I can only say that 80 percent of my contacts are on 20 or 40. So the number
of bands covered by K1 or KX1 would not be an issue. The rig I use as all the
bands available but I have favorites and I am sure it would be similar with the
hikers too??
--
__
___/ Chuck \_
| |
| www.aa8vs.org/aa8vs |
The pessimist complains about the
wind; the optimist expects it to
change; the realist adjusts the
sails.
-- William Arthur Ward
... the KX1 wins handsdown for backpacking...
Strange! Before the KX1 came out, the K1 was generally
acknowledged as the best multi-band backpacking rig
available. It is no less suitable for that task today.
I think you misunderstand. Let me look at your comments
one at a time.
If one is happy with the limited number of bands
covered by the KX1
The KX1 covers 20, 30 and 40 meters. When one is talking
about backpacking, they are spending a majority of their
time hiking. Generally, and this will vary by person, a
backpacker will hike during the day and set up camp during
the late afternoon or early evening. I don't think that
having the full spectrum of bands is going to add
significantly to the hikers (aka ham's) enjoyment of his
evening's operating, While it would certainly be nice to
have a rig that was equipped with 10 through 80, I would
suppose that only 1 or 2 bands would actually be used
before it's time to hit the sack.
and recognizes that there is absolutely **no**
physical
way that KX1 receiver RF performance can match that of
a
properly constructed K1 in any area other than VFO
stability,
There are others here on this list that would say the
difference is very minimal. Since I don't own a K1, I
can't comment.
and that the ATU in the KX1 can't come close to the
matching range of the K1's KAT1
Again, remember that the hiker is backpacking, and as such
is carrying a small radio and minimal antenna. If I were
to hike today, I would take the KX1 with 25' of antenna
wire and 16' of counterpoise wire. Since the wire used
would be very small, it would be light and compact. The
KX1 easily matches that wire, once strung in a tree, to a
perfect 1:1 on all 3 of its bands, which is all that is
needed. While it IS true the K1's ATU may be better at
matching systems under more difficult situations, that
capability is not needed when out doors with a 25' of
wire.
On the other hand, if RF performance *on the ham CW
bands* is important, the K1 stands as the best of the
two.
I'm not sure how you justify that statement, but oh well.
I don't care that I can't use it for shortwave
broadcasts or to copy the ham phone bands. I've got a
Sony portable that'll do that quite adequately, with
essential AM/FM coverage to boot.
Are you needing to carry that too? That is an additional
weight and more hardware to pack that is not required with
the KX1.
Specs that are important to me:
The KX1 is 1.4 x 5.8 x 3.0 and weighs 9 oz (excluding
options)
It has a current drain of 32 mA on receive and 300-700 mA
on transmit.
The K1 is 2.4 x 5.2 x 7.1 and weighs 1.4 lbs (excluding
options)
It has a current drain of 55 mA on receive and 700-900 mA
on transmit.
The KX1 runs on 6 AA batteries, and will output 1.5 to
2.0 watts.
The K1 runs on 8 AA batteries (with optional KBT1
installed) and will output 5 watts.
The KX1 comes with a small keyer that attaches directly to
the side of the KX1.
The K1 requires a separate keyer.
Don't get me wrong. I am not trying to tell you that the
K1 is in anyway a lesser radio than the KX1. In fact, I
own a KX1 and I am seriously considering purchasing a K1.
There ARE some situations where the K1 just would be a
better fit than the KX1.
What I am talking about here is the practicality taking a
ham radio hiking into the mountains. If I could carry it
and the necessary hardware, I would love to hike into the
woods with a K2 and a nice Buddipole. But being practical,
I see the sense in having the KX1 as my radio of choice
for backpacking, and thus the original statement...
the KX1 wins handsdown for backpacking...
Matt - K7OE
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