[Elecraft] K1 or KX1? Backpacking Analysis

[mvamis at wavecable.com]

>... the KX1 wins handsdown for backpacking...

> Strange!  Before the KX1 came out, the K1 was generally
> acknowledged as the best multi-band backpacking rig
> available.  It is no less suitable for that task today.

I think you misunderstand.  Let me look at your comments 
one at a time.

    "If one is happy with the limited number of bands
    covered by the KX1"

The KX1 covers 20, 30 and 40 meters.  When one is talking 
about backpacking, they are spending a majority of their 
time hiking. Generally, and this will vary by person, a 
backpacker will hike during the day and set up camp during 
the late afternoon or early evening. I don't think that 
having the full spectrum of bands is going to add 
significantly to the hikers (aka ham's) enjoyment of his 
evening's operating, While it would certainly be nice to 
have a rig that was equipped with 10 through 80, I would 
suppose that only 1 or 2 bands would actually be used 
before it's time to hit the sack.

    "and recognizes that there is absolutely **no** 
physical
    way that KX1 receiver RF performance can match that of 
a
    properly constructed  K1 in any area other than VFO
    stability,"

There are others here on this list that would say the 
difference is very minimal. Since I don't own a K1, I 
can't comment.

    "and that the ATU in the KX1 can't come close to the
    matching range of the K1's KAT1"

Again, remember that the hiker is backpacking, and as such 
is carrying a small radio and minimal antenna.  If I were 
to hike today, I would take the KX1 with 25' of antenna 
wire and 16' of counterpoise wire.  Since the wire used 
would be very small, it would be light and compact. The 
KX1 easily matches that wire, once strung in a tree, to a 
perfect 1:1 on all 3 of its bands, which is all that is 
needed.  While it IS true the K1's ATU may be better at 
matching systems under more difficult situations, that 
capability is not needed when out doors with a 25' of 
wire.

    "On the other hand, if RF performance *on the ham CW
    bands* is important, the K1 stands as the best of the
    two."

I'm not sure how you justify that statement, but oh well.

    "I don't care that I can't use it for shortwave
    broadcasts or to copy the ham phone bands.  I've got a
    Sony portable that'll do that quite adequately, with
    essential AM/FM coverage to boot."

Are you needing to carry that too?  That is an additional 
weight and more hardware to pack that is not required with 
the KX1.

Specs that are important to me:

The KX1 is 1.4 x 5.8 x 3.0" and weighs 9 oz (excluding 
options)
It has a current drain of 32 mA on receive and 300-700 mA 
on transmit.

The K1 is 2.4 x 5.2 x 7.1" and weighs 1.4 lbs (excluding 
options)
It has a current drain of 55 mA on receive and 700-900 mA 
on transmit.

The KX1 runs on 6 "AA" batteries, and will output 1.5 to 
2.0 watts.
The K1 runs on 8 "AA" batteries (with optional KBT1 
installed) and will output 5 watts.

The KX1 comes with a small keyer that attaches directly to 
the side of the KX1.
The K1 requires a separate keyer.

Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to tell you that the 
K1 is in anyway a lesser radio than the KX1. In fact, I 
own a KX1 and I am seriously considering purchasing a K1. 
There ARE some situations where the K1 just would be a 
better "fit" than the KX1.

What I am talking about here is the practicality taking a 
ham radio hiking into the mountains. If I could carry it 
and the necessary hardware, I would love to hike into the 
woods with a K2 and a nice Buddipole. But being practical, 
I see the sense in having the KX1 as my radio of choice 
for backpacking, and thus the original statement...

"the KX1 wins handsdown for backpacking..."

Matt - K7OE