[Elecraft] K1 praise
This is probably off topic, seeing as how most topics are now K3 or KX3. Still, just had to praise my K1... Again, this Saturday morning, turned K1-4 s/n 2258 to 15M and started working EU with 4 watts to a center-fed doublet. In about 15 minutes, Croatia, England, and Russia. If this weekend is anything like last, will likely work 10 other countries or more. I built this rig several years ago, including the internal tuner to use for parkbench portable. Since completion, I can't imagine how many QSOs have made with this little rig. I am always amazed to answer a CQ using less than 5 watts and receive a response from someone thousands of miles away. I own a number of other QRP rigs, including a K2, but the little K1's simplicity and capability always draw me to use it on the weekends. 72, KB5JO __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
I do not think the K1 is at all off topic. I am using two K3s here but having seen the wee K1 at Dayton am now fascinated by it and playing around with the idea of purchasing one new or used. I would be very interested in hearing how the receiver is and how stable the VFO is or is it Xtal controlled. It is so small that it seems amazing that one can do so much with it. Perhaps the K3, KX3, P3 and KPA 500 have left the wee K1 in the shade for too long. I might use it with a large Yagi and this would be cheating but the K1 pulls at the heart if it has any type of performance at all and being from the Elecraft stable it must be reasonably good. Perhaps I need to do a web search for reviews but this forum is not a bad place for seeking comment on Elecraft product. I find myself working more K3 users all the time. 73 Doug EI2CN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of rhule...@comcast.net Sent: 27 August 2011 15:35 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K1 praise This is probably off topic, seeing as how most topics are now K3 or KX3. Still, just had to praise my K1... Again, this Saturday morning, turned K1-4 s/n 2258 to 15M and started working EU with 4 watts to a center-fed doublet. In about 15 minutes, Croatia, England, and Russia. If this weekend is anything like last, will likely work 10 other countries or more. I built this rig several years ago, including the internal tuner to use for parkbench portable. Since completion, I can't imagine how many QSOs have made with this little rig. I am always amazed to answer a CQ using less than 5 watts and receive a response from someone thousands of miles away. I own a number of other QRP rigs, including a K2, but the little K1's simplicity and capability always draw me to use it on the weekends. 72, KB5JO __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
Doug, I think you would be happy with the K1. I am using K1 number 583 which I built and have completed DXCC on 40 meters with a vertical antenna. Originally the K1 was two bands only but I bought the four band board when it was released. The only other addition was the noise blanker which has stopped working. I have another noise blanker board ready to go in soon. I did all of the updates and modifications without any problems. My K1 is stable and very reliable. I did replace the main tuning (10 turn pot) with a higher grade product with a metal shaft. I'm glad I did that, the old pot with the plastic shaft was shaky and the frequency would jump if not careful. The new pot makes the radio seem very solid. I have used the K1 on 40, 30, 17 and some 20 meters. I have QSLs from a lot of DX worked. My favorite was to work other QRPers on 40. 40 has changed a lot for QRP stations and they are no longer in one area. It was fun to listen around 7040 as there was a lot of activity. One late night, I heard a lot of EU QRP stations working 7030. I called for quite some time but never got an answer, which shows the receiver works pretty well. True, the K1 has taken a back seat to other Elecraft radios, a fact I do not understand. I have truly enjoyed my K1, the building and many hours operating. I have stalked DX and worked contests with success. As a more than casual user, I can recommend the K1 to someone that wants to relive the thrill of ham radio. 73, Mike AC4UR __ 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
[Elecraft] K1 Praise
KB5JO's comments about his K1 are certainly relevant in my view. This little gem of a rig doesn't get all that much attention these days, but it is still deserving of such. I still have my K1, a fairly early one, and I must admit that, at first, I wasn't as happy with it as I thought I would be. That was mainly because I had to switch boards in order to gain access to more than just two bands. Later, though, Elecraft solved this by adding a 4 band board--I just wish they had offered it that way from the start. The K1 is a very competent little radio, and a lot of fun to operate. It's small enough to be very portable, but not necessarily a prime favorite of the backpacking crowd. Mine has the built in ATU, and combined with the BL-2, it will work with just about anything you might want to use for an antenna. You get a solid 5 watts, and then some, and minimal battery consumption. For several years, before I retired, I spent a lot of lunch hours operating from nearby parks. I also used it on several Field Day events. Everything I needed fit easily into a relatively small briefcase--the K1, an MP-1 antenna system, some feedline, paddle, and power. I usually managed a QSO or two, even on 40 meters at mid-day, and was rarely skunked. The new KX3 may be viewed as a replacement for the K1, if not the K2 and KX1, but I think there are plenty of good reasons for keeping a K1 around. For