Still lacking
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As a portable user of the K2 and Vertex 1210, I was thrilled to hear about the new KX3.
After reading the preliminary specs however, I think I´ll stick to my existing radios. Why? - 10 W is insufficient power for portable SSB operation on the lower bands, at least in Europe. 20-25 W as the 1210 has is still low, but acceptable in terms of balancing power with current consumption. - My old 1210 has built in Lithium batteries which are light, high capacity and fast charging. Why not in the KX3?? AA1QG/LB7FA |
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Hi Terje,
The KX3 is a completely different radio from the Vertex 1210. It is much smaller, lighter, and has far less current drain. It can even be used hand-held. There's simply no room for a 20-W PA and/or a large battery. The 1210 is a channelized "man pack" radio, which definitely has its advantages for certain operating situations. However, the 1210 is about 4 times larger than the KX3 by volume, and about 5 times heavier. It draws about 3 times as much current when receive is active (it draws less in "Saver" mode, but this is with the receiver squelched, periodically looking for channel activity). Despite the KX3's much smaller size/weight/current drain, it has several major advantages over the 1210 as a general-purpose ham transceiver: 6 meter coverage (and possibly 2 m, 4 m, or other bands), FM and data modes, large display, large VFO knob, controls for many more functions, optional attached keyer paddle, and optional narrow roofing filters for high dynamic range. Of course there's also the external 100-W PA. The KX3's current drain is low enough that it can function well with an extremely light battery pack (8 AA cells, internally, or your choice of external batteries). We went with AA cells because of their flexibility and ubiquity. You can always borrow some from other electronic devices in a pinch. You can power the radio for 5-10 hours of typical transceive operation or 16 hours receive-only from a set of nonrechargeable lithium camera batteries. Or you can use NiMH, with the internal charger keeping them ready to go. So it's really an apples/oranges comparison, in my heavily-biased opinion :) 73, Wayne N6KR > > As a portable user of the K2 and Vertex 1210, I was thrilled to hear > about > the new KX3. > > After reading the preliminary specs however, I think I´ll stick to my > existing radios. Why? > > - 10 W is insufficient power for portable SSB operation on the lower > bands, > at least in Europe. 20-25 W as the 1210 has is still low, but > acceptable in > terms of balancing power with current consumption. > > - My old 1210 has built in Lithium batteries which are light, high > capacity > and fast charging. Why not in the KX3?? > > AA1QG/LB7FA 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
Wayne, biased??
Naah! never! <G> >> So it's really an apples/oranges comparison, in my heavily-biased >> opinion :) >> Wayne Burdick >> Mon, 30 May 2011 10:47:47 -0700 -- Dave G KK7SS DN06ig Richland, WA '59 Morris Minor 1000 '65 Sprite - in process '76 Midget - shared with my #4 son. '06 Honda Civic Hybrid ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Ok, you win, I´ll order a KX3 when it arrives!
I have quite a few 5-10w portable radios gathering dust unless I plan to operate CW. My trusty K2 has the 100W PA, which I usually run at 25-50 watts using a 14AH battery and an K1 tuner (which tackles 50W well in spite of being rated lower). The power difference is not impressive in terms of db, but when operating SSB on 60m and below having a bit more power output often is the difference between having a QSO and having a frustrated operator at both ends.
