[Elecraft] KX1 Maiden Voyage [long- sri]

[SteveG]

HI Gang, Had a blast with newly assembled KX1 on Mt. Herman/CO inspite of
freezing temps and a little snow. Friday my KX1's new final PA silicon
arrived (I'd zapped the last one while probing it!). I installed it on
Saturday morning over a cup of mud. It seemed this PA was putting out a
little more RF than last Q6! WooHoo! Sunday hoofed up the old Mt. Herman but
wasn't alone as I saw some huge cougar paw prints in the snow. Gave me the
feeling I'd better keep a sharp lookout and the critter repellent handy
(pepper spray)?!  KX1 performed flawlessly! Antenna went up zip zip ... Used
a 26' wire & one 17' radial. made up a BNC with alligator clips to facilate
wire attachment. ATU tuned up FB 1.2 VSWR on 20m. Actually I spent more time
looking for a silly rock in the snow to use as a throw! Next time I'll bring
a weight to throw!! Something about adding a weight to my pack!?
http://users.codenet.net/n0tu/images/FYBO04/crummyVIEW.jpg
Using the internal Lithium batteries the KX1's ouput was a little over 1
watt on 20m. Which makes it a little more challenging to snag a contacts but
with a good antenna and location (9,000' ASL) it shouldn't be a problem.
Seems I had a path into the NW! (in this case broadside to my wire which was
sloping NE 45* to a Ponderosa tree top) First contact was K7FD/John in Seal
Rock, OR - John who was busting my eardrums with his long wire and K2 at 5W
sounded like a KW! Radio conditions were hot although WX conditions on
Herman were looking like snow was approaching any minute. Next I heard
Bill/N7OU Lake Oswego, OR - He also was on his KX1(sn385 mine is sn383!) at
3W. So we discussed KX1s and paddles until it started snowing and my fingers
were too numb to send code!  We were chatting about the fact the KX1 is like
a shrunk K2 or more likely the K1! BTW I liked having my paddlette on my
knee where I could shelter my hand from the snow (had I brought another ski
hat) But I'm still considering the KX1's paddle option?
http://users.codenet.net/n0tu/images/FYBO04/KX1%20wKOSS.jpg
No sooner I signed off with Bill faining numb fingers, the sun was warming
my digits for one more run at he paddle. "Can't quit now, dude!", says I! I
gave one more CQ, Boom! Back comes Don/W7GB in Moses Lake, WA ...so we went
at it for a while. Don was on his K1 at 5W with 3-element yagi - great
signal from a 'warm' shack.  Finally the snow strom arrived in all it's
furry - signed with Don,  jerked down my antenna (love that KX1's ATU!!
really simplifies field antenna issues!) with numb fingers (this time it was
no joking about cold hands) threw all in my pack scurried down the MT.
Keeping an eye to my back side occasionally for Mr Cougar!  Looks like the
KX1 passed the test and is ready for more of what mother nature can throw at
it!
http://users.codenet.net/n0tu/images/FYBO04/n0tuLUNCH.jpg
Best part is at the end of the day is the KX1 is breeze to setup w/ATU and a
couple wires  -- It makes "miles-from-no-where-communication without cell
service" a reality [service provider is good old ma nature - the
ionosphere!]

Cheers, Steve/n0tu - KX1#383