one thing, it's a darned good back-up radio even if you do have something better. I doubt the KX3 will be as battery friendly as the K1. Maybe most importantly, it's a radio you can really build yourself, and if you get one that is used, you can still probably service it yourself. That has to count for a lot, at least to some of us. I take great pride in being a K3 owner. However, to be honest with you, I take greater pride in the fact that I built a K1, K2, and KX1 that work! The first transmitter I had was homebrew from the chassis up (with a lot of help from my Elmers). A couple of Heathkits followed, but then there was a hiatus for nearly 35 years when I didn't build much of anything. Then a couple of NorCal rigs came along (Wayne's designs), and a lot of the fun I had been missing returned. A number of other rigs followed (too many probably), and now I have a couple of shelves filled with rigs I constructed. Each one represents a very gratifying experience, and I can re-appreciate much of it each time I pull one of those rigs down and hook it up. Anyway, I prefer to think of the K1 as a mature radio, meaning it has been around a while, has been superceded in many respects by later designs, but still has a lot of good life to go. Again, it is a very competent little radio, and shouldn't be dismissed from consideration. For many of you it may be just what you need, and maybe all that you need--at least for certain situations. Dave W7AQK === Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.18200) http://www.pctools.com/ === __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
The K1 (and KX1) definietely have not taken a back seat to our other radios. :-) Even the K2 is still selling well after the introduction of the K3. We are still selling a good number of these each month. These are unique and timeless designs that have a lot of appeal. 73, Eric WA6HHQ www.elecraft.com _..._ On Aug 27, 2011, at 10:15 AM, Michael Byrd mbyr...@tampabay.rr.com wrote: Doug, I think you would be happy with the K1. I am using K1 number 583 which I built and have completed DXCC on 40 meters with a vertical antenna. Originally the K1 was two bands only but I bought the four band board when it was released. The only other addition was the noise blanker which has stopped working. I have another noise blanker board ready to go in soon. I did all of the updates and modifications without any problems. My K1 is stable and very reliable. I did replace the main tuning (10 turn pot) with a higher grade product with a metal shaft. I'm glad I did that, the old pot with the plastic shaft was shaky and the frequency would jump if not careful. The new pot makes the radio seem very solid. I have used the K1 on 40, 30, 17 and some 20 meters. I have QSLs from a lot of DX worked. My favorite was to work other QRPers on 40. 40 has changed a lot for QRP stations and they are no longer in one area. It was fun to listen around 7040 as there was a lot of activity. One late night, I heard a lot of EU QRP stations working 7030. I called for quite some time but never got an answer, which shows the receiver works pretty well. True, the K1 has taken a back seat to other Elecraft radios, a fact I do not understand. I have truly enjoyed my K1, the building and many hours operating. I have stalked DX and worked contests with success. As a more than casual user, I can recommend the K1 to someone that wants to relive the thrill of ham radio. 73, Mike AC4UR __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
Eric, You're selling them because I am buying them. I have the K3, P3, KX1 and a few of the min-kit things. My next is the K1 and then the KX3 if it is out by then. Oh, I plan on the KPA500 this Fall sometime so make sure you make one extra kit for me and the KAT500 of course when it is available. I will be done buying when I run out of money or when you guys quit the business -- whichever comes first. Keep up the good work. Oh, I plan on the K2 but probably after I retire as it is a bigger project. Maybe I should buy that now? 73, phil, k7PEH On Aug 27, 2011, at 10:38 AM, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: The K1 (and KX1) definietely have not taken a back seat to our other radios. :-) Even the K2 is still selling well after the introduction of the K3. We are still selling a good number of these each month. These are unique and timeless designs that have a lot of appeal. 73, Eric WA6HHQ www.elecraft.com _..._ On Aug 27, 2011, at 10:15 AM, Michael Byrd mbyr...@tampabay.rr.com wrote: Doug, I think you would be happy with the K1. I am using K1 number 583 which I built and have completed DXCC on 40 meters with a vertical antenna. Originally the K1 was two bands only but I bought the four band board when it was released. The only other addition was the noise blanker which has stopped working. I have another noise blanker board ready to go in soon. I did all of the updates and modifications without any problems. My K1 is stable and very reliable. I did replace the main tuning (10 turn pot) with a higher grade product with a metal shaft. I'm glad I did that, the old pot with the plastic shaft was shaky and the frequency would jump if not careful. The new pot makes the radio seem very solid. I have used the K1 on 40, 30, 17 and some 20 meters. I have QSLs from a lot of DX worked. My favorite was to work other QRPers on 40. 40 has changed a lot for QRP stations and they are no longer in one area. It was fun to listen around 7040 as there was a lot of activity. One late night, I heard a lot of EU QRP stations working 7030. I called for quite some time but never got an answer, which shows the receiver works pretty well. True, the K1 has taken a back seat to other Elecraft radios, a fact I do not understand. I have truly enjoyed my K1, the building and many hours operating. I have stalked DX and worked contests with success. As a more than casual user, I can recommend the K1 to someone that wants to relive the thrill of ham radio. 73, Mike AC4UR __ 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 __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
