[Elecraft] Comments from Special Forces personnel on KX2 use

[Fred Jensen]

Thanks for sharing this Wayne.  That was our experience in SE Asia in 
the 60's too, sans KX2 of course.  If we could get the dipole 6-10' 
high, we were good for both the day and night in-country nets and could 
also work our HQ & Maintenance Depot at Clark AB in the Philippines 24 
hrs.  The problem with a 6' dipole was clotheslining a trooper in the 
middle of the night. [:=)

Folks these days seem to be looking for the perfect [magic?] antenna and 
are reluctant to just try a basic "non-buried conductor" unless it comes 
with the magic guarantee first.  I'm somewhat constrained by our HOA's 
Architectural Review Committee [OK, nothing visible].  My 135' end-fed 
wire along the wooden fence works surprisingly well at 100 W considering 
it is just about eye level all the way.  As good as 5 over 5 over 5 at 
100' on 40?  Not quite, but I can make Q's on any open band anytime I 
want including DXpeditions where I wait a few days until the bruhaha has 
settled down some.

Antennas are one of the last radio neighborhoods for the average ham to 
experiment with, homebrew transmitters and receivers are rare these 
days.  It often could take less time to just "try something" as an 
antenna than it takes for the endless arguments on email lists on what 
works and how well.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 3/2/2020 6:52 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I forwarded a few questions from HF Pack list members to a Special Forces commander whose unit has been using KX2s in the field for three years. He passed along the following additional comments:
>
> ------------
>
> "We prefer to use Off Center Fed Dipoles (OCFD). They work for us because they present a consistent, predictable mismatch on the frequencies we use. I made a few small baluns out of binocular cores that are 4:1, which handle the output of the KX2 on Voice, CW and digital all day long. Typically the dipoles are strung up arms-reach-high in the field, which gives us easy 300 - 400 mile range in our KX2 nets. If we're fortunate enough to have a tree, that OCFD with a center height at 10 to 15 feet or so works perfect for NVIS, at least for us.
>
> "You'd be proud to know my KX2 has survived remote jungles, 14-er peaks in Colorado, -30 degree F temps, a helicopter crash, and gunfights / IED blasts ....  I think the radio has held up better than I have."
>
> ------------
>
> He closed with:
>
> "Feel free to hit me up with any additional questions from the gang and I'll do my best to answer."
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>