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Reviews For: Elecraft KX1

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : Elecraft KX1
Reviews: 92MSRP: 279
Description:
A unique 3-band HF CW transceiver optimized for backbacking and lightweight travel; only 9 oz., 1.3"H x 5.2"W x 3"D. Includes DDS VFO, internal battery, optional internal automatic antenna tuner, plug-in keyer paddle. Covers entire 20/30/40m ham bands (30 m optional) plus SWL segments.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15924.8
W0SZ Rating: 2004-04-11
vacation fun Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
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.
NN1F Rating: 2004-02-19
WONDERFUL RIG Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered this rig even when thinking I may not be able to build this rig. I have several rigs sittig here unfinished because I messed them up. The day the rig came I opened the box and saw how small it was. Decided to inventory the contents to get me to jump in to building the kit. It took me about 2 weeks and I had a ball building it. Had a few problems, but support from Elecraft, Gary and Scott, really made my building this rig a pleasure. The rig has all the options in it (highly recommended). I made up a wire antenna over the weekend as suggested in the ATU manual and strung it up in the kitchen and ran it into the living room (XYL was not home) and stood at the counter to try the antenna. I did not think I would get much, but my first contact on 30 meters was with K4US in VA. Made a few other contact on the other bands and was very suprised. The ATU tuned up the rig from 1:1 to a high of 1.9:1 on 40 meters. I am getting about 3.5 watts out at 13.8 volts and about 2 watts out on the Lithium batteries. I really like the SWL feature on this rig. It did not take me long to figure out all of the functions as I also own a K2 and K1. The KX1 seems to be getting all the attention at the moment, but I would never sell the other rigs. I am taking the rig to FL this weekend and expect to make lots of contacts with it with just using the 28 foot wire. (and 16.5' counterpoise). I installed a mount in my car last weekend and now am using the KX1 in the car with a Mini Hamstick mounted on a License Plate antenna mount. The ATU got the SWR down to 1.2:1 on that also. I would urge anyone thinging about this rig to order it. It is not that hard to build and if you have any problems the tech service is wonderful.
Thanks Wayne and Eric for a great little rig, and to Gary and Scott for all your help when I messed up.
NO4D Rating: 2004-02-19
Loads of fun! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is by no means a technical review. I will leave that for those more qualified than me. I just simply want to let you know that building and operating the KX1 has been a blast! I own a TenTec Jupiter and a TenTec Argonaut V...both are great radios and are used. But, there is something about sitting in my recliner with my legs crossed, operating a rig built with my own hands! Furthermore, this neat little rig is running off of 6 internal AA batteries and is putting out about 1 watt.

It was a real thrill to use the KX1 in a couple of the recent fox hunts. In the last hunt I bagged both foxes (one in Michigan and one in Texas)running 1 watt from my recliner! The variable bandwidth and RF gain work great to reduce noise and adjacent signals. With one of the foxes I used the RIT for split operation...it was a snap.

I am really looking forward to this summers camping season. I will have the KX1 along with me for CW and ALSO SWL! Now, that is a deal...3 bands of CW plus a load of SWL frequencies to listen to. Just think, the KX1 in my lap, a glass of cold ice tea (Southern style/SWEETENED)at my side....all under the shade of a canopy of tress in a nice campground! Boy, I am ready to go...

Like I said, nothing technical to this article...just the ramblings of a very satisfied builder and user.
K4BXN Rating: 2004-01-22
5 thumbs up Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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
KB9YVP Rating: 2004-01-21
Another Home Run from Elecraft! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
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.
K2MMT Rating: 2004-01-18
Ths most fun since my AT-1 in 1954 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently completed building the KX-1 (with 30 meters and the tuner and paddle) and to my shock it worked right off! I am approaching my golden anniversary as a ham, and in these 49+ years I have built many homebrew rigs and kits, the last kit was 15+ years ago - maybe more. The Elecraft instructions are absolutely the easiest to follow as they don't miss a step. I built the Heath HW-7, 8 and 9 and that started my love of QRP in 1972, especially for portable operations. I enjoyed using those radios on vacations to the Caribbean as well as at motels on the beach in Long Island.