Please consider a KX3 Heavy Duty version, with a lithium battery and higher power output (25W) in a bigger box. There really is gaping hole in the market for such a rig, since most rigs either are too puny in terms of power or battery capacity (i.e. FT-817) or too battery thirsty (FT-897 for example). I would buy one or two on the spot, and I know a lot of hams who for various reasons have to operate portable - typically having residential noise problems or antenna restrictions - likely will buy one as well. 73´s Terje Den 30. mai 2011 kl. 19.47 skrev wayne burdick [via Elecraft]: Hi Terje, |
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Not only the referenced uses, I have a boat and it would be a real treat to have
one on it. Right now, I have the FT-817 and while it does a really good job, these old fingers have trouble with the "small" controls. Mel, K6KBE ________________________________ From: AA1QG <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Mon, May 30, 2011 1:07:44 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Still lacking Ok, you win, I´ll order a KX3 when it arrives! I have quite a few 5-10w portable radios gathering dust unless I plan to operate CW. My trusty K2 has the 100W PA, which I usually run at 25-50 watts using a 14AH battery and an K1 tuner (which tackles 50W well in spite of being rated lower). The power difference is not impressive in terms of db, but when operating SSB on 60m and below having a bit more power output often is the difference between having a QSO and having a frustrated operator at both ends. Please consider a KX3 Heavy Duty version, with a lithium battery and higher power output (25W) in a bigger box. There really is gaping hole in the market for such a rig, since most rigs either are too puny in terms of power or battery capacity (i.e. FT-817) or too battery thirsty (FT-897 for example). I would buy one or two on the spot, and I know a lot of hams who for various reasons have to operate portable - typically having residential noise problems or antenna restrictions - likely will buy one as well. 73´s Terje Den 30. mai 2011 kl. 19.47 skrev wayne burdick [via Elecraft]: > Hi Terje, > > The KX3 is a completely different radio from the Vertex 1210. It is > much smaller, lighter, and has far less current drain. It can even be > used hand-held. There's simply no room for a 20-W PA and/or a large > battery. > > The 1210 is a channelized "man pack" radio, which definitely has its > advantages for certain operating situations. > > However, the 1210 is about 4 times larger than the KX3 by volume, and > about 5 times heavier. It draws about 3 times as much current when > receive is active (it draws less in "Saver" mode, but this is with the > receiver squelched, periodically looking for channel activity). > > Despite the KX3's much smaller size/weight/current drain, it has > several major advantages over the 1210 as a general-purpose ham > transceiver: 6 meter coverage (and possibly 2 m, 4 m, or other bands), > FM and data modes, large display, large VFO knob, controls for many > more functions, optional attached keyer paddle, and optional narrow > roofing filters for high dynamic range. Of course there's also the > external 100-W PA. > > The KX3's current drain is low enough that it can function well with > an extremely light battery pack (8 AA cells, internally, or your > choice of external batteries). We went with AA cells because of their > flexibility and ubiquity. You can always borrow some from other > electronic devices in a pinch. You can power the radio for 5-10 hours > of typical transceive operation or 16 hours receive-only from a set of > nonrechargeable lithium camera batteries. Or you can use NiMH, with > the internal charger keeping them ready to go. > > So it's really an apples/oranges comparison, in my heavily-biased > opinion :) > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > > > > As a portable user of the K2 and Vertex 1210, I was thrilled to hear > > about > > the new KX3. > > > > After reading the preliminary specs however, I think I´ll stick to my > > existing radios. Why? > > > > - 10 W is insufficient power for portable SSB operation on the lower > > bands, > > at least in Europe. 20-25 W as the 1210 has is still low, but > > acceptable in > > terms of balancing power with current consumption. > > > > - My old 1210 has built in Lithium batteries which are light, high > > capacity > > and fast charging. Why not in the KX3?? > > > > AA1QG/LB7FA > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > > > If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6420027.html > To unsubscribe from Still lacking, click here. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6420386.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
K2, K3??? WTF.
Sent from my iPhone . > > Please consider a KX3 Heavy Duty version, with a lithium battery and higher power output (25W) in a bigger box. ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
Note that the KX3 will have an effective SSB
clipper/compressor/processor to give an average of at least 6 dB of "talk power" without significant impairment of the speech quality, making 10W seem like 25 or more to the receiving station. 73, Lyle KK7P > ... > > Please consider a KX3 Heavy Duty version, with a lithium battery and higher power output (25W) in a bigger box. There really is gaping hole in the market for such a rig, since most rigs either are too puny in terms of power or battery capacity (i.e. FT-817) or too battery thirsty (FT-897 for example)... ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
I'm so excited about the KX3! Finally, there's a successor to my beloved
