Mike Morrow wrote:
... the KX1 wins handsdown for backpacking...
Strange! Before the KX1 came out, the K1 was generally acknowledged as the
best multi-band backpacking rig available. It is no less suitable for that
task today.
When you go out and spend $200.00 on a 1 person tent that is 1lb lighter
than your previous tent, and another $180 on a sleeping bag that is
1/2lb lighter, and continue to do so so your pack drops from 35lbs to
30lbs the KX1 is now a much better backpacking rig. Not only is the
radio a little more than 1/2lb lighter, the batteries to power it for
the same timeframe are lighter as well. Now, if your saying the KX1 will
not work, then it's just dead weight when packed and that would be a
different story.
If one is happy with the limited number of bands covered by the KX1, and
recognizes that there is absolutely **no** physical way that KX1 receiver RF
performance can match that of a properly constructed K1 in any area other
than VFO stability, and that the ATU in the KX1 can't come close to the
matching range of the K1's KAT1, then the KX1 is a great choice. On the
other hand, if RF performance *on the ham CW bands* is important, the K1
stands as the best of the two.
When I'm out in the boonies, I want the best possible RF performance on the
ham CW bands that I can get in a small package. The K1 hasn't been shaken
from that position.
I don't care that I can't use it for shortwave broadcasts or to copy the ham
phone bands. I've got a Sony portable that'll do that quite adequately,
with essential AM/FM coverage to boot.
So whether the KX1 "wins handsdown" depends on the criteria applied. It
doesn't "win" for me, handsdown or otherwise.
For real backpacking it seems worth the comprimise.
Jeremy
KB8LFA
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