I don't remember ever having a radio work without problems - often needing to be sent back to Heath for them to bail me out.

I love the KX-1, and it has been bringing me so much fun using it. I compliment Elecraft's incredible team who I have been in contact with from time-to-time with questions. Each instance they (Ron, Gary and Scott) have been the best!! Never have I worked with any company that had such a wonderful team of people. Also it feels comforting speaking to people who are not in India.
The KX-1 is the best designed and most amazing rig ever. I was amazed at the way they designed the 3 boards, so that they all fit together like a glove! I had fears that I would never get everything to go together after all the warnings about keeping the components close to the board. But - there was not one problem.

And the way they designed the switching controls and menus make it as easy to use as a kids toy. I more often than not, get into trouble with the new radios and their stupid menus. Not the KX-1. I can now run thru them and do what ever I want to do, without using a manual. I hate manuals.

As my basement where the shack is, is very cold these days, I ran coax thru the floor into my HVAC duct in the dining room floor. With the tiny profile of the KX-1, my wife hasn't minded my pulling the coax out, and hooking it to the KX-1 on our dining room table. I have used it both with the internal AA's and now I am using a 4 AH NiMh 12 volt battery that has been lasting for almost a week of daily operation, and still pumping without a recharge.

Up until 5 years ago, I had a tower, beams, and KWs. Now we're in a condo and not permitted antennas. A friend of mine in Japan found a 9' long triband vertical for me. I put on our deck, and from outside it looks no different than neighbors closed umbrellas on their deck and terrace tables. I have had it there for a year, and not a complaint. Unfortunately it doesn't work well on 30 or 40, even with the AT, but on 20, I have been having fantastic results. I just finished an hour QSO with a station in Ashville NC on 20 and he gave me a 599, even when I went down to 1 watt. Our QSO went for 60 minutes without missing one dit or dah!!!

I can't reccomend a radio more than I can the KX-1, and when you have one, and use it's amazing built-in paddle, you will wonder how they did this with an entire transceiver, no bigger than most paddles or keyers. And it is everything in one teeney tiny box.

73 Peter K2MMT
W2RBA Rating: 2004-01-17
Great little radio! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
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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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2RBA on 2003-12-08

I can't add to the plaudits received by the KX-1 but this little radio is a real radio. Ok, maybe it's QRP, but that's good. I got the rig about a month ago (serial no. 0020) and eagerly put it together. Wayne, Eric, your manual couldn't be better and is nicely detailed for beginners! In addition, I ordered the antenna tuner (gads, it's small!), the 30 meter option (which works just great!) and the paddle kit. As a result, I have a rig to take on outings -- using just a simple wire antenna I worked a number of folks on all three bands. Furthermore, the extended receive on the shortwave bands is really neat and AM sounds quite good when tuned in precisely. In short, it's a perfect little radio!
WA3FAE Rating: 2004-01-13
Great radio, just as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm new to QRP. I'm also a rusty builder, having built a GLB synthesizer about 30+ years ago. My eyes and hands are considerably older but I found this Christmas present (KX1, KXB30, KXAT1) doable and a pleasant challenge. Download the manuals from their site before you buy to make sure you feel confident in building the kit(s), I did.

The manual is extremely well-written with a bit of "AI" included - they anticipated mistakes and helped prevent them. Leads left unsoldered and parts apparently done out of order are explained thoroughly, avoiding mistakes and difficult construction.

Their technique of testing as you build boosts confidence in arriving at a working radio at the end. I did not operate the radio other than listen at completion, moving on to assembling the KXB30 and KXAT1 kits.

After completing all 3 kits, I hooked the radio to 2 sections of RG-213 (125 feet total), an LDG RT-11 tuner and 33 feet of 450-ohm ladder line to a G5RV at 35 feet. Using internal batteries (~ .5 watt out), my first contact on 40M was near Denver, CO - 529 sig report.

