K1 or KX1?
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Hello all,
Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either a K1 or KX1. I see most posts seem to refer to the KX1. Aside from size and portability is there any difference in performance in the two? I can work with either one but would prefer the one with best performance. K2 next- can't find much that beats it. Tnx, Jim/k2hn _______________________________________________ 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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The true correct answer is - both. I have both and find each has it's
place. 73 John WA8KNE Jim Murray wrote: > Hello all, > Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either a K1 or KX1. I see most posts seem to refer to the KX1. Aside from size and portability is there any difference in performance in the two? I can work with either one but would prefer the one with best performance. K2 next- can't find much that beats it. > Tnx, Jim/k2hn > _______________________________________________ > 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
I built the K1 first...used it a couple years, sold it, bought a already built
KX1. Both are fantastic rigs. I miss my K1 and the 5w output though. I think this fall I will buy another K1 and build it. I will keep the KX1 for a long time, it fits in my shirt pocket...best camping rig I have ever had. 73 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Murray" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 7:29 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K1 or KX1? Hello all, Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either a K1 or KX1. I see most posts seem to refer to the KX1. Aside from size and portability is there any difference in performance in the two? I can work with either one but would prefer the one with best performance. K2 next- can't find much that beats it. Tnx, Jim/k2hn _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
Just my opinion, not looking for an argument (when I asked this question, it
was the many opinions that helped me decide mrore than the arguments over who is more right): I chose just the KX1 because I wanted an easily portable transciever. While the K1 is that too, I liked the more all-in-one-ness of the KX1. I also plan on doing more experimenting in future, which many convinced me would be more suited to the K2 because of more space available in the case and on the boards. But I still liked size and the simplicity of the K1. It was then when I started looking at the K1 and what I wanted it to do, and how much it would cost me to get to where I want with it. The K1 is almost 62% the price of the K2, and the K2 is (according to most who actually own both) so much better of a rig. fully kitted KX1: $502 fully kitted K1 (w/ extra 2-band module): $611 fully kitted QRP/CW K2: $982 I plan on getting a K2 in the future, so why would I want a K1 as well (though many do and will). And now, with the addition of 80m on the KX1, I am sold on it alone. There are many other reasons to like the KX1 more for me as well (DDS and wider VFO range, SW BC RX coverage. Of course, if I ever do get into mobile (car) QRP CW, I will look to the K1 to fill that role. It seems to me that it would suit it so well. David, K3TUE . --- Jim Murray <[hidden email]> wrote: > Hello all, > Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either a K1 or > KX1. I see most posts seem to refer to the KX1. Aside from size and > portability is there any difference in performance in the two? I can work > with either one but would prefer the one with best performance. K2 next- > can't find much that beats it. > Tnx, Jim/k2hn > _______________________________________________ > 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
simple answer: K1
It goes everywhere, tunes to my portable antenna or wire, I always make contacts with it, built-in batts and auto tuner, everybody I know who owns one sez it's their favorite radio, And, the number one reason: I have fun with it! (The auto tuner on KX1 is not as robust as the K1 tuner) Ron, wb1hga Jim Murray wrote: Aside from size and portability is there any difference in performance in the two? _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
Jim, K2HN, asked:
Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either a K1 or KX1. I see most posts seem to refer to the KX1. Aside from size and portability is there any difference in performance in the two? I can work with either one but would prefer the one with best performance. K2 next- can't find much that beats it. ------------------------------- The KX1 is the "X"-treme portable rig. The whole station, key and antenna fits in my jacket pocket. It gives up a few things for that. One is output power. On internal batteries it is limited to 1.5 to 2 watts. So what's that? -- about 1/2 or 3/4 "S" unit below a full QRP Gallon: 5 watts. Shoot, I worked the world for years with my 2-watt HW-8, but it's still significantly less than 5 watts. But, if you have room for an external battery or power supply it'll come within a gnat's whisker of that QRP gallon. I don't have a K1 so I won't comment on a direct comparison. The KX1 does permit SWL-ing in the more popular SW broadcast ranges. Its internal ATU is more limited in matching range than the other Elecraft tuners because of the miniscule space it must fit into. That limits the number of inductors and caps that can be used to produce a match. If you have a pretty normal-sized operating desk and never operate portable, you'll like the K1 (or K2!!) much better except for the extended frequency coverage provided by the KX1. If you like portable ops, must travel frequently, or live in a small R.V., you'll probably appreciate the KX1. As for sheer performance in terms of receiver sensitivity, selectivity, and dynamic range, the K2 beats 'em all. Each Elecraft rig fits a niche. And many of us have more than one niche we want a rig to fit into, so we end up with more than one <G> If you can tolerate a portable rig the size of fat hard-cover novel and want the greatest flexibility, I recommend the K2. With a 2-minute cover swap you can go from a QRO rig to a self-contained QRP portable station with built in wide(r) range ATU that only needs an external key (and the KXPD1 paddles can be used with the K2 using the special bracket Elecraft just announced that clamps to the K2 bail) and an antenna. Back home, you drop on a different cover and have a 100-watt 160-meter through 10 meter CW/Data/SSB station that leads the state of the art in Amateur gear. And people adverse to swapping covers have come up with a way to avoid that and just plug the K2 into the home station with the KPA100 and KAT100 amp and tuner in an Elecraft box that sits alongside the K2. It's all documented on the Elecraft web site. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ 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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KX1 has a synthesizer that does not drift, K1 has free running VFO. Its really a toss up as to which rig overall is better. 73/72 - Mike WA8BXN _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by roncasa
I have a K1 (bought someone else's) and a KX1 (built it, added KXB3080 this spring).
