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| Reviews Summary for Elecraft model KX1 |
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Reviews: 10
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $279.00
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Description: Backpack / Emergency CW Tranceiver
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More info: http://www.elecraft.com
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You can
write your own review of the Elecraft model KX1.
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AE6CP
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 10, 2006 17:42
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Another awesome K-Rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I built one with the tuner, 30 meter option and paddles. It worked perfectly the first time and is amazingly small. I have one of those little yellow waterproof pelican cases and inside that I can fit the radio with lithium batteries, the paddles, laminated quick reference cards, a small notepad, pen, BNC to bannana adapter, a 41 foot piece of wire and a 16.5 foot piece of wire, a set of earbuds, a small pocket knife, a roll of fishing line and an aux power cord with power pole connector. The whole box is about 7"x4"x2.5". An entire station in a box!!!
Thanks again Elecraft!
-Larry AD5VM
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SM5JAB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 12, 2004 06:01
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Really /P for once
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Great kit, careful and clever physical as well as electrical design. Also easy to build. Took me three evenings. Worked first time. Over the months I have had two problems, both self-induced:
1. I didn't cut the excess wire lengths flush enough, so when the ATU was installed one of the toroidwires shorted against it. Stupid of me. Space is crammed so one really has to be meticulous when putting it together.
2. The 1N5711 diodes in the turned into resistors one night. I had stupidly left the antenna connected overnight. Apparently some static killed them in their sleep. It also shorted the bypass capacitor after the PA transistor.
On both occasions the support from Elecraft has been rapid as helpful. They really care for my kit!
I have used it /P with a vertical fishingpole antenna and have no trouble covering entire Europe with it. Some DX too but not too many. I use 2x7.2V NiMH-cells and get some 4 watts out.
Due to its small physical size and weight I can carry it everywhere. And use it with success. I also listen to BBC world service with it.
Get one!
/Micke
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NE1RD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 12, 2004 15:55
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Hot receiver, great kit
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Half the fun of Elecraft kits is in the building. Assembly time for the radio was approximately 12 hours including the 30m module and the optional paddles. I took my time and savored every minute. The instructions are crystal clear, well organized, and there are "sanity check" stops along the way to ensure what you've built to that point is OK. These small confidence building pauses are very helpful!
The other half of the fun is operating. I'm new to CW and made my first CW contact with the KX1 on my deck yesterday. I got back a great signal report and only on my QSL card did I mention it was with a 2watt radio and a random wire.
If you enjoy building kits and have done the "Pixie" and "RockMite" thing, try this rig. Building, and now using it, has been one of the most rewarding hamming experiences.
-- Scott (NE1RD)
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KI4DGH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 16, 2004 17:28
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Great Radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have tried other QRP kits that end up as paperweights. Previous kit builds were fun to build, but I really was on my own and they usually required test equipment that I did not have access to in order to make the radio perform to its potential. Everything from Elecraft was fantastic, the components, instruction book, CUSTOMER SUPPORT. I had a few minor problems; some of them were my fault because I got ahead of the instruction, one bad component that was overnighted to my house after a phone call. The features on this little rig are nothing short of incredible. I got all the options Automatic Antenna Tuner, 30 meter band module and after I tried it at a Hamfest the KXPD1 paddle. My brief Ham experience has been strictly straight key. I never thought I would be able to operate a key or much less a paddle from anywhere other than a table. The audio and filtering are great. My first QSO with the KX1 was my first time working a paddle (other than practice at the table) and in the back yard working a Buddipole with a ham 450 miles away. The filter let me cut down the QRM and maintain the contact for 35 minutes. Never mind that it is a kit this is a great radio.