IC-703. AA1QG makes a very good point about SSB. The KX3 is clearly targeted squarely at CW and PSK operators. I seldom have any problems being heard with 10W when operating CW; even managing to break through DX pileups with a little patience. On the other hand, SSB is difficult - even discouraging - with 10W. I disagree with AA1QG's request for LiPo batteries in the KX3. LiPo battery technology isn't very 'trail-friendly' in my experience. I can always charge lead-acid and NiMh from my folding solar array when camping, but LiPo charge regulators do not like the varying nature of solar energy. The internal AA option is the right way to go with the KX3. There's an option that hasn't been discussed that would leverage the KX3 beyond the excellent Vertex 1210: A bolt-on 25W amplifier/atu/battery container. The whole works could fit inside a waterproof, shock-resistant Pelican-style case that would flip open to reveal the KX3 as the 'control head' of the entire system. Such a configuration would be unbeatable for EMCOMM and other tactical communications. It wouldn't have to be produced by Elecraft, but it would certainly be nice :-) Nathon Hall VE7ETS **** AA1QG/LB7FA commented: - 10 W is insufficient power for portable SSB operation ... [snip] - ... Why not [lithium batteries] in the KX3?? ***** ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
As an alternative, might you consider a small amplifier? TAPR is
offering a 20w HF/6m amplifier called the "Pennywhistle". http://www.tapr.org/kits_pw.html drives with 1/4w and runs on 12vdc. $77+S&H for non-members of TAPR 73, Ed - KL7UW ------------------------------ Message: 20 Date: Mon, 30 May 2011 13:07:44 -0700 (PDT) From: AA1QG <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Still lacking To: [hidden email] Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Ok, you win, I?ll order a KX3 when it arrives! I have quite a few 5-10w portable radios gathering dust unless I plan to operate CW. My trusty K2 has the 100W PA, which I usually run at 25-50 watts using a 14AH battery and an K1 tuner (which tackles 50W well in spite of being rated lower). The power difference is not impressive in terms of db, but when operating SSB on 60m and below having a bit more power output often is the difference between having a QSO and having a frustrated operator at both ends. Please consider a KX3 Heavy Duty version, with a lithium battery and higher power output (25W) in a bigger box. There really is gaping hole in the market for such a rig, since most rigs either are too puny in terms of power or battery capacity (i.e. FT-817) or too battery thirsty (FT-897 for example). I would buy one or two on the spot, and I know a lot of hams who for various reasons have to operate portable - typically having residential noise problems or antenna restrictions - likely will buy one as well. 73?s Terje 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email] ====================================== ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by KK7P
Lyle hit it head on. All QRP radios that really need punch lack don't have RF speech processor or an equalizer. With speech processor, KX3 can sound like a 4 times stronger radio. With poor mic that Kx3 can equalize, even more than that. My guestimate 10W of KX3 may approach readability of IC-7000 with stock mic.
KX3 may be the most efficient QRP SSB radio ever produced. If I have one question is why won't it have Li-Ion batteries. Either 3 Li-Ion (12.6 V max) or 4 LIFEPO of 15.2V max. Perhaps it is due to safety or liability. I use Li-Ion in K3, and it is much lighter with higher peak current. Ignacy, currently OZ/NO9E/p <quote author="KK7P"> Note that the KX3 will have an effective SSB clipper/compressor/processor to give an average of at least 6 dB of "talk power" without significant impairment of the speech quality, making 10W seem like 25 or more to the receiving station. 73, Lyle KK7P > |
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My guess about the batteries is ease of field replacement, ability to use standard AA cells instead of rechargeable if needed, and number of discharge cycles. Li-ion batteries only have about 500 charge/discharge cycles. Anyway, while LiPo or Li-Ion batteries may be lighter weight, I'm supposing the Elecraft guys thought the ability to use readily available replacements was worth the tradeoff.
-- Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY On Jun 1, 2011, at 8:58 AM, Ignacy wrote: > Lyle hit it head on. All QRP radios that really need punch lack don't have RF > speech processor or an equalizer. With speech processor, KX3 can sound like > a 4 times stronger radio. With poor mic that Kx3 can equalize, even more > than that. My guestimate 10W of KX3 may approach readability of IC-7000 with > stock mic. > > KX3 may be the most efficient QRP SSB radio ever produced. > > If I have one question is why won't it have Li-Ion batteries. Either 3 > Li-Ion (12.6 V max) or 4 LIFEPO of 15.2V max. Perhaps it is due to safety or > liability. I use Li-Ion in K3, and it is much lighter with higher peak > current. > > Ignacy, currently OZ/NO9E/p > > > Note that the KX3 will have an effective SSB > clipper/compressor/processor to give an average of at least 6 dB of > "talk power" without significant impairment of the speech quality, > making 10W seem like 25 or more to the receiving station. > > 73, > > Lyle KK7P >> > > -- > View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6426781.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Must disagree with the limits of 10w on SSB! I have never mastered CW, thus 90% of my operating, which is ALL QRP is on fone. Yea, maybe there are times a bit more power could help, but the speech processor should take care of that. More like after all the effort and calling, and waiting, etc, when I do complete a tough SSB QSO if feels SO GOOD!!! Took a few extra calls, but worked VP5DX on four bands on fone, with 8 watts on my very mini G5RV in the attic of my condo.
