[Elecraft] K1 or KX1? Looking mainly at receiver

[Jeremy Cowgar]

David F. Reed wrote:

> Jeremy,
>
> I own a K2 and a KX1, and have some opinions; but I think there is no 
> hard and fast answer.
>
> The K2 is superb; its receiver is about as good as my Icom IC-7800; no 
> joke.  Yes there are a few conditions in which I prefer the Icom, but 
> to me, that is an amazing feat given the price difference.  My only 
> suggestion that might improve the K2 receiver performance factor for 
> me would be improving the noise blanker & noise reduction DSP somewhat.
>
> When you say "as long as it can transmit" do you mean CW only?  I 
> assume so from your consideration of a KX1.
>
> I have not had my KX1 long enough or used it enough under varying 
> circumstance, but it is more portable and has some nifty features, and 
> is easier on the battery, and I do really like it.
>
> Perhaps you could share with us what rig you were disappointed by, and 
> in what ways; since all solutions are compromises to some degree, it 
> may help us better advise you.

I don't want to since all the other people I've talked to seem to have a 
fine rig. I don't want to degrade it for something that may have been my 
mistake. I have run into a few other people that are having my same 
problem though. I really don't think it was my building of the rig that 
caused the problem because I am an experienced builder that was very 
carefull. I have built many kits (OHR-100A, 38 Special, Rock Mite, ZM-2, 
Ten Tec 30m, K2 (#600), KD1JV's Digial SWR/Power meter, etc...) all 
those are great rigs and work as expected.

The rig I am comparing to is an IC-703 which has a pretty good reciever 
in it and I don't expect any of the rigs to compare to it, but I do 
expect them to at least hear that signals are present when on my 703 
they are copyable w/little difficulty. Is my expectation too high? I no 
longer have my K2, I was dumb and sold it to get into satellite ops. 
Today I rarely do sats but have remained constant with QRP.

Jeremy
KB8LFA