[Elecraft] KX3 and Field Day

[eric norris]

I set up my Field Day operation this year, as in the past few years, behind the Santa Clara Library.  This year I used my KX3, 4S2P Buddipole battery, and AlexLoop SML7-30 Mag Loop.  Though I had used 20W of solar panels in the past years to power my K2, I found visitors were constantly messing with the Power Film panels, so this year I used only a small 5W glass panel with a Genasun GV-5 controller.  To my surprise, the 5W panel kept the battery charged (I did much more talking to visitors than operating).

One of the most fun aspects was seeing visitors' jaws drop as I explained the capability of the KX3.  Some veteran hams unfamiliar with Elecraft products were amazed to learn about the digital mode functions sans computer, and even more surprised to learn that the tiny KX3 was half battery pack and could have run the four hours I was there with no external power whatsoever.  What a blast!

73 Eric WD6DBM