if it even works correctly yet. I have hooked it up to a long wire and
heard CW on it, but of couse I haven't tested the transmit yet.

Since I've never done anything besides 2M voice, I'm looking forward
to branching out into a completely different radio arena.

73 KE6RWH
Chris Hobbs
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

N0tk
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
Carl
I too like my K1 a lot. My K2 is the main station rig and the K1 travels  
with me. I have used it operating portable in Maui and in London and it packs  
very well. Installed the KAT1 before the London trip and worked Europeans on 20m
 with a wire tossed out the hotel window. Ran at both DX locations off of 8
AA  cells. While the K2 and KX1 seem to be more popular, I consider the K1 to
be a  best buy from Elecraft.
73
Dan NØTK
K1 # 545, K2# 3652
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

k6xr
In reply to this post by Tom Arntzen
I have a k1 nr 1512. I often say it is like my dog, it is my best friend!

Reggie k1 1512, k2 4112


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Arntzen" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 2:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??


> I have K1 nr.1491.
> I have not seen or tried KX1 , but I find my K1 outstanding for fieldtrip
> and holiday.
>
> Going to buy a small gel cell  to go with it .
>
> Tom LA1PHA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carl Bredberg" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 5:54 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??
>
>
> It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft
> reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in
my
> shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a
radio
> to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when
> packing into the wilderness.
>
> The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to
> borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great
> travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3,
> and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna.
I
> use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn
near
> as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.
>
> I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire
antenna,

> headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes
> everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever
> owned, used or heard tell about!
>
> If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
>
> 73 de
> Carl, K1KID
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Scott Richardson-4
In reply to this post by Tom Arntzen
K1KID wrote
> It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here


My only HF rig is the K1 and it suits my needs well.

I'm lucky if I get a half hour a week for hamming and I'd prefer to spend
that time on the air, not in the rig. But eventually something will need
fixing or adjusting -- the output seems low; the frequency jumps 30 khz when
the knob gets bumped; the RIT mod still isn't working right -- and opening
the K1 doesn't seem so overwhelming. As much as I would love a K2 and a KX1,
their complexity intimidates me. Maybe it's just perception: That's
something I won't know till I find more money and time.

My K1 cost me half what the K2 would have when built to suit, and the KX1
wasn't available when I bought the rig. If I was shopping today, the K1's
price and 7-band capability would steer my decision straight to it.

I use a padded lunch bag or an amazingly well suited cardboard shipping box
for transport.

My 7Ah gel is great for home operation, but I'd rather have something
slimmer for the days I'm portable. Sometimes I take a pack of 8 AA
alkalines. I'm not sold on the KBT1. I desire solar.

Scott N1AIA
K1 00139

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Re: Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

john_k7fd
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
...no, your dog is more of a K9

John K7FD
http://webpages.charter.net/peanut/

>
> From: "k6xr" <[hidden email]>
> Date: 2004/08/25 Wed AM 01:39:39 GMT
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??
>
> I have a k1 nr 1512. I often say it is like my dog, it is my best friend!
>
> Reggie k1 1512, k2 4112
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Arntzen" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 2:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??
>
>
> > I have K1 nr.1491.
> > I have not seen or tried KX1 , but I find my K1 outstanding for fieldtrip
> > and holiday.
> >
> > Going to buy a small gel cell  to go with it .
> >
> > Tom LA1PHA
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Carl Bredberg" <[hidden email]>
> > To: <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 5:54 PM
> > Subject: [Elecraft] K1 enthusiast wonders ??
> >
> >
> > It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft
> > reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in
> my
> > shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a
> radio
> > to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when
> > packing into the wilderness.
> >
> > The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to
> > borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great
> > travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3,
> > and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna.
> I
> > use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn
> near
> > as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.
> >
> > I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire
> antenna,
> > headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes
> > everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever
> > owned, used or heard tell about!
> >
> > If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
> >
> > 73 de
> > Carl, K1KID
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
> > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
> > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Post to: [hidden email]
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>

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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Larry Makoski W2LJ
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
Carl Bredberg wrote:

