[Elecraft] KX-1 Performance

[stan levandowski]

I consider myself "average" in all respects, so I'll bet I'm not the 
only KX-1 owner who has fallen into the trap of underestimating the 
capabilities of this little jewel.

Until a couple nights ago, I used my KX-1 like my other QRP rigs, both 
commercial and homebrew.  I kept my expectations rather "reasonable" (in 
other words, "low") and concentrated on working the louder signals on 
the bands.  Did quite well, I might add...

On Saturday, I heard a VERY weak "CQ", really down in the noise.  The 
great filtering helped out a lot.  I answered K3HX just for the heck of 
it and got a 559 report.

I normally use my KX-1 at home, with a Jetstream power supply for 3+ 
watts out, and a 40 meter full-sized dipole.  This was the case on 
Saturday night... or so I thought...

Seems I forgot to turn on the power supply.  A quick check with the 
inline wattmeter showed about 400 milliwatts going out.  The six "AA" 
batteries were pretty well run down and had been in the rig since I 
built it.

Just wanted to share this for the benefit of any other readers with the 
tendency to underestimate the KX-1.

I bought a K2 at the same time I bought the KX1.  I'm having so much fun 
with the KX1 that I haven't started building the K2 yet!  It's like 
being a new ham again!

Stan WB2LQF