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G4GTU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 16, 2004 06:18
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Go buy, go build & enjoy!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Sentiments below all echoed. As a veteran of Heath HW7/8/9 and more recently the K1, I couldn't wait to my paws on the KX1. It took me 22 hours in total to build (inc ATU/30m board) over three days which seems quite long compared to others, but I am perhaps overly pedantic (or maybe it's because I savour the build which is *fun*)! Instructions are exemplary and the few 'doh' moments were entirely my own fault. Top Tips: (1) Do read each complete section of the manual in advance, before soldering, to get a feel for what's coming up (2) Do use a fine (temp-controlled) soldering iron bit (3) Do use a magnifying glass to check your work - some areas are quite small to work in, and (4) Get your toroids pre-wound from Mychael (toroidguy) - trust me, it'll save you lots of time and effort and the prices are excellent. Alignment is straightforward too, especially using the Elecraft XG1 Sig Gen kit (9cm x 4cm, built in under an hour) which I cannot recommend highly enough. With 1uV/50uV outputs it makes signal peaking and s-meter calibration a total snap. The KXPD1 plug-in paddle is also really nice to use. Bascially, get all the bells and whistles for the rig from the get-go. Oh, and to round things off, download the MiniLog template from the Elecraft site (laminate if you want) and attach to the base of the rig for a built-in log as well! Brilliant.
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W0SZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 11, 2004 19:56
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vacation fun
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I recently traveled to Orlando, Fla. for vacation. I took the KX1, small power supply as well as batteries, a hunk of wire and the Elecraft keyer for the KX1. Everything I needed except pwr supply I carried in a small fanny pack. It was no problem carrying the rig through the airport. I was disappointed no one asked to look at it. I got to the hotel in Orlando; I was on the seventh floor. Fortunately there was a small window that I was able to open. I threw out the wire onto another roof below. I hooked up everything and I was in business. The KX1 tuned up on all 3 bands with good swr and I was able to make contacts on 40, 30 and 20 meters. Because of the DSS tuning I was able to call some ssb operators who were calling cq and was surprised when they came right back to me. The rig hears well and the added shortwave coverage and antenna tuner works very well. It was like have your own spy radio with you and a snap to transport. Even the xyl thought it was cute. I think this radio is one fun project that you can transport without any trouble and set up in a flash and spend some quality time on cw.
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K4BXN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 22, 2004 08:26
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5 thumbs up
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Another great kit from Elecraft. Goes together easily and makes an excellent little QRP rig for 20, 30 and 40 mtrs. With built in paddle and antenna tuner it makes a compact station for taking anywhere. Not quite a K2 but no slouch. What hamming is all about. 73/Crit/K4BXN
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KB9YVP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 21, 2004 22:44
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Another Home Run from Elecraft!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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What a neat little radio! The KX1, the 30m option, and the ATU all went together on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I had previously built the K2/100, K1, and all the available options, so you can surmise that I love to build radio kits. This was a very easy kit to build on the whole. The 30m option took me about a half hour to position correctly because I have trouble following directions and very beefy fingers - not an optimal combination. I can't tell you how much fun it is to operate a well-performing radio that you actually put together yourself. Most of my QSO's are with my small attic loop, but I tried the KX1 w/ my MP-1 and it works great as well. The ATU does a good job matching these two antennas as well as a 26' length of wire. I started doing some SWL'ing with the rig and wasn't dissapointed! I've been operating the rig exclusively on batteries with the built-in battery pack lasting me a whole weekend of intermittant operation. If you like QRP and a radio that doesn't compromise performance for portability, this radio really will knock your socks off.
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W2RBA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2004 12:32
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Great little radio!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Like the previous builder, I love kits -- and for many years had to go without the pleasure of building Heathkits, and longer for other manufacturers. But Elecraft to the rescue! I've built their prior offerings (K1 and K2) so how could I not try the KX1? It's what one comes to expect from those elegant crafters (or is it crafty?): well thought out, well appointed (the variable filter is really nice: narrow for CW and wide enough to allow listening to shortwave broadcasts or SSB QSOs as well), and amazingly compact. I've purchased the PAC-12 antenna kit and found myself outside for the odd contact... Add to this the best support in the business and a knowledgeable email reflector, well, you just can't fail. Hats off to Elecraft!
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W6LAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2003 23:40
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Fun to build-works great!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I love to build kits. I have built Elecraft's larger rig, the K-2 and love it. Now they offer a backpacking, self contained, less than a pound CW tranceiver covering 40, 30, and 20 meters. It has an autotuner and works well with 25 feet of tiny wire thrown into a tree and 16 foot "poise.
Ten times less power than would light a nightlight and it gets out well. I even climbed up a tree and then put up the antenna and got out.
I am 61 years old and it took this rig to get me up a tree. The K-2 is fantastic, the KX1 is too!
It is in a fanny pack and goes everywhere with me.
http://www.elecraft.com
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