I know for the KX3 that it can be “unlocked” to be used outside the ham bands. I would assume the KX2 has the same facility. For my KX3 I needed to show my operating authority as an Army MARS operator.
On Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 17:08 Mike Morrow <[email protected]> wrote: > Wayne, > > This information is extremely interesting and more than a little > unexpected. I am fascinated by the capability of the KX2 (mine is 2.5 > years old), but its internals have very little isolation and protection > from adverse ambient conditions...an essemtial requirement for most gear in > military service. > > 1. Is the KX2 supplied by Elecraft identical to those supplied to > amateurs? It would be interesting to know if and what its military users > have fashioned some protection from the elements. At the least, the > aftermarket Kx22 heat sink, SideKX left side panel, and SideKX cover would > seem appropriate. > > 2. Is the KX2 being supplied by external DC power? I'd predict short > life for the speaker connections with frequent removal of the bottom cover > for KXBT2 replacement. > > 3. The stock KX2 (unfortunately) provides no transmit coverage outside > the ham bands except 5.06 to 5.45 MHz for 60m. Is a special firmware load > being used to permit general coverage transmit? > > 4. Federal agencies (including CAP, but not MARS) normally use radio > equipment compliant with standards established by the National > Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which manages the > use of all federal spectrum. Agencies self-evaluate equipment specs using > information supplied by the equipment manufacturer. The CAP currently > shows at > > > https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/programs/emergency-services/radio/communications/radios-radio-network > > a broad spectrum of ham and commercial gear in which only the FT-817 with > TXCO-9 meets NTIA specs. They evaluated the K2, K3S, and KX3. I suspect > the military users of the KX2 have not formally evaluated its NTIA > compliance. > > US military agencies have sometimes adopted commercial radio gear with no > changes. In 1965 the Collins KWM-2A MF/HF SSB/CW transceiver was adopted > as the RT-718/FRC-93 ...and it had very little protection from adverse > environmental conditions. > > 73 > Mike / KK5F > > -----Original Message----- > >From: Wayne Burdick <[email protected]> > >Sent: Feb 8, 2020 12:23 > >FYI: > > > >I asked one of our U.S. military KX2 customers (a special forces > commander) to describe how they use the rig. Here's the verbatim quote: > > > >* * * > > > >"We use the KX2 to enable us to communicate in emergency situations where > military-issue gear is unsuitable, impractical, or has failed. Its > form-factor is ideally suited for increasing the redundancy of our > communications without any noticeable increase in weight or bulk. In > addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is used to interface with > civilian radio operators when we are assisting with civil emergencies, such > as those that are caused by hurricanes or earthquakes. Unfortunately, we > have been called to assist with both of these scenarios lately, and the > ability to interface via HF using a tough, portable radio has been > instrumental in passing critical information in environments where cell > phone and internet networks were non-existent." > > > >* * * > > > >I'm hoping he'll release additional details in the future, but he's asked > that we not discuss his actual deployments, names, unit, etc. He did say > that many units have been outfitted with KX2s for the reasons above. > > > >If you have a specific question or reason to contact him, I'll be happy > to forward the email. He seems to come up for air every week or two, > between ops. > > > >73, > >Wayne > >N6KR > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] > -- 72, Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737 Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988 (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid: *FN20is* ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
