[Elecraft] when demonstrations really go well

[moore at comcast.net]

> The 339 signal report did nothing to 
> diminish the thrill of having worked such great DX with a completely 
> ad-hoc antenna and 2 watts -- on internal batteries. 
> 
> It doesn't get much better than this! 

That's exactly the phrase I used recently on two occasions in which, on a whim, I decided to try the KX1 on 40 meters with the antenna strung randomly around the ceiling while operating lying in the hammock in the porch, or tossed into a tree while sitting on the grass outside.  In one case the station I worked was also using a KX1, me on 1 watt and him on 2, with a good 15 minute QSO and no problem copy.

I agree with you that the ad-hoc nature is a large part of the thrill.  The idea of trying to see how much you can do with so little is an enjoyable exercise in itself.  I'm not talking only about the size, amount or weight of the gear here, but ease of setup.  That said, if it were too easy and required hardly any effort, I think the fun would diminish.  There still needs to be some kind of challenge: finding a suitable support for the antenna, straining to hear the weak signal, working with a limited set of controls, etc.  It seems to me that the KX1 has found a great balance of all these parameters.

I've never been much into QRP before but this rig is drawing me in -- I've had more fun lately with it than I've had in around 16 years of radio (except maybe for QRQ CW).  I know that many campers and hikers take a liking to it, but for me it's working in the other direction: I was interested in the radio first, and now the KX1 is sparking a serious interest in camping/hiking.  Now that's a powerful little rig!

--Andrew, NV1B