On 8/27/2011 10:57 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: My next is the K1 and then the KX3 if it is out by then. I built, in order: K2, KX1, K3, KPA500. I use my K2 on field events such as SOTA activations and QRP contests. Earlier this year [on Field Day], Rich NU6T and I activated SOTA W6/SN-039 [9,500 ft Leviathan Peak]. I had my K2, Rich his K1. After awhile, I said, Let's trade radios, I've never used a K1. I was truly amazed, that is a really, really cool little radio, and about half the weight of my K2. I suspect under lab conditions, my K2 RX will outperform the K1 a little bit, I noticed on very strong signals [well over S9] the K1 pulled a little in frequency, but it really impressed me. It's on my list to buy, not at the top, but when I win the lottery, I'll buy them all. 73, Fred K6DGW Auburn CA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
Hear Hear! I love my K1! It has the seat of honor in the top pouch of my backpack and is my travel rig of choice! The K3 is the centerpiece of the shack, and the K2 lives in the bedroom when not contesting in the field. If I lost my K1, I'd buy and build another in a heart beat! On Sat, 27 Aug 2011, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: We are still selling a good number of these each month. These are unique and timeless designs that have a lot of appeal. __ 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
[Elecraft] K1 praise
My eleven-year-old K1 SN 175 is still my favorite QRP rig, including service as a backpack rig. For anyone considering the purchase of a new K1, there is one absolutely most-important decision to make: Order the LCD backlight! Even better would be for Elecraft to raise the K1 price a little and make the backlight standard. Trust me... you don't want to have to go through the backlight backfit process after the K1 is built...no fun at all! I waited years after the backlight was available, and I never guessed how useful it is and how little additional power it requires. Second most important decision: Get the four-band board. It has better RF filtering than the two-band board, plus twice the bands, of course. I hope to have a KX3 someday, but nothing would ever make me get rid of my K1 except the eternal dirt nap. :-) [That would make a great advertising quote from a satisfied customer.] Mike / KK5F __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
You can take my K1 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers! 73, Rick Dettinger K7MW I hope to have a KX3 someday, but nothing would ever make me get rid of my K1 except the eternal dirt nap. :-) [That would make a great advertising quote from a satisfied customer.] Mike / KK5F __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
Rick Dettinger wrote: You can take my K1 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers! Since 'Men In Black', we have to be more careful about that line: -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
My XYL has been instructed to place my K1 in the box with me. Some time back, I made a video comparing the same signal from the same antenna as heard on all four of my Elecraft products. It was just a casual video. Nothing technical. I've gotten a surprising number of hits. It's a nine minute video but you only need to view the first 1:13 to appreciate the K1's competitive spirit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv_tGEKD0ds 73, Stan WB2LQF KX1 #2411K1#2994K2# 6980K3#5244 K9 #1 (Cocoa the Chihuahua) Everything is QRP, even the dog. On Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote: You can take my K1 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers! __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
Phil, I am semi-retired, used to be fully back in 2001, pre-911. I totally agree with your sentiments. I have built the K2 and all add0ns but the amp. I built the Kx1 and all add-ons. I have owned the K1 and all add-ons. I have several smaller kits, including the W1 and W2 watt meters. All I can say, none have disappointed me. It comes down to build, use, sell, build, use, sell. Etc. Now on to the KX3! 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- Eric, You're selling them because I am buying them. I have the K3, P3, KX1 and a few of the min-kit things. My next is the K1 and then the KX3 if it is out by then. Oh, I plan on the KPA500 this Fall sometime so make sure you make one extra kit for me and the KAT500 of course when it is available. I will be done buying when I run out of money or when you guys quit the business -- whichever comes first. Keep up the good work. Oh, I plan on the K2 but probably after I retire as it is a bigger project. Maybe I should buy that now? 73, phil, k7PEH __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 praise
All my equipment is supposed to go to the grave with me. I have suggested she sell it. No... she is even suggesting selling the wire for scrap! :-) 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- My XYL has been instructed to place my K1 in the box with me. On Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote: You can take my K1 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers! __ 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