The radio operation was obviously designed by an experience CW operator and is a pleasure to operate. I haven't had QSK since my Ten-Tec and it's a pleasure to have it again.

I was missing 1 capacitor in the tuner and received it promptly via US mail. I had 4 email exchanges on questions I had which were promptly and courteously answered. I'm very pleased with the radio and Elecraft.
AA3ZT Rating: 2004-01-11
Perfect Unit! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Compare with other QRP kits, the KX1 is a difficult kind. Separete from its circuit
understanding, instruction includes many component height restrictions and parts mounting work jump both side of board frequently. Especially, mount of KXB30, 30m-band module mounting is difficult point. Though this is an attractive kit, soldering skill to adjust component place less than 1mm is required to builder.
Final shape of kit is the perfect mobile CW unit. I have never seen like this.
You will need KXAT1 optional tuner to
readout power. Otherwise TX bar-graph will not appear to LED display.

During my work I experienced one faulty inductor, one missing capacitor and a CPU trouble. Two parts are found from my junk box and the CPU issue is solved by Elecraft Japanese dealer EDC(Electro-Design Co.).
They respond me promptly and quickly re-adjusted low-activity CPU clock crystal to wake them up.

As for SWL receiver, the KX1 is interesting too.
Monitoring SSB with wide filter is unique function. Only Sierra can do this before.
AM broadcast listening is possible too.
Tune stations by 1KHz step then zero-beat
by 10Hz step. You can enjoy music sounding
very nice. LM386 drives speaker loudly. Searching around weak AM stations are bit difficult.

AA3ZT/JL1KRA Junichi
W2XS Rating: 2003-12-22
A Fun Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I know - Another "5" out of "5" review. However, I have used several other QRP rigs over the years, such as the NC40A, OHR400, MFJ Cub (15m), SWL40, Argosy, Argonaut, and the HW8. All of them had their good and bad points (but mostly good). This is my first Elecraft product.

The bottom line is that the KX1 had a set of features that looked good to me: DDS VFO for stability, AF and RF gain controls to adjust for conditions, variable bandwidth for roaming around the band or rejecting QRM, internal tuner and batteries to make travelling easier, a healthy 4W output, 3 good QRP bands, and a relatively small receive current. Not to mention the tiny physical size. I told myself that I would like the KX1 if it worked as well as the NC40A on 40m. The rig holds its own even in crowded conditions. Plus, there are other features that I didn't think I would even care for, like the little LED for reading the log. I keep this turned on when I am at home and it lights up the desk nicely. And the variable tuning rate is very handy. Then there is the built in keyer, the menu system for control of all parameters, the low-power LED or morse frequency readout, the three memories per band, etc. etc.

My KX1 was expertly built by Bruce Prior, N7RR, who did a great job. I have found the Elecraft customer service to be first rate, and emails were answered by Wayne, Eric, and/or Gary very quickly. The email reflector provides a tremendous technical resource, so there is no feeling of being "alone" when a problem crops up. Someone else has probably had the same issue, and there may be a solution already posted.

I still haven't gotten used to listeneing to a shortwave station by zero-beating the carrier, but the DDS VFO provides the stability needed to keep the sation tuned in. I guess I'll hold onto the Hallicrafters SX-100 and its 12-inch speaker for a while longer.

One last comment. I have made several QSOs with a 42-foot piece of wire hooked up to the BNC adaptor. One was at work with the antenna a few feet off the ground on top of some tables and finally tied to a cabinet door handle. I received a 579 which peaked to 589 from a station about 300 miles away. The other notable QSOs were made during the CQ WW on 20m. I had the KX1 on the dining room table with the wire leading into the kitchen, over the top of a door, out to the deck, and tied to a deck chair. I worked a bunch of EU stations in the test while on battery power. They all gave me 5NN, even if I had to repeat something. (hi hi).