Re: [Elecraft] Field Day and FT-8
On 6/26/22 13:21, Jim Brown wrote: Ham radio is a TECHNICAL hobby. We are required to pass an exam demonstrating that we understand the underlying principles, our privileges are based on our having that understanding, and it is our LAWFUL responsibility to transmit clean signals. And yet, who has any power to prevent the importation of tons of substandard radio equipment that cannot produce clean signals, or receive them under adverse conditions? A major problem is that many hams have never bothered to learn the many fundamentals of radio, audio, and electronics, stopping after memorizing only enough Q to pass the exam for their license. And yet, we need numbers of those people too for public service, emergency communication, and general goodwill in the community. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Wire antenna ends and spools?
I went with two non-resonant lengths (1). Depending on the band I'm working, one acts as the radiator, and the other as the counterpoise. I chose 23' and 39'. I installed banana plugs on the radio end, and tied a bowline hitch (2) on the far ends. I also carry additional 1.5mm nylon braided cord and a couple of tiny plastic carabiners if I need to tie off the end of the antenna somewhere. I'm happy with small kite winders (3). If you don't have a kite shop near you, you can get them from SotaBeams in the UK, and I think DX Engineering in the USA sells them as well. 1) Non-resonant antenna calculator: https://k7mem.com/Ant_End_Fed.html 2) Bowline hitch: https://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/bowline 3) Kite winders: https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/midi-winders/ On 10/5/21 15:33, Julia Tuttle wrote: Hi folks, I'm putting together the Elecraft Standard Wire Antenna(tm), two 25-foot pieces of 26-gauge wire with relatively slippery insulation. I've got banana plugs on the near (radio) ends of the wires, and I've temporarily got the two lengths coiled and held with velcro cable ties, but I'm wondering if anyone has ideas on: 1. What to put on the far (tree/wherever) ends so I can tie a rope to them without the slippery insulation just slipping out of the knot. My girlfriend suggests a ring terminal, which seems reasonable -- any other ideas? 2. How to coil them more securely. W3ATB suggests a chalk line reel ( https://w3atb.com/wire-antenna-winder/) but I'm not a fan of the termination there. Thanks and 73, Julie __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where are the K4 reviews?
In my day job, working for a supplier of technology to a wide swath of consumer electronics manufacturers, I've observed over the past year major shifts in demand and the kinds of products people are buying. There have been surges in demand for some categories of products, and collapses in demand for other categories; all of which foil production and distribution plans which are normally designed to play-out of 18-36 months. There have been supply chain disruptions. There have been shipping and logistics disruptions. The disruptions go deep into almost every component and service you can imagine. Elecraft, or any small company building a niche product, who manages to stay solvent throughout all of this disruption is to be admired, even if their plans need to change radically. As for the perceived lack of communication: I can also understand their reluctance to say much when they have their own uncertainty about the future. About me: I'm happy to wait to order a K4 until they offer the kit. For me, it's a hobby, not my livelihood. On 3/31/21 10:34 AM, j...@kk9a.com wrote: The corona virus may have delayed kid's education and the K4 for a year but certainly not everything. Most products are still being manufactured and are available. John KK9A Ray wa6vab wrote: Maybe Eric should just say…….. Life with the corona virus has delayed everything by One Year, So it is with the Delivery of the K4 ! I am sure You would not Accept or be Happy Either ! Ray WA6VAB K3 -- --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 battery upgrade?
I received about the same number of similar comments off-list as you've seen on-list. (Thanks!) So at least twenty of us would eagerly buy such an upgrade to the KX3 (see my previous post, below). I suspect that the Elecraft folks don't have the bandwidth to work on such a thing right now. If we want it bad enough, we might need to take it into our own hands. If any of you out there have mad CAD skills, and are looking for a project, contact me off-list. Perhaps we can do a little feasibility study by drafting a preliminary design of a KXBC3 replacement. On 10/6/20 2:28 PM, Paul Maciel wrote: Hi Steve, Yes, I would like to see this. I no longer even bother installing the internal batteries but just carry along a Bioenno pack. I have not heard of any 3rd party solutions. ---Paul AK1P On 10/5/2020 5:47 PM, Steve KC6ZKT wrote: The KX3 is my favorite of my HF radios right now. But one of my annoyances is the internal battery limitations. I always wind up carrying an external 6_Ah or 10_Ah LiFePo4 battery into the field when I use this radio, an external charge controller, and solar panel. It's not a big problem, but it also should not be a big project to improve this situation. The KXBC3 has enough real estate to include a lithium battery charger, and even a solar charge controller in its space. The amount of battery energy that could fit in-place of the NiMH cells could approximately triple the capacity of the AA cells. So I have these questions: 1) How many of you out there might buy an upgrade which replaces the KXBC3 board with a lithium battery manager, and a associated battery pack? 2) Are there any 3rd parties already making anything like this? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to kc6...@effable.com -- --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 battery upgrade?
