[Elecraft] Could this operate on a motorcycle?

[Don Wilhelm]

The KX3 (or any other Elecraft transceiver) is not as fragile as some in 
this thread would imply.  It is actually has a rather sturdy enclosure, 
and the SMD boards are much more sturdy than thru-hole electronics.  Put 
it in a good mount and it will survive on the handlebars of those 
motorcycles that you quoted.  It might have a rough time on a dirt bike, 
but that is another situation entirely - you are talking of comfortable 
riding bikes, some even rivaling the smooth ride of a 4 wheeled luxury 
vehicle.

I do think your power level may be the limiting factor, especially if 
you are riding in terrain with deep valleys and canyons where 
communications may be challenging.  You can depend on only 5 watts from 
the KX3 because if it is in strong direct sunlight and gets hot, the 
power will throttle back to 5 watts.  If you can keep it in the shade, 
then you can depend on 10 watts.

Since the safety and well-being of everyone in your group is of utmost 
concern here, I would suggest 25 watts as your power goal unless you 
have tested 5 or 10 watts on 6 meters (or 10 meters) under the most 
difficult situations you are likely to encounter.

Having HF capability can solve many problems for communications from 
canyons and other places where 6 meter/VHF communications will not be 
reliable.  80 meters and a low dipole will provide you communications in 
most cases, but that means getting off the bike and putting up that 80 
meter dipole, so I don't think that is your main focus (except possibly 
in extreme emergency situations).  I would recommend that you look into 
a 6 meter (or 10 meter) transceiver with 25 to 50 watts output for 
reliable communications under the conditions that you have stated.

I would think that an HF transceiver like the KX3 would be a great 
choice for HF operation in camp at night, but for the terrain that you 
describe it may not be the best choice for your in-route communications.

OTOH, if you have tried the CB band with 5 watt transceivers and it 
works OK except for the 'yahoos', the KX3 at 5 watts on either 10 meters 
or 6 meters may do the job fine for you.

73,
Don W3FPR

PS: your "reply", Reply All" problems come from Nabble.  Move over to 
the main Elecraft reflector with a computer email client (or even 
webmail), and those problems will go away.


On 5/4/2014 6:28 PM, rgconner wrote:
> Well, there is no reply all, just reply, and I am replying to the mailing
> list, so I don't know what else I can do.
>
> And yes, it is going to require an investment for everyone to go to 6m.
> But... the serious HAMs that have helped provide this solution already run
> 6m, and the cost is rather incremental if you are riding a $30K Goldwing,
> K1600 or HD bike.
> Even on my F700GS, we are talking my cost in tires every year to buy this
> radio and a 6Db antenna.
>
> So, please, don't add limitations I have not stated.
>
> Now, someone stated somewhere that 6m is hard to keep attenuated, and that
> might be a deal killer. Maybe 10w vas 5w is not worth the gain. Maybe 25w is
> the floor.
>
> Again, with all the praise for this unit, it seems odd it is such a wall
> flower. *shrug*
>
> When I talked to the techs at the office, they seemed to think it would be
> ok, but then they are selling it, they are not going to say it can't do the
> job unless it is going to damage their rep if it breaks.
>
> Considering the almost 100% against, I think most people's reaction to a
> "bad review" if it failed on a MC would be "dumbass"
>
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Could-this-operate-on-a-motorcycle-tp7588505p7588545.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to w3fpr at embarqmail.com
>