KX3 APRS and AX.25

[Rob Ogilvie]

Howdy!

I'm quite intrigued by what the KX3 can potentially do as an SDR, and am
considering trying to get one.  There are some downsides to the KX3 I've
noted (price and lack of 70cm being two big ones), but the possibilities it
opens up are pretty awesome to imagine.

I've been playing around quite a bit with packet (AX.25 and APRS over 2m
thus far) and am having a hard time figuring out if the KX3 offers
advantages over a traditional transceiver's data port.  They both /appear/
to require a TNC, although I'm not entirely sure if that's actually the
case with the KX3.

Is anybody doing 2m AX.25/APRS over their KX3 who could share some details
about their setup?  I'm really close to sticking with a simple VHF/UHF
mobile instead of the KX3 as packet is a majority of what I'm interested in
right now; then upgrade to a KX3 when I have the time to get into HF - but
if the KX3 offers true advantages in this space, I may get my forever radio
in a KX3 now...

Thoughts?

Rob / K8AXE
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[Jim Brown-10]

On Tue,12/29/2015 1:06 PM, Rob Ogilvie wrote:
> I'm really close to sticking with a simple VHF/UHF
> mobile instead of the KX3 as packet is a majority of what I'm interested in right now; then upgrade to a KX3 when I have the time to get into HF - but if the KX3 offers true advantages in this space, I may get my forever radio in a KX3 now.

The KX3 is a superb HF + 6M rig; while the 2M transverter does FM, it's
real value is for CW, SSB, and digital modes. For FM on VHF/UHF, you're
far better off continuing with a standard FM rig for those bands. I like
the Kenwood TM-V71A.

What some folks do to TX APRS in a car is re-purpose an old talkie.

73, Jim K9YC
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[Rob Ogilvie]

On Tue, Dec 29, 2015 at 1:37 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
wrote:
>
> The KX3 is a superb HF + 6M rig; while the 2M transverter does FM, it's
> real value is for CW, SSB, and digital modes. For FM on VHF/UHF, you're far
> better off continuing with a standard FM rig for those bands. I like the
> Kenwood TM-V71A.
>

Thanks very much for your input.  I think I will continue down that path
and hopefully circle back to the KX3 in the future when I have time to dive
into HF.

73,
Rob
K8AXE
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[Barry K3NDM]

Rob,
     If all you plan to do is run packet/APRS on 2 meters, I would
suggest that the KX3 is a waste of a good radio. You'd be better served  
by buying an inexpensive 2 meter FM rig. It has everything you should
need, and I'm unaware of any APRS activity on 70 cm.

     There are two meter rigs that already have TNCs built in like the
ones that Kenwood sells. Or you can use software TNCs by just using the
audio in and out of a sound card. When you think about it, there are
good reasons to have separate VHF and HF gear.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Rob Ogilvie" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: 12/29/2015 4:06:36 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 APRS and AX.25

>Howdy!
>
>I'm quite intrigued by what the KX3 can potentially do as an SDR, and
>am
>considering trying to get one.  There are some downsides to the KX3
>I've
>noted (price and lack of 70cm being two big ones), but the
>possibilities it
>opens up are pretty awesome to imagine.
>
>I've been playing around quite a bit with packet (AX.25 and APRS over
>2m
>thus far) and am having a hard time figuring out if the KX3 offers
>advantages over a traditional transceiver's data port.  They both
>/appear/
>to require a TNC, although I'm not entirely sure if that's actually the
>case with the KX3.
>
>Is anybody doing 2m AX.25/APRS over their KX3 who could share some
>details
>about their setup?  I'm really close to sticking with a simple VHF/UHF
>mobile instead of the KX3 as packet is a majority of what I'm
>interested in
>right now; then upgrade to a KX3 when I have the time to get into HF -
>but
>if the KX3 offers true advantages in this space, I may get my forever
>radio
>in a KX3 now...
>
>Thoughts?
>
>Rob / K8AXE
>______________________________________________________________
>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]

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