Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Cooler KX TM Heatsink by VE7FMN for Elecraft KX3

Category: QRP Accessories

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Cooler KX TM Heatsink by VE7FMN for Elecraft KX3
Reviews: 75MSRP: Model dependant
Description:
These hand crafted replacement heatsinks are designed to allow full power use of the KX3. High duty cycle users including digital operators will benefit from reduced incidents of transmitter power roll back due to overheating. Additionally the heatsinks can contribute to overall longer service life from their radios due to reduced internal operating temperatures. Available in two models and in two finishes. Complete information is available on the website.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ve7fmn.ca
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00755
K2JB Rating: 2015-04-27
Great Product for the KX3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Elecraft hit a home run with the KX3 with the exception of its heat dissipation capacity. However, the Cooler KX Plus is THE answer to that one issue. Fred, VE7FMN, has a great product. He is 100% spot on in his communication, order confirmation and shipping. Once I made the transaction, he informed me every step of the way. I received it, installed it in and it fits and works perfectly. Fred says what he does and does what he says. All KX3 owners need this product!
Dean ~ K2JB
VE2AKS Rating: 2015-04-16
Great addition to this little radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered mine and received it three days later at the door. Mounted in less than ten minutes without any problem and here we go!

The important part is to take the time to care about not damaging the holes threading... Especially do not jump over the step where you check the mounting holes with the black screw. This latter is identical to the original ones provided by Elecraft, so it it fits the rest should go like a charm... if you try with the stainless screws first (and worse using the wrench) to save some time you can be stuck with a damaged case! Fred is also extremely helpful to make your installation a complete success, the mounting instructions are also very clear.

I am impatient to see the summer and how well it performs outside in the field while transmitting on HF bands. First tests with a dummy load made, it is very promising especially for my PSK operations! Definitely a big improvement on the stock heatsink. I warmly recommend this upgrade,not cheap but quality comes at a price.

My only problem now is to adapt the foam of my KX3 transport case ;-)
M0IAH Rating: 2015-04-16
Cooler KX Plus(TM) Black Power Coat couldn’t be happier. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Thanks Fred VE7FMN for a great product and to quote a phrase used in and advert in the UK, “it does what it say on the tin”. Communication with Fred VE7FMN is first class every step of the way.
Easy to attach and only took 30mins from start to finish and that included walking out to the shack and unlocking the door, you’ll need the small tap to gently tap out the thread for the new screws, by hand and with very little pressure. Fred has even made a video on you tube to demonstrate how easy it is to do.
Now my beloved KX3 looks dressed for the part and no longer over heats when in use in digital modes, as someone has already said “a must have accessory”.
73 Ian m0iah
DF1HX Rating: 2015-04-16
5 Star rating! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great product, great support and service. A little pricey though but worth every penny!
Attaching to radio is "a breeze" due to detailed instructions by vendor and all parts (tools, screws,..) included.
A "must have" for all modes with "continuous carrier", i.e. AM, FM, RTTY and other digital modes.
73, Thomas
IW2CZG Rating: 2015-03-30
An absolute must. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As soon as I got my Elecraft KX3 I felt in love with this nice rig, and as it should be ... it soon become to be a very HOT passion, in particular when I am involved in nights of passion with PSK31.

Ok, serious now ... as a fanatic of PSK31, I was quite disappointed that even running the KX3 at the recommended power for this mode (5 W) it was getting too hot too soon. Nothing strange if you consider how tiny is the original heatsink from Elecraft.
Things went a little better with the new heatsink from Elecraft. Thicker and with a fold that helps dissipating the heat. But it was not enough ... still I was desiring a real heatsink ...

So I've checked the web and I found the one Fred is manufacturing in Canada. I started with him a nice conversation via email and I should say he's very quick and collaborative.
Then I ordered the Cooler KX PLUS and two weeks later I got it here in Europe.

Well ... it's definitely not a cheap upgrade (at the moment the exchange rate is killing me) but for my 1300 USD toy I was really looking for the best ... and I got it.

Beautifully crafted, with the VE7FMN callsign engraved on the interior part, it comes very well wrapped together with all the hardware necessary for the installation.
"The work" took just few minutes and it was easy as a drink a glass of water.

After that I started a PSK31 session and I immediately noticed the benefit of having a real heatsink. At 5-6 Watts, the KX3 was just a little warm.
Then, with a room temperature of 21 °C I connected the dummy load and keyed down the KX3 at full power. I never had power reduction and the Cooler KX3 PLUS just got warm.

