>Why not just use an outboard amp. when you feel you need more power? The "need more power" approach to portable QRP operation is nonsense.
What is needed for QRP operation is a DECENT antenna. Not an expensive antenna, just a decent antenna. Something like a resonant dipole that can be built for less than $10, weighs almost nothing, and can be packed in almost no space for storage. That 25 to 85 foot of random wire is easy to string out, but problematic to match with the KX1's very very limited ATU, and even if matched is a terrible radiator. Even worse are those $300 (or more) commercial vertical antennas. Some apparently feel that more money spent means more performance. The opposite is true. I've played around with backpacking antennas and QRP for more than 30 years. It's my **principal** interest in ham radio. Here's what I've learned about portable temporary-site HF operation: There is NOTHING that will beat a cheap resonant dipole, even one at low elevation. In the many side-by-side tests I've done from campsites comparing a very expensive commercial vertical to a home-made dipole, typically greater than a 30 db (5 S-units!) difference will be observed between the two on both receive and transmit. Even QST's evaluation of one of the most expensive and elaborate "portable" verticals, the Outbacker Outreach with Outpost (a very ineffective tripod base that magically "couples" the vertical to ground...$700 total) showed similar magnitudes of performance differential. This means that my 5 watts into a dipole trumps your 5000 watts (!!) going into your high-dollar and heavier vertical. Plus, you've still got poor signal reception due to your antenna. Random wire radiators are generally comparable to verticals. Antennas of these types only prove that at times contacts can be made no matter how poor your antenna is. If a site is so temporary that the 33 feet of a 20m dipole can't be strung out, then why even bother unless one enjoys frustration at not being heard, and at not hearing much. Now as far as what I'd like to see in a "KX2": 1. Re-design it all so that the kludgy and tricky add-on circuits for 80 through 20 meter coverage are on one PCB with the rest of the KX circuit. Put the ATU on that circuit too, and make it have matching capability closer to that of the K1. 2. Re-design the case eliminating any space wasted by a provision for internal batteries. Internal batteries in a small QRP rig is NOT a good idea, especially since an external pack (perhaps one designed for the "KX2") can be so small and much easier to recharge. 3. Have a 4-pole crystal filter. 4. Use a DDS chip that can support 15 meter operation, and add that and 17 meters. 15 meters is one of the very best QRP bands when it is open. I would consider a KXx with these added features to be almost perfect. 73, Mike / KK5F ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