Kinda like waiting for the ice cream truck...wait, wait, drool, hear the goofy music, wait in line, but then oh the JOY!!!! MTCW..... cleve/W5CEM |
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In reply to this post by Buddy Brannan
I'd suggest LiFePO4 batteries, as they can source the current necessary for the transmitter easily, and are safer in operation than Lithium Polymer. They can be safely charged on a portable solar panel if you disconnect once the voltage reaches 14.4v, and that's pretty much what the SLA charge controllers do as well. The 2.4 AH packs charge at about 1.5 Amps, so it's hard to bring too big a panel!
Leigh/WA5ZNU |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
> > Consider that IF you are taking your station on commercial aircraft, in some countries the carriage of LiPo batteries is very restricted, particularly if the pack is not enclosed within the device they power. > I carry a VRSLA battery that is approved and so marked to meet the IATA A67 > standard, Qantas in Australia also require an application for permit to carry the above > battery, along with the relevant MSDS, permit is good for 3 months travel in the passengers name. The battery and permit, with MSDS must be declared at checkin. > I did not want to even think about trying to get approval for a LiPo battery pack, the VRSLA one was bad enough :-) > > > 73, > > Jack. VK4JRC > > Sent from my iPad > > On 02/06/2011, at 9:53 AM, "Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU" <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> I'd suggest LiFePO4 batteries, as they can source the current necessary for >> the transmitter easily, and are safer in operation than Lithium Polymer. >> They can be safely charged on a portable solar panel if you disconnect once >> the voltage reaches 14.4v, and that's pretty much what the SLA charge >> controllers do as well. The 2.4 AH packs charge at about 1.5 Amps, so it's >> hard to bring too big a panel! >> >> Leigh/WA5ZNU >> >> -- >> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6429391.html >> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > 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 |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
Ummm. correct me if I am wrong, but it looks to me as if Leigh is referring
to Lithium Ferro Phosphate batteries (also known as Lithium Iron Phosphate), while Jack is thinking Lithium Polymer. Not at all the same thing. If I remember correctly, Lithium Polymer was involved in some published incidents of batteries in cellphones or laptops catching fire. I believe the Lithium Ferro Phosphate variety is a lot safer, although not safe under all conditions. Probably both varieties will last a lot longer if balanced charging is used, meaning that the charger monitors and charges each cell individually (at the same time) depending on how empty it is found to be. I have had a LiFePO4 battery sold by Buddipole for about a year, and I am very impressed. The charger is a box about 4.3 x 3.6 x 1.0 inches which weighs about 7.6 oz. It has a 3 ft cable with APP for 12 VDC input power, and a small multipole connector for output. The battery pack has a short output cable with APP and a short multipole input cable that plugs into the charger. The charger is small and light enough to be carried easily into the field. The battery can provide very high output current for a short time, I believe enough to power a 100 W transmitter briefly. The charger provides balanced charging for LiFePO4 batteries but can also handle a wide variety of other battery types. The smart charger uses 10 to 16 VDC, and the input voltage doesn't need to exceed the voltage of the battery being charged. 73, Erik K7TV > Consider that IF you are taking your station on commercial aircraft, in some countries the carriage of LiPo batteries is very restricted, particularly if the pack is not enclosed within the device they power. > I carry a VRSLA battery that is approved and so marked to meet the > IATA A67 standard, Qantas in Australia also require an application for > permit to carry the above battery, along with the relevant MSDS, permit is good for 3 months travel in the passengers name. The battery and permit, with MSDS must be declared at checkin. > I did not want to even think about trying to get approval for a LiPo > battery pack, the VRSLA one was bad enough :-) > > > 73, > > Jack. VK4JRC > > Sent from my iPad > > On 02/06/2011, at 9:53 AM, "Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU" <[hidden email]> wrote: > >> I'd suggest LiFePO4 batteries, as they can source the current >> necessary for the transmitter easily, and are safer in operation than Lithium Polymer. >> They can be safely charged on a portable solar panel if you >> disconnect once the voltage reaches 14.4v, and that's pretty much >> what the SLA charge controllers do as well. The 2.4 AH packs charge >> at about 1.5 Amps, so it's hard to bring too big a panel! >> >> Leigh/WA5ZNU ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Yes, LiFePO4 