[Milsurplus] MFJ-260C Dummy Liad -> Now Elecraft KX2 Military Use

[Mike Morrow]

A very interesting case now exists of a currently-made amateur transceiver that has been adopted for US Army Special Forces use.  The transceiver is the Elecraft KX2, introduced in 2016:

  https://elecraft.com/products/kx2-ssb-cw-data-80-10-m-transceiver

The company co-founder N6KR posted this information:

---------------------------------
On 02/08/20 12:23, Wayne Burdick wrote:

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
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
-------------------------------------

Wayne provided more recent details of Army tactical use of the KX2 in foreign theaters during a recent 90-minute web presentation on KX2 design, construction, and operation found here and other places:

  https://swling.com/blog/tag/elecraft-kx2-design/

No other Elecraft transceiver has been adopted for military service.  I've not heard of any current ham transceiver made by any other maker being so adopted.

Military use of this inexpensive 12-watt HF all-mode amateur radio seems extraordinary to me, even more than does military use of amateur radio dummy loads. :-)  I'd have never thought it possible.  I've owned one for three years and still I'm surprised.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
From: MICHAEL ST ANGELO 
Sent: Aug 21, 2020 5:16 PM

I don't know if you receive the humorous MFJ theme based ads. Today's theme is super heroes. They assign the MFJ-260C 300 watt dummy load to Aquaman because the U.S. Navy has purchased a number of them.
  
Does anyone know what they are used for? Apparently the coot writer doesn't know because it says it is used on submarines and battleships(?!).
  
Mike N2MS
-------------------------------------