Well this is the question: get a KX1 or a K2 at Dayton?
I had set my mind on a KX1. I have used one before and was very surprised with
the performance over all my other HF radios. However, the more I think about it
the more I think a K2 might be better.
One of my other large hobbies is backpacking. I usually take an FT-857D, 12Ah
SLA, and jumper dipole with me. This has provided a lot of fun sitting around
the camp fire on HF.
My ultimate goal, after experiencing the performance of the KX1, is to get a
receiver in the main shack that is that good. I would be happy with "that good"
but "even better" would be, well, even better!
The way I see the K2 is this: I can build it as a 15w rig with SSB for a
fantastic voice/cw portable radio that is good on batteries (better than my
FT-857D in the field). Batteries can even go inside the case - decreasing my
pack bulk over my current setup with the FT-857D and battery. I can add a 100w
amp for the shack and traveling where power isn't an issue. Then I wouldn't be
"lacking" any performance over my other HF radios (on the TX side, any way you
slice it the RX side will be 100 times better).
The KX1 is a fantastic and very fun radio to operate, but it is limited to 4
bands and CW only (TX). It is extremely compact and light though, which
there just aren't any other radios out there that touch this class of
performance in such a size of package.
Decisions decisions... The K2 also costs more - I will have over 3x the price
of a KX1 in it, although I can spread it out a bit after the initial burn HIHI.
It will be roughly $900 for the K2, K160RX, and KSB2 then $400 for the KX1.
That is, of course, unless there is a big Dayton discount (unlikely I think).
Any thoughts from the crowd here?
Steve, KC8QVO
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