According to information released by designer Wayne Burdick, N6KR, the
newest firmware revision 1.02 for the Elecraft KX1 HF transceiver is already
included in kits with serial numbers 1373 or higher. This revision will be
included for free of charge with the soon-to-be-released KXB3080 module
which will add 30 m and 80 m coverage to the KX1. The firmware revision is
necessary for the new module to work properly. The new firmware also sports
a scanning feature. The #FWKX1 revision 1.02 is available separately from
Elecraft for $29, in case some KX1 owners want that scanning ability without
upgrading to the 4-band version.
I am planning a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)
from the Mexico border near Campo, California to Manning Provincial Park in
British Columbia. (See the N7RR biography on QRZ.com for details of my PCT
Amateur Radio plans.) I will be carrying a Kenwood TH-D7A(G) 2 m / 70 cm
handitalkie and the 4-band version of the Elecraft KX1 HF rig. Especially
with the new KX1 scanning feature, I would like to have an external speaker
for the KX1. Since I'm trying to significantly decrease my backpack weight,
I've decided to leave my little RadioShack model 19-318A speaker at home.
The solution is a typical backpacker's adaptation: dual use! By adding a
short male-male 3.5 mm stereo patch cord to a mono 2.5 mm male - to - 3.5 mm
stereo female adapter, I can drive the Kenwood TH-D7A(G) speaker with the
audio output of the Elecraft KX1.
There is one hurdle, however. If the 2.5 mm plug is completely inserted
into the speaker socket on the TH-D7A(G), the speaker circuit is opened,
making the speaker dead. If the 2.5 mm plug is inserted partially, however,
the TH-D7A(G) speaker still operates. I could open up the handitalkie and
solder in a jumper to defeat that speaker cut-off function. I'm thinking,
however, that there may be circumstances when I would prefer to use
headphones with the handitalkie. For instance, I may want to shield other
PCT hikers from its audio. In addition, that same
headphone-with-deadened-speaker capability of the unmodified TH-D7A(G) also
will make dual-band duplex operation practical for FM satellite operation.
So, I'm going to do some field testing of this partial insert system without
modifying the TH-D7A(G).
73, Bruce Prior N7RR
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