[Elecraft] KX1 Update: USB/LSB SWL RX modes, wider coverage

[kcozens@mail.interlog.com]

At 10:49 PM 09/16/2003 -0700, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>The VFO frequency range on each band has now been finalized:
>
>   40 meters:   5 to  9.5 MHz
>   30 meters:   8 to 12.5 MHz  (requires KXB30 option)
>   20 meters:  12 to 16.5 MHz
[snip]
>Even WWV at 5 MHz was quite strong. The KX1 can now copy WWV at 5, 10, and 
>15 MHz.

Hey, Wayne.

This new KX1 sounds like a really neat rig. Your original message about 
adding some SWL coverage mentioned only tuning about 1MHz above and below 
the ham bands so I was looking at the International broadcast bands near 
the 40/30/20 meter bands that would be the most useful (to me at least).

Near 30m, I was going to suggest covering the 9.5 to 10MHz shortwave range 
for the 30m module. For 20m, it is a bit of a toss up. Going up would be 
more useful so you could pick up the 19m band from 15.1 to 15.6MHz although 
it might be easier to pick up the 22m band (13.6 to 13.8MHz) but I find I 
don't use that band as an SWL very often. For 40m, picking up the 49m band 
(5.95 to 6.2MHz) would be good.

Looking at the tuning ranges you have now listed, I would suggest some 
changes (if you haven't carved the tuning ranges in stone yet). You show 
quite an overlap in the tuning of 40 and 30. I suggest lowering the 40m 
range to include the 60m tropical band (4.75 to 5.06 MHz). The 30m tuning 
range looks fine. The 20m tuning range could be altered to pick up the 25m 
band (11.65 to 12.05 MHz) which I find I use fairly often.

The result would be:
   40 meters:   4.5 to 9 MHz
   30 meters:   8 to 12.5 MHz  (requires KXB30 option)
   20 meters:  11.5 to 16 MHz

The half-meg shifts down on 40 and 20 allow the tuning of two extra SW 
broadcast bands one of which (the 25m band) is of more importance to the 
SWL for International broadcasting. I'm not sure to what extent the ability 
to receive the 60m tropical band would be of use to listeners outside of 
North/Central/South America.

I was an SWL for a long time before I became a ham and I still like to 
listen to International broadcast stations. I don't know what the impact 
would be the people who listen for the various utility stations on the SW 
bands with the adjustments I am suggesting.