[Elecraft] Elecraft KX2 military use

[rich hurd WC3T]

I know for the KX3 that it can be “unlocked” to be used outside the ham
bands.  I would assume the KX2 has the same facility. For my KX3 I needed
to show my operating authority as an Army MARS operator.

On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 17:08 Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Wayne,
>
> This information is extremely interesting and more than a little
> unexpected.  I am fascinated by the capability of the KX2 (mine is 2.5
> years old), but its internals have very little isolation and protection
> from adverse ambient conditions...an essemtial requirement for most gear in
> military service.
>
> 1.  Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to
> amateurs?  It would be interesting to know if and what its military users
> have fashioned some protection from the elements.  At the least, the
> aftermarket Kx22 heat sink, SideKX left side panel, and SideKX cover would
> seem appropriate.
>
> 2.  Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power?  I'd predict short
> life for the speaker connections with frequent removal of the bottom cover
> for KXBT2 replacement.
>
> 3.  The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside
> the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m.  Is a special firmware load
> being used to permit general coverage transmit?
>
> 4.  Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio
> equipment compliant with standards established by the National
> Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which manages the
> use of all federal spectrum.  Agencies self-evaluate equipment specs using
> information supplied by the equipment manufacturer.  The CAP currently
> shows at
>
>
> https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/emergency-services/radio/communications/radios-radio-network
>
> a broad spectrum of ham and commercial gear in which only the FT-817 with
> TXCO-9 meets NTIA specs.  They evaluated the K2, K3S, and KX3.  I suspect
> the military users of the KX2 have not formally evaluated its NTIA
> compliance.
>
> US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no
> changes.  In 1965 the Collins KWM-2A MF/HF SSB/CW transceiver was adopted
> as the RT-718/FRC-93 ...and it had very little protection from adverse
> environmental conditions.
>
> 73
> Mike / KK5F
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
> >Sent: Feb 8, 2020 12:23
> >FYI:
> >
> >I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces
> commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote:
> >
> >* * *
> >
> >"We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where
> military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed.  Its
> form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our
> communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk.  In
> addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with
> civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such
> as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes.  Unfortunately, we
> have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the
> ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been
> instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell
> phone and internet networks were non-existent."
> >
> >* * *
> >
> >I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked
> that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say
> that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above.
> >
> >If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy
> to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two,
> between ops.
> >
> >73,
> >Wayne
> >N6KR
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-- 
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
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