[SFDXA] KB6NU's Column for May 2016

[Bill]

Hi, all:
Here's my column for May 2016. Thanks for running my columns!
73, Dan KB6NU

Design Advances Make Portable Operation Easier, More Fun
By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU

I've just returned from the Dayton Hamvention. Dayton was a blast as 
usual, and if there's one thing I took away from this year's event it's 
that portable operation is not only becoming more popular, but more 
sophisticated as well. In fact, it's a virtuous circle. More 
sophisticated portable equipment is making portable operation more 
popular, which is spurring manufacturers to make more sophisticated 
equipment, which is making portable operation even more popular, and 
around we go.

This is perhaps most easily seen in the evolution of the Elecraft 
products. One of their first rigs was the K1, a small rig that was 
frequently toted out into the field, even though it wasn't really 
designed for that purpose. It had a small form factor, but had a 
conventional front panel layout.

The next evolution was the KX1. This CW-only radio was designed 
specifically for field work. It originally only covered 40m and 80m, and 
had a very limited front panel, but its built-in battery pack and KXPD1 
paddle made it a great choice for portable operators when it was 
introduced in 2004.

A big leap forward was made when they introduced the KX3 in 2012. This 
radio combined a bunch of features never before found in a portable rig. 
The KX3 features an SDR architecture and covers all modes, including 
(SSB, CW, Data, FM, AM); used the same full-sized LCD display as the K3; 
has advanced DSP features; and can be connected to a computer via USB 
for firmware upgrades and for use with other ham radio software. The KX3 
is so full-featured that many operators use it as their main rig with a 
suitable linear amplifier.

At Dayton 2016, Elecraft took this concept even further and introduced 
the KX2. It's about half the size of the KX3, but yet has almost all of 
the features of the KX3. There  was a tremendous amount of buzz over 
this radio at Dayton among portable operation aficionados. The base 
price of the KX2 is $750, and with options, will cost you about $1,000.

Of course, Elecraft isn't the only company competing in this market. LNR 
Precision sells a radio called the LD-5, and at Dayton, they introduced 
the LD-11, which like the KX3 and KX2 features an SDR architecture and 
covers 160m - 6m. This radio goes for about $800, and has also proven to 
be popular among portable operators.

Dayton also had a number of exhibitors that supplied products other than 
radios to aid portable operation. There were several portable antenna 
manufacturers, including Buddipole (buddipole.com) and PackTenna 
(packtenna.com), and BiEnno Power (biennopower.com) was also there, 
showing off their new lithium-iron batteries,

While radios like the KX2 and LD-11, at relatively low prices, allow 
operators to easily get out into the field, portable operation would not 
be as popular as it is without organized activities. Programs like the 
Summits on the Air (SOTA, www.sota.org.uk, na.sota.org) and the National 
Parks on the Air (NPOTA, npota.arrl.org) make portable operation even 
more fun. These programs do this by providing a structure in which 
operators can find one another and gain awards for operating. SOTA did 
not have a booth at Dayton, but NPOTA was a big part of the ARRL section 
there.

If you aren't already a portable operator, you should give it a try! You 
don't have to invest a bunch of money in a rig to just try it. KX1s have 
been had for less than $400, and simpler QRP rigs cost a lot less. 
Getting outside and operating in the fresh air is a lot of fun and could 
give you a whole new perspective on amateur radio.

==================================

Dan, KB6NU, is the author of the "No Nonsense" amateur radio license 
study guides, and blogs about amateur radio at KB6NU.Com, and you can 
contact him by e-mailing cwgeek at kb6nu.com. Listen for him operating his 
KX1 from the park or beach this summer.