KXPD1 cold WX operation?

[n0tu/Steve]

While out in the woods yesterday doing the Polar Bear event (good wx
for it - in the 20s w/wind chill taking it lower!!) I discovered my
KXPD1 is not the same paddle as it is sitting on the bench at room
temps. Which is often the case! My soft supple antenna wire becomes a
slinky at 20*. I can hear it now - you say "why operate at freezing
temps?" ...cause it's fun and a excuse to get out the house and play
in the woods!

Seems the KXPD1 rubber paddle covers get more ridged causing the
spring steel to push against the silver-wire contacts. Manuals say to
squash the wire flat against the PCB with needle nose pliers to adjust
the spacing. Well, my leatherman didn't make the trip. Plus I had
spent the earlier evening getting the 'perfect' spacing! Thus when I
plugged in the paddle it started sending ditdahditdah ...etc. Bummer!
I thought I had found the solution to having a field paddle for all
occasions. So I removed the covers and fummbled with the levers trying
to not to sound like some ship wrecked survivor tapping two wires
together!

Has anyone come up with a solution for their KXPD1 for cold wx
operation? Or a modification not using the rubber pads?

I do like the basic design and having it itegrated with the KX1 is
great but just need to resolve the tempeture issue IMHO. Steve/n0tu
_______________________________________________
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

[EricJ-2]

I can't help directly since a cold day outside here would be anything below
room temperature.

But try Paul, W0RW, the pedestrian mobile expert. He's out in the CO cold at
night in winter. If it is a chronic problem, I bet he has seen it and solved
it.

[hidden email]

Post the solution if you find one.

Eric
KE6US
www.ke6us.com

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of n0tu/Steve
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 6:24 AM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] KXPD1 cold WX operation?


Has anyone come up with a solution for their KXPD1 for cold wx operation? Or
a modification not using the rubber pads?
_______________________________________________
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

[Lloyd Lachow-2]

On 3/12/06, n0tu/Steve <[hidden email]> wrote:

> While out in the woods yesterday doing the Polar Bear event
> > Seems the KXPD1 rubber paddle covers get more ridged causing the
> spring steel to push against the silver-wire contacts.

I did the mod where you push a needle under the silver contact to make
the gap smaller. I've used the KXPD1 in near-zero conditions, while
wearing gloves, and it performed flawlessly.

  LL/K3ESE

PS... I made my first few 80M QSOs with Kixie, yesterday, using the
new 3080 mod kit..very fun!
_______________________________________________
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