>It seems the K1 has fallen off the radar screen here on the Elecraft reflecter and I wonder why. I have a K2 which is wonderful for CW ops in my shack, but it is not as stingy with power as my K1 and  too valuable a radio to be bouncing around in the field. Also it is significantly bigger when packing into the wilderness.
>
>The KX1 is definately a slick little rig. I have had the opportunity to borrow a friends for a week, and although it definately is a great travelling rig, the K1 outputs twice the power, has 4 bands rather than 3, and seems better able to match whatever you can hook up to for an antenna. I use a "Paddelette" paddle which mounts to the short K1 tilt stand. Darn near as neat as the KX1 plug in paddle.
>
>I have a complete station, the K1, a 10 cell AA battery pack, wire antenna, headphones and logbook all in an insulated soft sided lunch bag. This goes everywhere with me and is without exception THE MOST FUN radio I have ever owned, used or heard tell about!
>
>If you don't have a K1, borrow one and you will become a believer too.
>
>73 de
>Carl, K1KID
>  
>
I love my K1 sn 1647 dearly!  I own a K2 also; but maybe I'm a bit
biased because I built the K1 first - I like it better !!!  I take it to
work with me every day and operate during lunchtime (weather permitting)
from the parking lot.  I have a padded case with the K1, a 12V 7aH SLA,
a solar panel for charging the battery, headphones, key and tools and meter.

I have the KAT-1 installed and just love it!  It makes using the
Hamsticks or hombrewed Buddipole a breeze!  I also have a 10 AA battery
holder with NiMH AAs that I use when I don't feel like carting the
heavier lead acid battery around.  I had the K1 internal battery
thingie; but took it out.  I like the stock speaker better than the
smaller one necessary for use with the internal battery.

My K1 has 40, 30, 20 and 15 meters installed.  I use it just about
everyday; and it's a real life saver.  There's nothing better than a
little lunchtime QRP to burn away stressfull mornings at work!

73 de Larry W2LJ

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Re: K1 enthusiast wonders ??

Mike Morrow-3
In reply to this post by Carl Bredberg
Scott wrote:

>My only HF rig is the K1 and it suits my needs well...
>My K1 cost me half what the K2 would have when built to suit,
>and the KX1 wasn't available when I bought the rig.

The K1 is still tops for field work, in my book.

Even had the KX1 been available, I'd have bought my K1 (SN 175) based on the K1 having:

1.  Four bands, with option for two more,
2.  Wider-range antenna tuner,
3.  Better IF crystal filter network,
4.  Theoretically better receiver performance,
5.  Higher transmitter power capability,
6.  Better transmitter spurious output performance,
7.  Good self-contained speaker (if the KBT1 isn't used),
8.  Continuous analog VFO tuning instead of step-wise DDS tuning,
9.  Headphone output easily (in later K1s) connected for mono phones,
10.  Noise blanker option (though it's rarely effective on noise I've encountered).

KX1 fans too can come up with a long list of features performed better than the K1.  The top five I can think of are:

1.  SW BC band coverage,
2.  Lighted display,
3.  Audio feedback,
4.  DDS VFO stability,
5.  It's smaller and lighter.

Both the K1 and KX1 are good rigs.  Still, it would definitely be incorrect to refer to the KX1 as an "improved" K1.

>If I was shopping today, the K1's price and 7-band capability would
>steer my decision straight to it.

I agree, though right now there are "only" six Elecraft-supported K1 bands available.

>My 7Ah gel is great for home operation, but I'd rather have something
>slimmer for the days I'm portable. Sometimes I take a pack of 8 AA
>alkalines. I'm not sold on the KBT1...

I carry a 10 AA-cell pack with 2.2 A-Hr NiMH cells.  It's lighter and smaller than the equivalent 2.3 A-Hr SLA batteries, and has higher full-charge voltage output.  I also have a 5 A-Hr SLA for portable use.

I had the KBT1 installed for 18 months before permanently removing it.  I like the larger original speaker much better than the micro speaker of the KBT1, and I don't like having potential chemical leakage sources inside the K1 case.  It's also awkward to recharge the KBT1 pack.  The K1 RF PCB and the KBT1 should be re-designed to connect to each other through a polarized two-pin connector mounted *on the RF board* rather than through the soldered leads of the current design or the floating connector that many have backfitted.

73,
Mike / KK5F
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