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OT: IC-705

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Eric Norris-2

OT: IC-705

I know Elecraft is very busy finalizing the K4, but I wonder if they have a
secret Tiger Team working on a response to the IC--705? Perhaps a KX4?

73 Eric WD6DBM
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wayne burdick

Re: OT: Other Radios

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> Eric Norris <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I know Elecraft is very busy finalizing the K4, but I wonder if they have a
> secret Tiger Team working on a response to the IC--705? Perhaps a KX4?

Hi Eric,

I can't comment on any mythical beasts one way or the other. But I think the existing KX line holds its own against the most likely competition, both old and new.

Take the KX2. Relative to either of the Other Radios:

- it's 60% lighter / 50% smaller (i.e., it really *is* an HF HT)

- on battery power, it draws only 150 mA in RX mode vs. 400-700 mA

- has an internal battery with over twice the capacity (watt-hours)

- includes a built-in mic and keyer paddle

- provides nearly the same DSP feature set as the K3S,
including text decode/encode/display in multiple modes

- has an extremely high-contrast LCD easily readable in bright sunlight
(The Others wash out -- ask me how I know...)

...and perhaps most important:

- the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.

SOTA and POTA and casual users alike have told us that these are the factors that matter most in a portable rig. Those who also need VHF/UHF capability typically carry an inexpensive dual-band HT for that purpose.

Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.

73.5,
Wayne
N6KR

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Bill Frantz

Re: OT: Other Radios

I can testify to this statement. I have learned that when my KX3
takes a long time getting a match, with lots of clicking etc.
that I should check to make sure the antenna is actually
connected and that the coax isn't shorted.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/1/20 at 9:34 PM, [hidden email] (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

>- the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that
>will match anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.

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Buddy Brannan

Re: OT: Other Radios

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

I frankly don't understand the appeal of the IC-705. It sounds like it's a
'7300 except at QRP levels, for about the same price. Am I wrong about that?
Because that doesn't sound nearly as portable as a even a KX3. And it
doesn't even come with an automagic antenna tuner.

FWIW, even though I'm not very active of late, I still love my KX3! And my
K2, even if the K2 is still sort of packed away from an aborted move.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2020 9:34 PM
To: Eric Norris
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Other Radios

> Eric Norris <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I know Elecraft is very busy finalizing the K4, but I wonder if they have
a
> secret Tiger Team working on a response to the IC--705? Perhaps a KX4?

Hi Eric,

I can't comment on any mythical beasts one way or the other. But I think the
existing KX line holds its own against the most likely competition, both old
and new.

Take the KX2. Relative to either of the Other Radios:

- it's 60% lighter / 50% smaller (i.e., it really *is* an HF HT)

- on battery power, it draws only 150 mA in RX mode vs. 400-700 mA

- has an internal battery with over twice the capacity (watt-hours)

- includes a built-in mic and keyer paddle

- provides nearly the same DSP feature set as the K3S,
including text decode/encode/display in multiple modes

- has an extremely high-contrast LCD easily readable in bright sunlight
(The Others wash out -- ask me how I know...)

...and perhaps most important:

- the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.

SOTA and POTA and casual users alike have told us that these are the factors
that matter most in a portable rig. Those who also need VHF/UHF capability
typically carry an inexpensive dual-band HT for that purpose.

Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.

73.5,
Wayne
N6KR

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Thorsten Fricke

Re: OT: Other Radios

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Am 02.07.20 um 03:34 schrieb Wayne Burdick:
>
...

> - includes a built-in mic and keyer paddle
>

A built-in keyer paddle? I must have overseen that in the handbook...
Ok, I am learning CW with a Palm micro paddle, but a built in one,
how/where can this be found?

...
> ...and perhaps most important:
>
> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>

"... lightly salted snow..." THANKS, that just made my day! And just to
confirm, I am sure, that the KX2 ATU will really do this!

> SOTA and POTA and casual users alike have told us that these are the factors that matter most in a portable rig. Those who also need VHF/UHF capability typically carry an inexpensive dual-band HT for that purpose.
>
> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>
> 73.5,
> Wayne
> N6KR

Thanks
Thossi
DH4FT
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KENT TRIMBLE

Re: OT: Other Radios

You’re a victim of a run-on sentence. He meant the rig has a built-in microphone and a keyer paddle which is attachable (not “built-in”).

Where he came up with “lightly salted snow” I haven’t a clue, but it’s the quote of the year in my opinion.

73.5 also bears scrutiny.

73,

Kent K9ZTV

> On Jul 2, 2020, at 3:28 AM, Thorsten Fricke <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Am 02.07.20 um 03:34 schrieb Wayne Burdick:
>>
> ...
>
>> - includes a built-in mic and keyer paddle
>>
>
> A built-in keyer paddle? I must have overseen that in the handbook...
> Ok, I am learning CW with a Palm micro paddle, but a built in one,
> how/where can this be found?
>
> ...
>> ...and perhaps most important:
>>
>> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
>> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>>
>
> "... lightly salted snow..." THANKS, that just made my day! And just to
> confirm, I am sure, that the KX2 ATU will really do this!
>
>> SOTA and POTA and casual users alike have told us that these are the factors that matter most in a portable rig. Those who also need VHF/UHF capability typically carry an inexpensive dual-band HT for that purpose.
>>
>> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>>
>> 73.5,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>
> Thanks
> Thossi
> DH4FT
> ______________________________________________________________
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Nr4c