I won't part with either, they do different stuff. The K1 is my all-time favorite radio, ever. Before I had Elecraft rigs, I had a Wilderness Sierra that I built -- that was my favorite before my K1. The K1 reminds me a little of the Sierra, but is a much more civilized rig. I just built an HF Packer amp, and the K1+amp combination is awesome. It's a tough choice, but I really don't think you can go wrong. 73, Mike N2HTT K1 s/n 566 KX1 s/n 98 _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
Jim wrote:
>Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either >a K1 or KX1. ... I can work with either one but would prefer the >one with best performance. As far as RF performance only goes, the K1 is clearly superior. (1) The K1 uses an LC VFO that is cleaner than the direct digital synthesis frequency generation scheme of the KX1. This reduces transmitter spurious output, and improves receiver performance because fewer spur frequencies are part of the local oscillator signal fed to the front-end mixer. In fact, according to reported measurements, the K1 has better transmitter spurious output specs than even the K2. (2) The K1 can be placed on any of the HF bands, though Elecraft currently sells parts for 80m through 15m only. The KX1 DDS chip is clocked at its maximum rate of 50 MHz, which limits KX1 frequency coverage to around 20m and lower. The 15m band is one of the best QRP bands when open. (3) The K1 IF uses a four-pole crystal filter, while the KX1 IF uses only three. (4) The K1's optional auto antenna tuner tunes a wider range of impedances than that of the KX1. (5) Most find the continuous LC VFO tuning of the K1 to be more natural than the step-wise tuning of the DDS in the KX1. (6) The K1 has a noise blanker option, while the KX1 does not. (7) The K1 transmitter can produce up to seven watts of output power. The KX1 is about half that. (8) The K1 case contains a speaker, the KX1 does not. (The K1 has plenty of audio to drive it too.) (9) Personal preference...I like the front mounted controls of the K1 more than the top mounted controls of the KX1. OTOH, the KX1 is clearly superior in terms of VFO stability...a DDS is about as stable as a crystal oscillator. It is superior in its span of frequency coverage within the limits of the DDS. It can switch between USB and LSB due to the frequency agility of the DDS as the local oscillator. It has neat features like audio feedback to controls. It is definitely smaller and lighter. IMHO, the KX1 has many positive features that the K1 doesn't have, but none of them except VFO stability actually are improvements over K1 RF performance in the ham CW bands. In overall RF performance, the K1 has the clear lead. But...if the K1 were not available, the KX1 would be my very next choice for a QRP rig. 73, Mike / KK5F _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by n2htt-2
After reading the comments... eventually I guess I will need to "break down"
and buy a K1 myself. I have been eyeing one up for quite some time. I don't have enough time to finish up all the add-ons for the second K2 yet so it will be a little while. Bill K9YEQ K2-35 & 5279; KX1-35/3080 ___________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email] Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 8:29 PM To: [hidden email] Cc: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 or KX1? I have a K1 (bought someone else's) and a KX1 (built it, added KXB3080 this spring). I won't part with either, they do different stuff. The K1 is my all-time favorite radio, ever. Before I had Elecraft rigs, I had a Wilderness Sierra that I built -- that was my favorite before my K1. The K1 reminds me a little of the Sierra, but is a much more civilized rig. I just built an HF Packer amp, and the K1+amp combination is awesome. It's a tough choice, but I really don't think you can go wrong. 73, Mike N2HTT K1 s/n 566 KX1 s/n 98 _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Mike Morrow-3
Now you guys are convincing me I should get a K1, too! Heck I don't even
