Jim,
Nice review. Sounds like you have a configuration very similar to my
own. I recently put together a case system for transporting my
KX3/PX3/KXPA100 setup on car trips for remote operations. I have a bit
more to take with me as I do mostly digital modes. For what it's worth,
you can see what I put together on my QRZ page:
http://www.qrz.com/db/W2COS
This arrangement has worked well for me, of course YMMV. I know looking
at what others had done helped me a lot as I was putting this together......
73,
Patrick W2COS
-------------
On 5/27/15 8:30 AM, [email protected] wrote:
This is mainly for those who are contemplating getting the KXPA100 to
go along with a KX3 (with or without the PX3).
Picked my KXPA100 kit up at the UPS customer center this morning about
9:15. Got it home about 10:00, unpacked and inventoried by 10:30 and
completely assembled by 11:15. So far this is the simplest kit I've
ever built and really worth doing to save money. The only tools it
took were a #1 Phillips screwdriver and a pair of needle nose pliers.
What took the longest was figuring out how to hook it up to the
KX3/PX3 combination. Nothing in the KXPA100 assembly or Operating
manuals that I found. Had to go to the PX3 manual to find the
information. It might be a good idea for the manual writer/editor to
include at least a reference to the PX3 manual for this
configuration. If you don't have a PX3, instructions for hooking
everything together in the KXPA100 book is pretty clear. I heartily
recommend the optional cable kit and it really simplifies things and
you don't have to spend a lot of time making something up to making it
play nice.
Once I had everything connected and the KXPA power output display
calibration done, I hooked it to my Alpha Delta DX-LB 160/80/40 meter
dipole to check the tuner's capability. It found a match on all bands
160-6 meters and no worse than a 1.2:1 SWR so it's certainly as good
as the tuner in the K3.
I have one of those MFJ 4230MV compact 30 amp switching power supplies
and got everything cabled so it powers the KX3, a stereo audio speaker
bar, PX3, KXAT100 and when needed a small clip-on LED logging light.
By the way, this supply is very quiet RF wise and I can't find any
noise from it on any ham band powering either the KX3 or K3 from it (I
have the 45 amp MFJ 4245MV supply on the K3/P3 main operating desk and
it's quiet too).
I'm not currently planning on operating it mobile, but we're going to
be visiting relatives in Texas, Louisiana and Florida next month so
will have a collapsible vertical and the KX3 setup with me. It will
be nice to have the 100 watt amp along to help overcome poor band
conditions when the KX3's normal output isn't quite enough to maintain
a QSO.
I really like the way the firmware is set up in the KX3 and KXPA100 so
that operation is as close to seamless as it can be. The auto bypass
of the internal KX3 tuner when the amp is on is really nice and the
auto-on of the amp when the KX3 is turned on is SUPER nice!
The next project will be setting up as compact a carrying case as
possible to safely transport the KX3, PX3, KXPA100 and all the
accessories.
Jim - W0EB
--
*Patrick A. Cosgrove*
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/patrickacosgrove/
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