Don,
Thank you for this as it is most informative. Have you any rough idea
as to battery life comparison for KX2 and KX3 - I realize this is a
difficult question. Thank you once again.
73 Doug EI2CN
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Butler [mailto:n...@comcast.net]
Sent: 30 June 2016 14:45
To: 'Doug Turnbull'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: KX1 vs KX2 vs KX3? from someone who owns one of each..
In addition to a few K3s, I also own a KX1, KX2, and KX3 and believe that I
am in a position where I can make a few unbiased comparisons between the
KX group. EI2CN asked today about weight comparisons between the three
radios so I thought I would provide that info and add just a couple of my
own thoughts about the three different radios.
My KX1 (4 band and tuner) with paddle and 6 lithium batteries weighs 14.6
oz.
My KX2 (tuner and clock) with battery pack but without paddle weighs 20 oz.
The battery pack alone weighs 5 ½ oz. Adding the KXPD3 (since the KXPD2 is
still back ordered) adds about 1 oz to make the total package 21 oz.
My KX3 (with all options and also with the 3rd party sidekick panels) and
with 8 NIMH batteries, charger and KXPD3 weighs 35 oz.
. The NIMH
batteries make up about 8 oz of that total.
Since I own and have used all three radios, and really have no reason for
bias, I thought I would share my thoughts relative to comparisons. For
clarification these are MY opinions only
the way I feel about the three
radios as an owner of each
and of course this is not an attempt to be any
kind of in depth review or comparison
. Im going to focus on the main
encoder dial only.
Here goes:
To me, the KX2 has rendered the KX1 obsolete .... the KX2 has virtually
every capability of the KX1 but also has much much more
is about the same
size and weighs just 7 oz more. Its the perfect radio for travelling light
or backpacking for portable QRP operation.
I prefer the KX3 over the KX2 .... mainly because of the main tuning knob
. It was apparently necessary to use a smaller encoder on the KX2 to keep
the overall package small (and that has been accomplished). But to me it
came at a significant price because it is really rather cumbersome to slowly
tune the bands with the KX2 main dial when compared to doing so with the
very nice encoder on the KX3. To me the main dial on the KX2 has the same
feel as the dial on the KX1
.. while the main dial on the KX3 is more like
that on the K3
the KX3 wins on my scorecard on that comparison hands
down, and it therefore remains my choice for most operating situations.
There are workaround alternatives to make tuning easier on the KX2 .. for
example its actually easier to tune up and down the bands using the MH3
up/down buttons than doing so with the main tuning knob
. But who really
wants to tune a radio with mic buttons?
. Not me! Coarse tuning with the
VFO B knob is the best option in my hands
and I have mine set for 0.5 khz
on CW and 2.5 khz on SSB, which allows me to scan the band with coarse
tuning and tweak with the main dial when I find a signal of interest.
I will choose the KX3 for in shack use (but after the K3 of course) and
for any portable use when I want to spend significant time with the radio
and log lots of QSOs. ( FYI, our Field Day group operated 1A here in Utah
using my KX3/KXPA100 at 100 watts , deep cycle battery, CrankIR and center
fed zepp
and, with lots of off time and sleeping through the night we
still managed to log over 600 CW qsos). I will pick the KX2 for portable
QRP operation when I want to travel light and do not plan to spend hours on
the air. I doubt that I will be using the KX1 in the future
. but its
still a keeper as far as Im concerned ?
Just one mans opinions
73,
Don, N5LZ
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