[Elecraft] Could this operate on a motorcycle?

Sun May 4 22:36:06 EDT 2014

Yep, great if I had a K1600 or a Goldwing, etc, but the small cockpit of
the F700gs does not have that sort of room.
A detachable faceplate might do the trick, but still not be weatherproof
enough.

Private emails with gary to cut down on the cross talk has pointed out a
key thing I had not considered:

I am listening in an open vechicle, over a headset in a helmet. The sound
quality of the KX3 is going to be lost, and fidelity won't be much better
than the FT-60, without all the issues of mounting.

So there you go. Killed by a requirement I had not considered but became
clear as Gary and I shared ideas.

On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 7:23 PM, Walter Underwood <wunder at wunderwood.org>wrote:

> I'm showing pages from Universal Radio because they are informative, not
> to recommend that shop over anyone else. All of these rigs are roughly 2
> inches tall, 6 inches wide, and 6-7 inches deep. The front panel is on the
> small end, so the faceplate size is about 2x6, much smaller than a car
> radio.
>
> In alphabetical order, and some prices are with rebates...
>
> Alinco DR-135TMkIII, 50W, $170 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/1980.html
> ICOM IC-2300H, 65W, $200 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/5023.html
> ICOM IC-V8000, 75W, $220 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/4080.html
> Kenwood TM-281A, 65W, $245 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/0281.html
> Yaesu FT-1900R, 55W, $165 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/1900.html
> Yaesu FT-2900R, 75W, $150 -
> http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/2900.html
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
>
> On May 4, 2014, at 6:54 PM, Russell Conner <rgconner at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > How big is that unit, what brand and model?
> >
> > If something is the same size and does 50-70w, I am all for it.
> >
> > My stated requirement is to mount it on the handlebars, and that space
> is just about 4x9x3, the size of the RAM mount box I specified.
> >
> > So what unit meets those previously stated requirements?
> >
> >
> > On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 6:47 PM, Walter Underwood <wunder at wunderwood.org>
> wrote:
> > I am pretty sure I never suggested using a 5W rig. Mobile VHF rigs are
> 50-75W.
> >
> > The KX3 is limited to 10W (8W at 12m and above), so it would not give
> any more range than a 5W HT.
> >
> > wunder
> > K6WRU
> >
> > On May 4, 2014, at 6:39 PM, Russell Conner <rgconner at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > As I have stated many times. 5w is not cutting it.
> > > Sorry, it is not. People saying it is all I need is not changing the
> facts. With a 5.1Db gain antenna, the local terrain is killing the signals
> in larger than 12 man groups, single file through the hills.
> > >
> > > We need more in many cases.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 6:29 PM, Walter Underwood <
> wunder at wunderwood.org> wrote:
> > > You asked about a specific application, "co-ordinating rider
> leader/wingman/tailgunners actions during rides". A VHF mobile or VHF/UHF
> mobile is perfect for that. They are small, affordable, and the mobile
> antennas are efficient.
> > >
> > > The issue is not Elecraft, it is using HF for this purpose. HF mobile
> antennas are inefficient, often losing 10dB compared to a full-sized
> antenna. That means you really need 100W. One reply suggested two 100W HF
> rigs, the IC-706 and IC-7000.
> > >
> > > The Elecraft 100W amp would work for this, but it raises the cost to
> around $2500 per vehicle, which is 10X the cost of a 2m mobile radio. One
> of the reasons Elecraft gave for building the 100W amp was to make the KX3
> usable mobile.
> > >
> > > 6m or 10m do not have much advantage over 2m in this application, so
> there is no reason to spend more money to run on those bands. If you did
> want those bands, the IC-8900R covers 10m through 70cm with 50W for $400
> (35W on 70cm) (http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/0890.html).
> > >
> > > I'm a backpacker and I love my KX3. I go lots of places where cell
> phones don't work. But I would not recommend it for a motorcycle. I'm
> driving up to Oregon next week and I'll try to get on the noontime net with
> 10W mobile, but I don't really expect that to work.
> > >
> > > wunder
> > > K6WRU
> > > http://observer.wunderwood.org/
> > >
> > > On May 4, 2014, at 6:10 PM, rgconner <rgconner at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hmm. What I think the biggest issue is that I am both a motorcycle
> > > > enthusiast and a budding HAM enthusiast... although the shine is
> coming off
> > > > quickly.
> > > >
> > > > "Motor scooters" come in 600+ cc now, they are as big and fast as
> half the
> > > > motorcycles out there. BMW's C600 will cruise all day long, and you
> can get
> > > > up and 1000 miles again the next day if you want.
> > > >
> > > > This highlights the difficulty: lack of mine and others knowledge of
> both
> > > > spheres in equal depth. I know motorcycles. I don't know HAM as
> well. You
> > > > all know the HAM as well, but there seems to be not an overlap with
> > > > motorcycles so much.
> > > >
> > > > And, considering the spec this was designed for: "home, backpacking,
> and
> > > > travel." it sounds like another product: cell phones.
> > > >
> > > > And we motorcyclists mount our cellphones to the handlebars all the
> time,
> > > > even small tablets.
> > > >
> > > > So I am surprised those products fair better than the KX3 in the
> > > > overlapping "home, backpacking, and travel." environment.
> > > >
> > > > I have broken 3 phones packpacking, so I guess the KX3 is out
> altogether if
> > > > it is not as rugged as as say, a Galaxy S phone.
> > > >
> > > > My 2c worth.
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 5:59 PM, Jim Brown-10 [via Elecraft] <
> > > > ml-node+s365791n7588568h31 at n2.nabble.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> On 5/4/2014 5:17 PM, Russell Conner wrote:
> > > >>> well, the naysayers have convinced me, the Elecraft is not the
> radio for
> > > >> me
> > > >>> for this application, and this is the application I need to solve
> first.
> > > >> A
> > > >>> home station is a year or two away, if ever.
> > > >>
> > > >> Hi Russell,
> > > >>
> > > >> Congratulations on getting your license. The experience and
> backgrounds
> > > >> of those who have offered advice is pretty widely varied --
> everything
> > > >> from true expert to opinions only to hearsay. Most of us own
> Elecraft
> > > >> rigs, and most have owned lots of other rigs too, over the years.
> I've
> > > >> had nearly 20 in the 60 years I've been a ham. Many of us own and
> use 2M
> > > >> and 440 MHz rigs -- I certainly do -- and I mostly use them on the
> road.
> > > >>
> > > >> I agree with the advice that Elecraft does not make a product to do
> what
> > > >> you want on your motorcycle -- for the short distances involved,
> I'd be
> > > >> looking at either a 2M rig if all the guys in your group are hams,
> or an
> > > >> FRS radio if they are not, looking for something you can fit with a
> > > >> suitable headset.
> > > >>
> > > >> As others have noted, the KX3 is a great rig for home, backpacking,
> and
> > > >> travel. That's what it's designed for. When you are ready for a rig
> like
> > > >> that, it's head and shoulders above the rest. Sort of like the
> > > >> difference between a Harley and a motor scooter. :)
> > > >>
> > > >> 73, Jim K9YC
> > > >> ______________________________________________________________
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> > > > ______________________________________________________________
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> > > --
> > > Walter Underwood
> > > wunder at wunderwood.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list
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> > Walter Underwood
> > wunder at wunderwood.org
> >
> >
> >
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> Walter Underwood
> wunder at wunderwood.org
>
>
>
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