has a high power density but not as high energy density as LiPoly or the typical Li-Ion (laptop) batteries. It was chosen for the One Laptop per Child project, for example. The chemistry has a very flat discharge curve, and sources high current or low current, and retains its efficiency. For SLA, the capacity is rated at a discharge rate of 1/20 C, so a 7AH SLA battery will give you 1A for 7 hours, but any transmit at 20A would be well beyond its capacity. A 20AH SLA would give you 1A for 20 hours, and could give you 20A briefly, but not for 1 hour. But an 8AH LiFePO4 will have no trouble giving you 20A for 20-25 minutes solid key down. With SSB 40% modulation at 100W and transmitting 1 minute out of 4, that gives you 10% duty cycle, and because of the excellent properties of LiFePO4 you'd get a a couple of hours of operating time easily, especially with the low RX current draw of the KX3. Couple the LiFePO4 with a solar panel that can cover the receive current (about $50) and you extend your QRV to pretty much all day with an 8AH pack or a couple of 4AH packs. Leigh/WA5ZNU |
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In reply to this post by AA1QG
The particular brand of Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery that I got has the
brand name A123. That company talks about "nanophosphate" which presumably means that some kind of nanotechnology is used, which may lead to higher load current capacity. In any case, the Buddipole website and the specification sheet show discharge curves for up to 40 A loads, and I believe that refers to a single 3.3 V cell of 2.3 AH capacity. The output voltage is a little lower at those high load currents; the flat portion of the curve is at about 2.8 V when the load is 30A. Maximum continuous discharge current is specified as 70 A. Life is specified as 1000 cycles at 10C. As many as 7000 cycles are said to be possible when the load is 1C. 73, Erik K7TV Leigh wrote: Yes, LiFePO4 has a high power density but not as high energy density as LiPoly or the typical Li-Ion (laptop) batteries. It was chosen for the One Laptop per Child project, for example. The chemistry has a very flat discharge curve, and sources high current or low current, and retains its efficiency. For SLA, the capacity is rated at a discharge rate of 1/20 C, so a 7AH SLA battery will give you 1A for 7 hours, but any transmit at 20A would be well beyond its capacity. A 20AH SLA would give you 1A for 20 hours, and could give you 20A briefly, but not for 1 hour. But an 8AH LiFePO4 will have no trouble giving you 20A for 20-25 minutes solid key down. With SSB 40% modulation at 100W and transmitting 1 minute out of 4, that gives you 10% duty cycle, and because of the excellent properties of LiFePO4 you'd get a a couple of hours of operating time easily, especially with the low RX current draw of the KX3. ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Edward R Cole
An external amp in a clamp-on case that fits on the bottom might be a good compromise. However, the Pennywhistle isn't enough. You also need their Transmit Bandpass filters (http://www.tapr.org/kits_alex.html) or perhaps K5OOR's http://site.hfprojectsyahoo.com/low_pass_filters So a box with the amp, the filters, and the battery starts to get a little bulky, not to mention an ATU. You can avoid the ATU if you can figure out how to tap into the KX3 ATU input. I suspect if there's enough clamor it could be made to work at 3dB more input than it's used to. Leigh/WA5ZNU |
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Sorry, guys, the KX3's internal ATU isn't going to be accessible for
patching through an external amp. It will safely handle 12 W (max KX3 power on most bands), but 20 W is pushing it. I routinely work the world with 10 W SSB and marginal antennas, hence the KX3's 10-W nominal power-output target :) Back to the salt mine.... 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 2, 2011, at 3:09 PM, Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU wrote: > > Edward KL7UW wrote: >> >> As an alternative, might you consider a small amplifier? TAPR is >> offering a 20w HF/6m amplifier called the "Pennywhistle". >> http://www.tapr.org/kits_pw.html >> drives with 1/4w and runs on 12vdc. >> > An external amp in a clamp-on case that fits on the bottom might be > a good > compromise. > However, the Pennywhistle isn't enough. You also need their Transmit > Bandpass filters (http://www.tapr.org/kits_alex.html) or perhaps > K5OOR's > http://site.hfprojectsyahoo.com/low_pass_filters > So a box with the amp, the filters, and the battery starts to get a > little > bulky, not to mention an ATU. > > You can avoid the ATU if you can figure out how to tap into the KX3 > ATU > input. I suspect if there's enough clamor it could be made to work > at 3dB > more input than it's used to. > > Leigh/WA5ZNU > > -- > View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6433091.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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