Re: OT: Other Radios

The KX2 has a “Built-In Electronic Keyer” and optional “Attachable Paddles”.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Jul 2, 2020, at 6:35 AM, K9ZTV <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> You’re a victim of a run-on sentence. He meant the rig has a built-in microphone and a keyer paddle which is attachable (not “built-in”).
>
> Where he came up with “lightly salted snow” I haven’t a clue, but it’s the quote of the year in my opinion.
>
> 73.5 also bears scrutiny.
>
> 73,
>
> Kent K9ZTV
>
>>> On Jul 2, 2020, at 3:28 AM, Thorsten Fricke <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Am 02.07.20 um 03:34 schrieb Wayne Burdick:
>>>
>> ...
>>
>>> - includes a built-in mic and keyer paddle
>>>
>>
>> A built-in keyer paddle? I must have overseen that in the handbook...
>> Ok, I am learning CW with a Palm micro paddle, but a built in one,
>> how/where can this be found?
>>
>> ...
>>> ...and perhaps most important:
>>>
>>> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
>>> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>>>
>>
>> "... lightly salted snow..." THANKS, that just made my day! And just to
>> confirm, I am sure, that the KX2 ATU will really do this!
>>
>>> SOTA and POTA and casual users alike have told us that these are the factors that matter most in a portable rig. Those who also need VHF/UHF capability typically carry an inexpensive dual-band HT for that purpose.
>>>
>>> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>>>
>>> 73.5,
>>> Wayne
>>> N6KR
>>
>> Thanks
>> Thossi
>> DH4FT
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
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>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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timmers

Re: OT: Other Radios

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Regards;
John Timmers

Hehe - lightly salted snow. Nice one

73.5 de VE7JBT :-)

On Wed, Jul 1, 2020 at 6:36 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>
> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>
> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>
> 73.5,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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>

Cheers - VE7JBT KX3 owner

k6dgw

Re: OT: Other Radios

Can't report on snow, seasoned or otherwise, but never underestimate the
usefulness of a barbed wire fence. I took my K2 to our Cal QSO Party
expedition in Alpine County one year and use an old, falling down fence
behind our camp connected directly to the BNC antenna connector through
a short length of RG-58 and the ATU didn't even run more than a second
or so. Made a number of CW Q's from 8,550 ft. We also used that fence
as the counterpoise for a 160 Inv-L a couple of times.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 7/2/2020 6:36 AM, Jan Timmers wrote:

> Regards;
> John Timmers
>
> Hehe - lightly salted snow. Nice one
>
> 73.5 de VE7JBT :-)
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 1, 2020 at 6:36 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>>
>> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
>> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>>
>> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>>
>> 73.5,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>

Jim Sheldon

Re: OT: Other Radios

Something else that worked real well with my KX2 at a hotel in Branson, MO a couple years ago (OzarkCon QRP convention) was the hotel’s rain gutter. I ran a short wire out my ground floor room window to a screw holding a bottom section on. KX2’s tuner clicked a couple times, 1:1 SWR and I was able to work all over the US on 40 and 80 meters in the evenings. Beat having to try getting a vertical up exposed in the parking lot and probably worked much better anyway.

Jim, W0EB

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 2, 2020, at 2:18 PM, Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Can't report on snow, seasoned or otherwise, but never underestimate the usefulness of a barbed wire fence. I took my K2 to our Cal QSO Party expedition in Alpine County one year and use an old, falling down fence behind our camp connected directly to the BNC antenna connector through a short length of RG-58 and the ATU didn't even run more than a second or so. Made a number of CW Q's from 8,550 ft. We also used that fence as the counterpoise for a 160 Inv-L a couple of times.
>
> 73,
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
>> On 7/2/2020 6:36 AM, Jan Timmers wrote:
>> Regards;
>> John Timmers
>>
>> Hehe - lightly salted snow. Nice one
>>
>> 73.5 de VE7JBT :-)
>>
>>
>>> On Wed, Jul 1, 2020 at 6:36 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> - the KX2, like the KX3, has a built-in wide range ATU that will match
>>> anything from barbed wire fences to lightly salted snow.
>>>
>>> Disclaimer: IMHO. YMMV.
>>>
>>> 73.5,
>>> Wayne
>>> N6KR
>>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Lyn WØLEN

Re: OT: Other Radios

Shortly after I was first licensed, in 1969, we did a lot of camping and I built an L tuner that would literally match anything. My favorite was folding aluminum lawn chairs hanging from ... whatever you could find.

Actually the chaise lounge worked even better on 40 and 80. I was a regular check-in on MidCars with that from campgrounds in the Dakotas and Northern Minnesota.

73
Lyn, W0LEN

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jim Sheldon
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2020 2:36 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: Other Radios

Something else that worked real well with my KX2 at a hotel in Branson, MO a couple years ago (OzarkCon QRP convention) was the hotel’s rain gutter. I ran a short wire out my ground floor room window to a screw holding a bottom section on. KX2’s tuner clicked a couple times, 1:1 SWR and I was able to work all over the US on 40 and 80 meters in the evenings. Beat having to try getting a vertical up exposed in the parking lot and probably worked much better anyway.

Jim, W0EB

Sent from my iPad

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David Gilbert-2

Re: OT: Other Radios

How long was your coax? Chances are that the feedline was doing most of
the radiating, especially on 40m/80m.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 7/2/2020 2:12 PM, Lyn Norstad wrote:
> Shortly after I was first licensed, in 1969, we did a lot of camping and I built an L tuner that would literally match anything. My favorite was folding aluminum lawn chairs hanging from ... whatever you could find.
>
> Actually the chaise lounge worked even better on 40 and 80. I was a regular check-in on MidCars with that from campgrounds in the Dakotas and Northern Minnesota.
>
> 73
> Lyn, W0LEN
>

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