K1 or KX1 ??? That is the question.

[Kevin Rock]

Whether 'tis nobler to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous
propagation or with a kit end them?

You guys and all this talk of kit building is making my nose twitch and my
fingers itchy.  The soldering station is ready, pad wet, and rosined
solder to the fore.  Now which shall it be?  My stalwart K2/100 #2511
works quite well each Sunday afternoon and each weekday morning for its
various nets and skeds.  But I want another rig to carry with me on trips
and campouts.  I am torn between the masters (read Wayne and Eric here)
other two rigs.

The KX1 has great reports: heck I give them all the time during ECN.  They
work quite well in the hands of the best (Ray, K2HYD and Rick, KL7CW
please take a bow).  Seems like they can beat their way through pileups to
get my attention ;)  I never truly believe them when they tell me 3 watts
but it must be true.  I've even worked Wayne from the sandy shores of Lake
Michigan while he was contesting with his KX1.  However, the K1 was shown
to me by Karl, N7NLU during a contest where it worked admirably from our
local park.  It had some very nice features which pull my attention away
 from the KX1.  More bands are covered but it does not cover so broad a
frequency range as the KX1 in each of them.  I also am not sure how well
it may work during cross mode contacts.  But, the countersunk screws sure
are enticing.  Once again in the hands of a master (read Ric, VE3XL with
his late, lamented K1) it shines.

Some of you have solved this dilemma by building one of each.  I am fairly
sure Wayne and Eric do not mind this solution.  Then there is the input of
the holder of the purse strings.  How can one sneak another kit into the
house without her approval?  What should I say when asked?  I know she'd
send a nastygram to Elecraft in a minute if my heart is not pure and my
reasoning sound.  What to do?  What to do?

Kevin (lost in the RF once again) KD5ONS


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[David Toepfer]

Based on replies I got recently, and what I have heard for a while, it seems
pretty easy.

If you want something really easy to grab and go, especially light camping and
pedestrian mobile, go KX1.

If you want something for easy mobile, camping with some extra weight and room,
and for hotel duty, go K1.

The K1 seems to get the nod over even the K2 with many for casual ragchewing.
Many describe it as having an undescribable quality that makes it easier to
listen to.

Just what I have heard.  I already own a KX1, which was fun to build and even
enjoyed passing on feedback on the manual and build process back to Wayne and
Eric.

I have hemmed and hawed recently over which rig to get next, including the
impressive new NorCal NC2030, but I hope to be ordering my K1 quite soon.

Hope this helps.

David, K2TUE
.

--- Kevin Rock <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Whether 'tis nobler to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous
> propagation or with a kit end them?
>
> You guys and all this talk of kit building is making my nose twitch and my
> fingers itchy.  The soldering station is ready, pad wet, and rosined
> solder to the fore.  Now which shall it be?  My stalwart K2/100 #2511
> works quite well each Sunday afternoon and each weekday morning for its
> various nets and skeds.  But I want another rig to carry with me on trips
> and campouts.  I am torn between the masters (read Wayne and Eric here)
> other two rigs.
>
> The KX1 has great reports: heck I give them all the time during ECN.  They
> work quite well in the hands of the best (Ray, K2HYD and Rick, KL7CW
> please take a bow).  Seems like they can beat their way through pileups to
> get my attention ;)  I never truly believe them when they tell me 3 watts
> but it must be true.  I've even worked Wayne from the sandy shores of Lake
> Michigan while he was contesting with his KX1.  However, the K1 was shown
> to me by Karl, N7NLU during a contest where it worked admirably from our
> local park.  It had some very nice features which pull my attention away
>  from the KX1.  More bands are covered but it does not cover so broad a
> frequency range as the KX1 in each of them.  I also am not sure how well
> it may work during cross mode contacts.  But, the countersunk screws sure
> are enticing.  Once again in the hands of a master (read Ric, VE3XL with
> his late, lamented K1) it shines.
>
> Some of you have solved this dilemma by building one of each.  I am fairly
> sure Wayne and Eric do not mind this solution.  Then there is the input of
> the holder of the purse strings.  How can one sneak another kit into the
> house without her approval?  What should I say when asked?  I know she'd
> send a nastygram to Elecraft in a minute if my heart is not pure and my
> reasoning sound.  What to do?  What to do?
>
> Kevin (lost in the RF once again) KD5ONS
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.7/112 - Release Date: 9/26/2005
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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> 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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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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