Re: Still lacking
Posted by
AA1QG on
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Still-lacking-tp6419804p6420386.html
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
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