See comments/questions inline, below... On 10/6/20 7:49 AM, Ignacy wrote: LiFePO3 can be as heavy as KX3 and defeats the purpose of KX3 if weight is concerned. True, but LiFePo4 are widely available, and more tolerant of careless charging. They're still better than the internal NiMH cells. I use 4S2P Lithium Ion. Like: https://www.batteryspace.com/li-ion-18650-battery-14-8v-5-2ah-77wh-2x4s-s-rechargeable-battery-pack-6-24.aspx Since it has 16.8V peak, I charge it via a diode for 16V. A diode internal to KX3 makes it 15.4 V max and this is what the internal meter in KX3 shows. Are you saying that have you installed this battery pack in place of the AA cell holder inside the radio? Are you saying that you're using the KXBC3 to charge your lithium pack? Do you charge this battery in the field with either a solar panel or the accessory (cigarette lighter) socket in a car? This is 12% over 13.8 V. Lasts a long time. Full power up to 15W. No problem in > 5 years. Ignacy, NO9E -- --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KX3 battery upgrade?
The KX3 is my favorite of my HF radios right now. But one of my annoyances is the internal battery limitations. I always wind up carrying an external 6_Ah or 10_Ah LiFePo4 battery into the field when I use this radio, an external charge controller, and solar panel. It's not a big problem, but it also should not be a big project to improve this situation. The KXBC3 has enough real estate to include a lithium battery charger, and even a solar charge controller in its space. The amount of battery energy that could fit in-place of the NiMH cells could approximately triple the capacity of the AA cells. So I have these questions: 1) How many of you out there might buy an upgrade which replaces the KXBC3 board with a lithium battery manager, and a associated battery pack? 2) Are there any 3rd parties already making anything like this? -- --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K4 mail filter for Thunderbird
I use Thunderbird on some of my machines, Apple Mail on others. Because Apple Mail leaves even much more to be desired than Thunderbird, I was using procmail on my ISP's server to do all of my filtering to mailboxes. Later, the authors stopped maintaining it, and I switched to a similar, more up-to-date tool. I recommend that you ask your ISP what they have installed. If they're running Linux, then they might have Pigeonhole [ https://pigeonhole.dovecot.org ] available. It's much cleaner to do all of the filtering at my mailbox, rather than on each desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone I might want to access it from. On 10/5/20 10:22 AM, Mike Harris via Elecraft wrote: Hi, I have no interest in K4 postings. I have tried all sorts of combinations of mail filter setting to dispose of K4 posts without success. I'm sure someone out there has managed to do this. If so please advise how you did it. Please don't suggest the delete key, I'm familiar with that. Regards, Mike VP8NO --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K4 Kit???
On 5/15/20 8:08 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: > And I'm still waiting for the kit version. Same here. I'm happy to wait for the kit version. --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KX3/KXPA100 as a mobile?
I have been thinking about installing an HF mobile rig. One idea that appeals to me is a KX3/KXPA100 setup, where the radio is can be placed and hooked-up in (passenger side) glove box, and the amp is more permanently installed under a back seat. I have two questions: 1) If you have tried this, can you tell me about your experience? How did it work? How was it set-up? Etc. 2) What will I be giving up if I cannot really operate the controls on the KXPA100 and only have the KX3 in front of me? -- --... ...-- SteveSgt, KC6ZKT, @CM97bj73 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX2 color option: Army green (olive)?
Several of us SOTA operators have asked for a high visibility color option (orange or green-yellow). I think I would choose the current charcoal over olive drab. On 3/16/20 10:37 AM, Phil Hystad via Elecraft wrote: > My Elecraft equipment is already olive drab — I favor black olives. > > :-} K7PEH > > >> On Mar 16, 2020, at 10:19 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> >> One of our customers who has outfitted units with KX2s is hoping we'll >> provide an Army-green case color option (olive drab). Note: We're not >> talking about camo -- just a solid color :) >> >> To make such an option viable we'd need to know if there's enough demand, >> both military and otherwise. >> >> Please drop me an email if you might be interested, or have an opinion on >> this possibility. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Wayne >> N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
