[Elecraft] little bit of information before I buy

Sat Feb 14 02:58:00 2004

Hello JC,=20

The KX1 has a built in keyer. The option is the KXPD1 paddles that plug
right into the radio  that make it especially portable. But any standard
keyer paddles will work.=20

You do NOT need a balun or special antenna. The ATU in the KX1 will load =
a
variety of "random wires". Elecraft recommends a wire about 22 to 28 =
feet
long. Longer and shorter wires will work, but the built-in antenna tuner =
may
have trouble with wires near 1/2 wavelength long. The ATU may report a =
high
SWR. The lengths to avoid are about 33 feet for 20 meters, 66 feet for =
40
meters or 46 feet for 30 meters.=20

The KX1 uses the small "BNC" type connector that has become the standard =
in
QRP rigs in recent years. I use a BNC to SO-239 (the larger screw-type =
coax
connector) on mine. A standard "banana" plug makes a good fit into the
center conductor hole in the adapter. That makes working with a wire =
antenna
simple. I just put a banana plug on my antenna wire. If I have a =
situation
where I can hook to an "normal" antenna, my KX1 is all ready to handle
either BNC or the larger SO-239 coax connectors.=20

In addition to the antenna wire, you'll need a wire to throw on the =
ground
to act as a "counterpoise". Ideal lengths are 33 feet for 40 meters, =
down to
16 feet on 20 meters. At least one ground wire is okay, but if you have =
room
and the wire, the more the better. These wires are not grounded, =
actually,
they are insulated wire just thrown on the ground. I put little =
alligator
clips on the ground wires that I hook to the shell of my BNC/SO-239 =
adapter.

That will make a FB antenna for you. Special portable antennas are fine =
if
you can carry the extra weight and bulk and NEED to have something that =
is
very small. But, in general, the will NOT work as well as a wire thrown =
over
a tree limb. That is unless you have NO tree limb or other support for =
your
wire <G>.=20

The KX1 comes complete with all parts and case. Hmmmm.. I don't know =
what
the custom enclosure is. Maybe Elecraft has added a carrying case. I use =
a
normal 35 mm camera pack for mine. The KX1 fits in the camera pouch, and =
the
side pouch for film is perfect for note pad, antenna and paddle.=20

Some ops prefer NOT to wind their own toroid coils, although complete
instructions, wire and cores are included in the kit. It isn't hard, but
some ops have mobility issues with their hands or simply prefer to leave
that chore to someone else. For that reason, Mychael, the "toroidguy" =
will
sell you a set of toroids for your KX1 and KXAT1 pre-wound, stripped, =
tinned
and ready to drop into the circuit board.=20

I hope that answers your questions!

73,

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] =
[mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of MC
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 10:31 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] little bit of information before I buy

Sorry for any silly questions but I am  very new at HAM radio. I want to
take the radio in my backpack and which sometimes goes on my kayak,  I =
am
considering the KX1 as my first HAM radio, its small, light weight and =
has
internal batteries yet can be plugged into any cigarette  lighter when =
in
the camp sites. so I am looking into what future options can or do make =
the
whole project better.

>From what I read on the KX1,  the total complete radio would be to=20
>order the
KX1,  with all three bands, the auto-matic keyer which makes a preset =
length
of code, so my dots and dashes will be all the same length,  that means =
if
you leave your finger on the keyer paddle  its will keep putting out =
dots.

But what do I do with the other three parts. ??? the balum, and the BNC
adapter, and do I have to have the MP-3 portable antennae , or will the
built in auto-turner work with any short length of wire.  And does it =
come
all the parts and with the enclosure, because it has on the list a =
custom
enclosure for $49.00.  And it mentions buying coils from some coil =
person???

but that is almost the price of the K1

thanks, its just a bit confusing.

JC

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