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Reviews For: QRPworks SideKar for Elecraft KX2, KX3, K3, K3S, and others

Category: QRP Accessories

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Review Summary For : QRPworks SideKar for Elecraft KX2, KX3, K3, K3S, and others
Reviews: 12MSRP: 259.00
Description:
• Mounts on the side of the KX3, the top of the KX2 , or sits on a desk with
supplied brackets
• View decoded text in CW, RTTY, & PSK modes
• Send CW, RTTY or PSK using the keyboard or paddle
• Built-in logger for 1,000 QSOs with ADIF export
• Uses USB keyboard (wireless/wired) or paddle for data entry functions
• Send, create & edit 20 messages/macros
• Sunlight readable
• Only 5.6 oz (159g) and attaches to the KX2 or KX3 in seconds
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.qrpworks.com/sidekar.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00125
KD8UER Rating: 2021-01-02
Two Thumbs Up Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My current call is K8MH, I use this mainly when activating POTA/WWFF. I have both the SideKar and the SideKar Extreme. Both work great, support from SHEL is outstanding and very responsive. The Extreme has a nice feature that it can be used to key almost any transceiver. Having the option of wireless or USB keyboard sure is handy. The only issue I have had is a power cord I made had a power connector that wasnt a long enough nose to make connection with the ground side. Shel was excellent in assisting in debugging the issue. It would be great if this product were enhanced to decode the CW rather than parasitically monitor and display the morse.
M0AZE Rating: 2020-07-12
Does exactly what it says Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Only had Sidecar extreme for a few days, I must confess my CW is not as great as it should be and was one of the main reasons for purchasing. It's brilliant, compliments the KX3 well and more or less installs itself. I also purchased the full size wireless keyboard as at my age I need all the help I can get. I now have the option to send CW via the keyboard or by hand. It gives my confidence a boost knowing that when Tx and Rx I can immediately see if I've miss sent something etc. I am thrilled and its another great excuse to get out there into open spaces. Feel like a kid with a new toy :-) After sales - second to none.
VE3HG Rating: 2019-10-18
QRP must have for KX-2/3 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I actually successfully upgraded my QRPworks Sidecar Plus by flashing the firmware thanks to the email instructions from the QRPworks's guys. I was very hesitant to do this getting the needed files from a DropBox link but everything worked the first time. This doesn't happen to me all that much LOL. I use my KX-2 for QRP contesting and the SideKar Plus which allows me to use a small wireless keyboard with function keys makes this really easy. This is a terrific addition to my station and I highly recommend it.
AE7YD Rating: 2018-12-16
great tool! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it together with the mini wireless keyboard to use with my KX2.
It is rock solid and the customer support is outstanding, Shel replies
very quickly. There was no problem with the unit, but there are so
many features that I overlooked in the manual that there is a
feature to change the backlight level. Alt'B'
N0GQ Rating: 2018-08-03
It just works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is the perfect product. It does exactly what it claims to do in the simplest and most elegant way possible. I use mine with my KX2, and it's a joy to use. Makes operating portable PSK (and CW and RTTY, for that matter) a breeze. Yes, you can do almost the same with the paddles, but the addition of macros and logging totally changes the game for use while hiking. Tiny, fits easily in my Lowepro CS80 radio bag with the rest of my radio gear. Bought it directly from Shel at the Seaside hamfest, and would happily buy one again if I ever lost this one. Great product.
K7ORG Rating: 2018-02-20
QRP Side Kar Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This little addition to my KX3 works exactly as described! Besides making my life that much easier, the customer service is outstanding! I inadvertently lost the shoulder screw that attached the Side Kar to my KX3 while on a portable expedition. I notified Shel and he had a replacement in the mail the next day. Great product and customer service!
AK4QK Rating: 2017-04-21
Great produxt and great customer service too! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great accessory for the KX2 and KX3. Currently installed on my KX2. Set up was easy and quick. Five to ten minutes and you're up and running. Getting the wireless keyboard running was a snap too. Just a fun little accessory to get more funcationalilty out of your rig. I need to mention customer service. I sent them an email and they quickly responded to my question.Excellent! If you're considering buying one, don't wait. Well worth the investment.
W3DX Rating: 2017-02-16
Great accessory for my KX2! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased a SideKar for my KX2, and really like it. It's a great companion to the radio, and it's like putting the KX2 into overdrive. I principally use the KX2 for SOTA, and for taking my KX2 out to a park and logging contacts with home-made antennas. The SideKar gives me a wireless keyboard to send text, provides many more memory functions with a calsign wildcard, and enables me to log contacts (again with a callsign wildcard) and download log files to my computer. I chose the SideKar over the KBoard product because it has a text display and offers the logging function, and only weighs another 2 ounces. The SideKar is small, light, easy and intuitive to use, and is very well made. It comes with two free Windows utilities, a memory manager and a log file manager.
VA7BC Rating: 2016-09-21
Rugged American Quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my SideKar when they first came out for the KX3. It was an excellent performer then and still is. Although I have a PX3, I much prefer the screen on the SideKar for following a digimode QSO. Screen lettering is the right size and has good contrast. Now that I have a KX2, I am happy to see that QRPworks now offers a small kit to allow the SideKar to fit the KX2. And fit it does....perfect. So needless to say I'm happy with the product over the years and nice to see its evolution and product support for the Gen 1 unit persisting. And free firmware updates from QRPworks as well. Can't say anything negative about the product, its quality build, function and product support. And from a North American company. Sweet.
K5TGS Rating: 2016-09-21
Very Nice Idea! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am rather new to CW, so I was looking for some help in the copy and sending side of morse code. The Sidekar has done it for me!
But, before I move on I need to comment on two aspects of this company. First, the product quality is what I call, top drawer. The Sidekar is a solid product, with very nice build quality, it just seems top quality when you are using it. Secondly, the customer service is also tops. I have contacted them numerous times, with basic questions, and they always respond quickly and have an answer to help me out.
Now, the product. For me I can send my CW code with low power, into a dummy load, and se how accurate I am with my key. I prefer their display over the KX line of Elecraft because it is larger and displays more characters. their design also permits one to use a keyboard if they wish, or if there is a handicap that prohibits an operator from hand operation.
This is my first review, and I am very happy I made this purchase. As I learn more, and there is much more this device is capable of, I will post again.
If you purchase the Sidekar I think you will be very pleased.