[Elecraft] Elecraft KX1 - a builder's review

[Mike Morrow]

Phil wrote:

> A reasonable assessment, Johnny. Of course the KX1 
> was designed as the ultimate Trail-Friendly Radio 
> (TFR) and that it is!

I always preferred the K1 versus the KX1.  I must have 15m,
plus the KX1 really needs a four-pole IF filter, IMO.

I have a dream of a KX2 that is a KX1 descendant, with four-pole
filter, 15m and maybe other bands not on a KX1, back-lit LCD vs
LED, noise blanker, and everything required for the band coverage
laid out from the start in the design, and not as an after-
thought.  (As has been often noted, the KX1 is not particularly
easy rig to build with all the options.)  I'd also like to see
5 watt output on all bands with 14 vdc power.  Perhaps it could
even be a factory-built SMT design.  Finally, that KX2 would need
an ATU capable of far more than 254 combinations of reactance
insertion.  The KAT1's 1022 combinations would be minimum, IMHO.

A small, capable, simple-to-operate, very low-power-consumption
QRP rig still has great appeal even with availability of the
overwhelming capability of the KX3.  I'd like to have both.

...and the KX2 slot in the Elecraft line needs filling! :-)

Mike / KK5F