N6KX
11-09-2005, 01:49 PM
Much has been said and written already about this wonderful piece of ham gear, but having recently acquired one I feel compelled to crow about it, too.
If more hams appreciated the convenience of having a three-band HF CW transceiver you can literally carry in a coat pocket (it's about the size of two Klondike bars side-by-side), fully contained with code key, batteries, and automatic tuner, and capable of running off a few feet of wire as an antenna, they would all run out and buy one. #Of course, as a kit that requires some proficiency at construction, many may be discouraged from purchasing it brand new, as I was, but there are plenty of KX-1s out there already built and ready to go. #Also, the Elecraft website lists hams all over the world who are happy to build the kits for other hams, in some cases for free.
I purchased a KX-1 from a local ham about a month ago, it was already built (and very well, I might add), and it's one of the best purchases I've made in over 30 years in ham radio. #It required minor adjustment on one band, but as the QRP community has all the esprit de corps that used to be pervasive throughout ham radio, it didn't take long to locate a local ham with the time, ability, equipment, and generosity to check the rig out for me and make the needed adjustment... for free!
The operating scenarios in which this rig is the perfect companion are numerous: #for example, sitting at a picnic table or on a porch, wire hanging over the side or strung up to a small tree or shrub; sitting in a hotel room, wire hanging over the balcony railing; etc., etc. #I have used my rig on a couple of occasions now and have been very pleasantly surprised how easy it is to make CW contacts with only a few watts of power.
With only the six AA batteries powering the unit, it produces about 1 to 2 watts. #Supplying it with 12V, its spec promises about 3 to 4 watts. #When my rig was being adjusted, we discovered that with 12V, it was producing 6 watts! # I made contact after contact on all three bands (40, 30, and 20 meters). #The code paddle took a little getting used to, but it's the first time I've ever used a paddle/keyer combination; otherwise I'm primarily a straight key man, with a little semi-automatic experience. #I mastered the paddle before long, but the rig can also accept any other type of external key one may prefer.
One thing worth mentioning: #If you know a blind person who either is, or would like to be, a ham operator, this rig offers a feature whereby settings and adjustments to settings can be announced by the rig, using CW. #This alone could make this rig a God-send for someone with special needs.
Also worth noting is the excellent technical support provided by Elecraft. #Not only is the documentation included with the KX-1 among the best I've ever seen, the people at Elecraft have been very responsive to direct contact when questions have arisen. #I've received answers to my emails within 24 hours. #Additional documentation (including the entire owner's manual) is available on their website (www.elecraft.com) in PDF format. #There are also materials (reference summaries, for example) produced by hams that can also be found on the web.
I might add that, in addition to the bare-bones configuration of the KX-1 where you rely on the 6 AA cells that mount internally, you may also try an external battery pack. #I use a Quantum gel cell (a replacement to the Quantum Ham Battery of a few years ago) that provides 12 V, and my KX-1 reliably produces its "whopping" 6 W signal!
I could go on and on... the rig's great! #I love it! #I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys, or would like to enjoy, CW. #It's ham radio the way it used to be, brought to you by the latest technology. #Check it out on Elecraft's website or just Google all the positive comments posted about it all over the web. #Congrats and many thanks to the folks at Elecraft, an American company... a winner!
Howie N6KX #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
If more hams appreciated the convenience of having a three-band HF CW transceiver you can literally carry in a coat pocket (it's about the size of two Klondike bars side-by-side), fully contained with code key, batteries, and automatic tuner, and capable of running off a few feet of wire as an antenna, they would all run out and buy one. #Of course, as a kit that requires some proficiency at construction, many may be discouraged from purchasing it brand new, as I was, but there are plenty of KX-1s out there already built and ready to go. #Also, the Elecraft website lists hams all over the world who are happy to build the kits for other hams, in some cases for free.
I purchased a KX-1 from a local ham about a month ago, it was already built (and very well, I might add), and it's one of the best purchases I've made in over 30 years in ham radio. #It required minor adjustment on one band, but as the QRP community has all the esprit de corps that used to be pervasive throughout ham radio, it didn't take long to locate a local ham with the time, ability, equipment, and generosity to check the rig out for me and make the needed adjustment... for free!
The operating scenarios in which this rig is the perfect companion are numerous: #for example, sitting at a picnic table or on a porch, wire hanging over the side or strung up to a small tree or shrub; sitting in a hotel room, wire hanging over the balcony railing; etc., etc. #I have used my rig on a couple of occasions now and have been very pleasantly surprised how easy it is to make CW contacts with only a few watts of power.
With only the six AA batteries powering the unit, it produces about 1 to 2 watts. #Supplying it with 12V, its spec promises about 3 to 4 watts. #When my rig was being adjusted, we discovered that with 12V, it was producing 6 watts! # I made contact after contact on all three bands (40, 30, and 20 meters). #The code paddle took a little getting used to, but it's the first time I've ever used a paddle/keyer combination; otherwise I'm primarily a straight key man, with a little semi-automatic experience. #I mastered the paddle before long, but the rig can also accept any other type of external key one may prefer.
One thing worth mentioning: #If you know a blind person who either is, or would like to be, a ham operator, this rig offers a feature whereby settings and adjustments to settings can be announced by the rig, using CW. #This alone could make this rig a God-send for someone with special needs.
Also worth noting is the excellent technical support provided by Elecraft. #Not only is the documentation included with the KX-1 among the best I've ever seen, the people at Elecraft have been very responsive to direct contact when questions have arisen. #I've received answers to my emails within 24 hours. #Additional documentation (including the entire owner's manual) is available on their website (www.elecraft.com) in PDF format. #There are also materials (reference summaries, for example) produced by hams that can also be found on the web.
I might add that, in addition to the bare-bones configuration of the KX-1 where you rely on the 6 AA cells that mount internally, you may also try an external battery pack. #I use a Quantum gel cell (a replacement to the Quantum Ham Battery of a few years ago) that provides 12 V, and my KX-1 reliably produces its "whopping" 6 W signal!
I could go on and on... the rig's great! #I love it! #I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys, or would like to enjoy, CW. #It's ham radio the way it used to be, brought to you by the latest technology. #Check it out on Elecraft's website or just Google all the positive comments posted about it all over the web. #Congrats and many thanks to the folks at Elecraft, an American company... a winner!
Howie N6KX #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif