I agree a zillion percent with Stan. The KX1 is a phenomenal radio, with a
sensitive receiver and solid transmitter. I typically operate using a 12v
battery and a Buddipole, and making contacts is never a problem. They're
> ..so there I am, in the garage, late afternoon two days ago, with the
> newly homebrewed 20M mag loop sitting in an umbrella stand about 18
> inches off the concrete floor. It was threatening to rain and I didn't
> want to put it outside. Pretuned the loop with my antenna analyzer for
> the low end of 20M. Now I need something to transmit with.
> Quick....run upstairs, grab the KX1 and a headset and run back down to
> the garage!
>
> There were 8 fresh "AA" batteries in the KX1 with 1.4 watts going out
> according to the KX1 display. 20M sounds open and pretty hot! Let's try.
> Standing in the garage, a few feet from the loop, with the KX1 in my
> left hand, I worked Illinois, Indiana, Guayama, P.R., and St.
> Petersburg, Russia (UA1CE) from here in NY.
>
> ..and if the band wasn't "open" then I doubt that even a hundred watts
> would have been enough power. With QRP, timing is everything, in my
> opinion and experience.
>
> Just my opinion, of course, but there are two radios that Elecraft
> should never mess with - the K2 that launched them and the KX1 which is
> the premier QRP ultra-portable.
>
> For those who may not be familiar with it, there is a SDR in Atlanta, GA
> - WB4MAK (
http://www.websdr.org/ ). Log on and "tune" the SDR to your
> transmitting frequency, plug a recorder into your computer's earphone
> jack, and record yourself calling "CQ" at 15 or 20 watts. Then do it at
> 10 watts; then at 5 watts, etc. You'll certainly notice a difference in
> signal strength but you might be surprised at how little that difference
> is.
>
> The KX1 - in my opinion - has just the right amount of compromise
> between form and feature. If the KX1 were enhanced to higher power, a
> more powerful and longer lasting power source, and a few extra options
> such as noise blanker and upgraded filtering.......then it would
> approximate the K2 which already has 15 watts, options galore, and a
> hefty battery alternative.
>
> It seems like it would be a pretty weak business case to insert a
> product between the "barebones" KX1 and a "barefoot" K2.
>
> At least that's my opinion.
>
> Stan Levandowski WB2LQF
> HF QRP CW -- Doing more with less for over 50 years!
> QCWA #35038 OOTC #4558 NAQCC #4740 SKCC #6488 FISTS #14992
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