have enough time to operate, but it sure is fun to build! Bill K9YEQ K2-35 & 5279; KX1-35/3080 ___________________________________ Jim wrote: >Have been thinking about getting my feet wet with building either >a K1 or KX1. ... I can work with either one but would prefer the >one with best performance. As far as RF performance only goes, the K1 is clearly superior. (1) The K1 uses an LC VFO that is cleaner than the direct digital synthesis frequency generation scheme of the KX1. This reduces transmitter spurious output, and improves receiver performance because fewer spur frequencies are part of the local oscillator signal fed to the front-end mixer. In fact, according to reported measurements, the K1 has better transmitter spurious output specs than even the K2. [WJ] ................ OTOH, the KX1 is clearly superior in terms of VFO stability...a DDS is about as stable as a crystal oscillator. It is superior in its span of frequency coverage within the limits of the DDS. It can switch between USB and LSB due to the frequency agility of the DDS as the local oscillator. It has neat features like audio feedback to controls. It is definitely smaller and lighter. IMHO, the KX1 has many positive features that the K1 doesn't have, but none of them except VFO stability actually are improvements over K1 RF performance in the ham CW bands. In overall RF performance, the K1 has the clear lead. But...if the K1 were not available, the KX1 would be my very next choice for a QRP rig. _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim and Carol
Mike N2HTT wrote:
"The K1 is my all-time favorite radio, ever." I felt the same way! Then I buiult my K2. LL/K3ESE ps: re: K1 v. KX1 - you need both. _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by n2htt-2
I too have the K1 and like it very much. It is the 4 band version with a
KAT1 tuner added. Also have a 2 band board that covers 160 and 80 meters. Have done the backlighting modification and this was well worth the effort!. I too have an HFPacker amp I built. It is an absolutely dynamite "pair of shoes" for the K1! My only complaint is the "hang time" on the RF actuated T/R switch is too long. No good for contest use! I tried it on the ARRL 160 meter contest last year. It's OK for casual QSO's but delay too long for CW. One day I will get that fixed. Some day in the future, I'd like to build the K2, probably the QRP version. 73, Sandy W5TVW ----- Original Message ----- From: <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Cc: <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 8:28 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K1 or KX1? | I have a K1 (bought someone else's) and a KX1 (built it, added KXB3080 this spring). | | I won't part with either, they do different stuff. | | The K1 is my all-time favorite radio, ever. | | Before I had Elecraft rigs, I had a Wilderness Sierra that I built -- that was my favorite before my K1. The K1 reminds me a little of the Sierra, but is a much more civilized rig. I just built an HF Packer amp, and the K1+amp combination is awesome. | | It's a tough choice, but I really don't think you can go wrong. | | 73, | Mike N2HTT | K1 s/n 566 | KX1 s/n 98 | | | _______________________________________________ | 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 | | | | -- | No virus found in this incoming message. | Checked by AVG Free Edition. | Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.1/369 - Release Date: 6/19/2006 | | _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Lloyd Lachow-2
I use my K1 more than my K2. The K1 is my overall favorite small QRP rig.
Don/ WA9TGT On 6/22/06, Lloyd Lachow <[hidden email]> wrote: > Mike N2HTT wrote: > > "The K1 is my all-time favorite radio, ever." > > I felt the same way! > > Then I buiult my K2. > > > LL/K3ESE > > > > ps: re: K1 v. KX1 - you need both. > _______________________________________________ > 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 > -- WA9TGT / Don Garrett / Muncie, IN ARCI #6447, ARS #1717, AmQRP, ECI-QRP #001 (Indiana) Drake 2B, 2C, R4A, R4B, 2NT, TR-4, Elecraft K1 & K2 Drake MN-4 Tuner, 67' CF Zepp using glass doobies! Message To All: Please Buy American when possible. Our USA manufacturing base and it's workers really need your support these days! _______________________________________________ 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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