[Elecraft] New ham and the KX3

[Jim Bennett]

Sean,

I think you'll love that KX3! I've had it's big brother K3 for almost four years; this past Christmas my XYL got me a KX3. I've added only the internal tuner (and battery pack/charger for camping trips) and have been having a blast with it. In fact, I can count on one hand the number of QSO's I've had using the K3 in the past two months!

Like you, I also live in an development that has rules in the CC&R's about "no ham radio antennas". That did not stop me from being stealthy. The most successful antenna I've put up is a simple 88-foot long doublet, fed with over 100 feet of 450 ohm "ladder line". I have about 10 feet of RG8-X coax running from the back of the rig to an outside 4:1 balun and the ladder line connects to it. I used to be a windsurfer when I lived in the SF Bay Area and had a left over 18 foot long fiberglass pole. I strapped it to one of our fireplace chimneys on an upstairs patio, with the tip about 45 feet up. The doublet is made from that #26 "silky coat" wire that another poster mentioned. My wires go out mostly horizontally, through the trees, across limbs, etc. The tuner in the KX3 is great - it matches that antenna to nearly 1:1 on 80 - 6 meters, no problems. As a matter of fact, this past Sunday evening I worked CE3/OZ1AA in Chile on 20 meter CW with this KX3 and I was only running 11 watts. I do have the capability to have the KX3 drive an Elecraft KPA500 amp, but seldom use it - almost all "barefoot" QSO's.

So, the bottom line is, like many other posters have said - it isn't the watts you need - it is an efficient antenna. I really, really like the doublet because (1) it is very inexpensive, and (2) it works on all the bands.

Have fun, and try your hardest to get on CW!

73, Jim / W6JHB

On   Tuesday, Feb 25, 2014, at  Tuesday, 4:23 PM, Sean Wall wrote:

> Hi folks,
> 
> I recently got my Technician license and I'm working on my General and Extra.  I'm looking to get my first rig and I'm interested in the KX3. I was considering pairing it with a Buddipole antenna, as my development doesn't allow permanent antennas.  While I use the KX3 at home, will I get decent range with the 10 watt output?  In other words, would I need the 100 watt amp to make the kx3 a decent base station?  I am also planning on bringing the KX3 with me when my wife and I drive up north from Florida (where we live).  Since I'm new to amateur radio, I don't yet have a feel for how much power 10 watts is w.r.t. RF frequencies.  I plan on operating mostly 6 and 10 m initially until I upgrade my license.  Thanks for any help you can provide!
> 
> -Sean
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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