PROS:
- Effective
- Nice to see, it matches perfectly the design of the KX3
- Very well crafted. Top quality-
- Easy to install

CONS:
- Little bit expensive (partially due to the exchange rate)

The final worlds:
I'm very happy to have installed it onto my KX3. It's as nice to see as effective.
Thanks Fred for your cooler; it has been very nice and easy to deal with you.
OE1MWW Rating: 2015-03-17
you may need it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In April 2014 I was on holiday QRP as S79WK on the Seychelles. See QRZ.com S79WK. Sunspots been up to 260 - what a pity ;-) and I was in my self created pile up in SSB for several hours. Started relaxed in front of the bungalow. Well, it was holiday QRP! No way, the KX3 ran hot very soon. Had to unplug and move into the air conditioned inside. Next day I stayed all time inside, with my barefoot ( = no cooler) KX3.

After my return home I found Fred's web page, ordered the cooler and mounted it with absolutely no problems at all.

The Seychelles are not 'around the corner' to check the difference. But in august 2014 we had our yearly field day. I left the KX3 more or less all the time on a little camping table in the sun. The little umbrella on top had to be adjusted from time to time to give a little bit of shadow. Worked SSB and PSK31 in the sun. Confess, most of the time the stored message buffer called CQ in SSB or in PSK31 - well that's field day! But even with this more or less permanent TX/RX cycles Fred's cooler gave me exactly what I wanted - a cool KX3. Never any high temp indication on the KX3.
I think this is a 'must have' item.


----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by OE1MWW on 2014-05-09

Been on the Seychelles as S79WK for 3 weeks. See http://www.voxcom.at/S79WK/
Used my KX3 sometimes outside of the bungalow. But in 30°C (86°F) with full 10 watts - and using the Voice Recorder to call CQ many times, the KX3 gave me a temperature warning.
We had internet access in the hotel lobby, in a blog I found Fred's heat sink solution and immediately ordered one from far away in the S7 land ;-)

I returned home in time, but due to customs control to Austria, it took a few days extra for the package to arrive. I removed the original black plate from the KX3 and replaced it with the heatsink. Unfortunately, back home I could not 'simulate' the 30°C outside (told my XYL I have to return to the Seychelles to check this out!) so I hooked up a dummy load to the KX3 and let the KX3 call CQ for a while with the recorder loop. What a difference! The heatsink keeps the KX3 in moderate cool condition - no more temperature warnings.
GM4JJJ Rating: 2015-02-06
Just what was needed Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The appearance and function are exactly what I wanted. It works very well indeed, now no problem in transmitting 100% duty cycle modes like JT65. Matches the radio very well and does not cause any problem with the cover used with the side panels. It was a pleasure dealing with VE7FMN. I have not seen a bad review by anyone which says a lot.
G4NRT Rating: 2015-01-17
Delighted! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really could not be happier! Fred's pre-sales support was second to none in ensuring that I bought exactly what I needed.

Shipping to the UK was very fast and my heatsink was very, very well packaged.

The actual installation was far easier than I expected and the new heatsink looks and operates perfectly. I had a post-sales question for Fred (my fault, I mixed up some nuts) which he answered within the same day (with an 8hr time difference).

There were no issues whatever with my Gems SideKX handles.

I believe that this is by far the best heatsink solution available anywhere today!
VE3OP Rating: 2015-01-03
Very Well Done! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just received and installed this Cooler KX by VE7FMN. Everything - including the product itself, the parts, the instructions, and the support is first rate. Boy does Fred think of EVERYTHING!
I highly recommend you buy the reaming tool as well.

I took my time following the excellent instructions and installed the heat sink in about 1 hour. That including carefully 'chasing' the two side PEM nuts.

I looks great and I now have no issues running 'hotter' modes such as JT65.

There are some wonderful small business hams out there hawking some excellent, unique products. Fred is definitely one of them.

If you have an Elecraft KX3, then this product is a MUST!


KH6OO Rating: 2014-12-29
Perfect Addition Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Perfect addition to my KX3 and the installation went without a flaw. Delivery to Hawaii was faster than most U.S. delivery’s,,,,,only 3 days!! Took only a few minutes to install with instructions and then to the test. Full key down for JT65 and kept cool for an hour of operation. Really a great product and addition to my digital station. Thanks Fred!