[Elecraft] Why buy a KX2/KX3 compared to a KX1/MTR3B in a QRP portable scenario?

Thu Jul 7 11:26:05 EDT 2016

Mark,
     You ask some good questions and have a clear set of requirements. 
First, I'm not familiar with the LNR MTR3B and I do own a KX3 and 
matching amplifier. I do use my KX3 for Field Day in running QRP and 
solar powered. To me it represents the do everything right radio. 
However, I don't have the one requirement you and Wayne have of 
operating a QRP rig out in the park or off a mountain top. And, I don't 
know how many radios you want in your inventory so that you meet your 
entire requirement set.

     Let me also add that I have a KX1 and once had a K2. My thinking was 
I needed a radio for home at the 100 Watt level and Field Day to me is 
an imperative. I had been using a range of gear for FD and found the K2 
the absolute best in the set of gear that was being used. A friend had a 
K1 which we used for FD, and he actually chased DX with it. However, I 
was thinking I might want to do PSK31 QRP away from my shack. That was 
the reason I added the SSB board to my K2. The K2 is  larger than an 
FT-817 and a few other rigs so I built the KX1 with the 4 band board. I 
wasn't happy being limited to CW so I got the KX3 and the amplifier; I 
had been running a Tentec Orion II for my base radio. However, There was 
something I couldn't do with the Orion that Elecraft handed me, I&Q data 
so that I could really do an integrated home station. It became quite 
obvious that the KX3 could meet all of my requirements as listed in your 
use case. and, I could do it all with one radio. So, I retired my Orion 
II and am as happy as I can be. But, I don't camp, climb mountains, or 
walk around with a radio, except 2 meters.

     If you really do not intend to do anything other than QRP CW in the 
park, operating SOTA, etc, even a KX2 might be overkill. I would look at 
the KX1. It's really simple works really well and it fits in the pocket 
of my cargo pants. I would have preferred the K1, but I don't believe 
Elecraft is selling that anymore. If there is any probability that you 
might want PSK31 or RTTY while in the park, a KX2 would be the way to 
go. But if you can only handle a one radio inventory, the KX3.

     Performance wise the KX3 is world class. It's limited only by 
ambient noise and the bad signals of others. I suspect the KX2 is the 
same as it is fully based on the KX3, as stated by Elecraft. The KX1 
will be close, but may not get fully there, but it is far more than 
adequate for CW in the park with a portable antenna.


73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Mark Lunday" <wd4elg at triad.rr.com>
To: KX3 at yahoogroups.com; "'Reflector Elecraft'" 
<elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 7/6/2016 10:56:15 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Why buy a KX2/KX3 compared to a KX1/MTR3B in a QRP 
portable scenario?

>I want to ask some questions to help me understand the thinking behind 
>the
>KX2 (and the KX3) because I am not fully understanding some things. I 
>am a
>current owner of an LNR MTR3B.  39 years in the hobby, but new to TRUE 
>QRP.
>Did I make a sub-optimal decision with the MTR3B?  (Yes, I WANT a KX2.  
>I
>have drooled over the KX3 since it was first produced.  And I used a
>friend's K2, so I am a fan, but did I make the BEST choice?)
>
>I see three use cases for the small QRP rig in this category:
>* QRO home station, with an amplifier.
>* QRP home station.
>* QRP portable station (NOT FIELD DAY).  This is where I get confused.
>Why would someone purchase all those features in KX2/KX3?
>
>I have the following REQUIREMENTS:
>* Minimize the weight
>* Simplify the operation
>* Maximize the operating time
>* Use efficient and easy-to-install antennas
>* Maximize the possibility of a QSO, any QSO
>
>I have the following OBJECTIVES:
>* Have fun
>* Improve my QRP skill
>* Learn about station optimization
>* See how far I can work
>* See if I can get a few DX and as many states as possible
>* Enrich my time outdoors by including my lifelong hobby of ham radio
>
>Again, why buy a KX2 or KX3?  Let's take PRICE out of the equation for 
>this
>thread.  That's not a good metric for me in this QRP portable use case
>analysis, because my SELECTION of FEATURES that fulfill the 
>requirements
>will dictate what I need to pay in order to MEET those requirements.  
>(The
>XYL sees it differently, but if the KX2 or KX3 meets the requirements 
>best,
>then that is what I want to purchase.)  And let us call the weight, 
>size and
>battery consumption as even factors, none wins over the other for this
>argument.  So here goes the analysis:
>
>* Why do I need all those bands with the KX2/KX3?  I am not going to
>erect an 80 meter end fed (too long) or a compromise 80 meter antenna 
>for
>QRP ops in the park, as that won't maximize my objectives.  40/30/20 
>should
>do it.  Anything higher than 20 will, in the coming sunspot lull 
>(already
>here?) render QRP operations quite difficult (not impossible, but a 
>huge
>investment of time for little return).  Notwithstanding sporadic E, I 
>don't
>understand why those other bands would be of benefit now for QRP 
>Portable
>operation.
>
>* Why do I need all those filters and awesome DSP capabilities with
>the KX2/KX3?  I plan to use CW only to maximize QSO possibility.and I 
>am
>going to only call the strongest stations that my rig will hear.  Why 
>would
>I need to filter so I can hear weak signals that I won't be calling 
>anyway?
>And I don't see the benefit of chasing DX in a pileup, using an offset, 
>when
>I am QRP on an end-fed wire on a picnic bench in a park.
>
>* Why do I need SSB with the KX2/KX3?  See previous bullet item
>regarding CW only.
>
>* Who do I need digital modes with the KX2/KX3?  (In fact, why does
>Elecraft provide the two digital modes most susceptible to QSB, fading 
>and
>interference?  (How many RTTY QRP operators do I know?  None.  The
>old-timers I work on HF are all running high power.  And many of the 
>PSK QRP
>guys have gone to JT65 or JT9.  I get why Elecraft did this, because 
>PSK and
>RTTY have been around a long time, but why not add in some additional
>digital modes that would increase my QSO chances with portable QRP?)
>
>* Why do I need 10 watts with the KX2 or KX3, or SDR, or firmware
>updates?  It's no longer QRP at 10 watts, and QRP is why I am out on 
>the
>picnic bench with the end-fed and the rig in the first place.  I won't 
>have
>a tablet with me.  The rig is the rig, it is simple and no need for 
>updates.
>
>Use case #3 (and ONLY use case #3), QRP portable, I don't see why the 
>KX2 or
>KX3 is a better fit than the KX1 (or my MTR3B).  Maybe KX2 or KX3 is 
>better
>BECAUSE IT COVERS more than one use case, but I already have a rig in 
>my
>shack with lots of nice features.
>
>If we consider the Field Day use case, THAT is where the KX2 or KX3 is 
>THE
>RIG to have (filters, digital modes, antenna tuner).  But that's not 
>part of
>my use case #3, it is a special one-off scenario that has its own set 
>of
>requirements and objectives that are DIFFERENT than the ones I listed 
>above.
>
>Comments/critiques welcome.  Did I make a sub-optimal decision with my
>MTR3B?  Maybe I should get rid of all my other gear so I can get a KX2 
>or
>KX3 so I can do it all with one rig?
>
>Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
>Greensboro, NC  FM06be
>wd4elg at arrl.net
>
>
>
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