[Elecraft] Rig for camper

Kenneth Christiansen wocz at i29.net
Thu Sep 14 21:52:17 EDT 2023


I managed to lose the EMAIL from the ham that wanted to sell his K3S and 
get a KX3 setup for his motor home. I have been using Elecraft rigs for 
camping for the last 23 years and sure do like them. I have a 100 w K3S 
with built in tuner, cw filters, the upgraded low noise etc. I have a K4 
at home with the KAT500 and KPA500. My camper is a 16 ft fiberglass 
SCAMP trailer. I used a KX3 and 100 watt amp for camping for many years. 
When I got the K4 I considered selling the K3S but instead started using 
it in my camper. It is so much easier to set up then the KX3 and works 
better for me than the KX3. I run the K3S and P3 direct off the camper 
battery and have a 100 watt solar panel for charging. I use a 32 ft 
vertical mounted on the hitch of my trailer and a 5 to 1 UNUN that 
operates against the chassis of the trailer on 40 thru 10 meters. I also 
have a loading coil for 80 and 160 using this same vertical. I find it 
works so well and is easier to set up and take down than my old KX3 
setup. I have talked 300 miles to our 160 meter net several times on 
Sunday mornings and run form 5 to 50 watts on the other bands for CW. 
The camp spots are often quiet and I fIind I can work more stations from 
the camper than I can at home because of the lower RF background noise.

To make a long story short I recommend using the K3S in a camper if it 
is already bought and paid for as you will spend more money setting up 
another radio in your motor home and it will be less handy to set up and 
take down and there is no other radio that will work as well in the camper.

73   Ken W0CZ

I am 81 years old and still enjoying camping



More information about the Elecraft mailing list