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Reviews For: Elecraft K1

Category: QRP Radios (5 watts or less)

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Review Summary For : Elecraft K1
Reviews: 139MSRP: 279
Description:
4-band QRP CW kit
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com/K1/K1.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001394.9
4X1BD Rating: 2001-01-17
Great CW QRP rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After having built a K2 rig about half a year ago, the K1 went together in a breeze. I have decided to keep the K2 as my main ham shack rig and will add the 100 watt amplifier when it becomes available. I now use the K1 for stationary mobile operation, using a power cord from the cigar lighter socket to power the rig. It uses a mere 54 milliwatts on receive and about 720 milliamps on transmit for 5 watts output.
This week I operated the K1 from the parking lot of the Ein Gedi Spa at the Dead Sea (the lowest QTH on earth) on 15 meters with a helical wound mobile whip and have had no problems working stations in Europe.
K4IA Rating: 2001-01-16
Very Nice - Get One! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Completed K1 #470 without any serious hitches. What a wonderful kit! I am almost sorry to have finished. I can't say enough good things about it.

From the time I opened the box and saw that beautiful manual, I knew I was in for a treat. The kit and finished rig did not disappoint. It is sharp, sharp, sharp.

This is no toy. The receiver is hot and stable with AGC, RIT and selectable XTAL filters down to 250hz. The transmitter has variable output power, XIT, built-in keyer with 2 messages and instant QSK. The completed product does not even look like a kit.

I am not an experienced kit builder (recently: a simple keyer and a Ten Tec 1030 - many years before that: Heathkits) but with a little attention to detail and some patience, this one went together very easily. I forgot to install three capacitors (late night mistake) but it was pretty easy to find and fix. Other than that, not a single problem. Every part was there and every one of them made it to the right place. Tune up was easy. My first QSO was a 1000 mile per watt 579 from Bosnia on 40 meters with a Zepp antenna.

If you are thinking about getting a K1 - stop thinking and do it!
M0CQG Rating: 2001-01-08
Nicest QRP rig of them all! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just finished building my K1 a couple of days ago, what a throughly enjoyable experience. The kit is first rate - excellent quality components and cabinet (the way the case fits together is ingenious) and superb documentation. It went together without a single hitch, and performs to spec. The receiver is very sensitive and the programmable filters are excellent. I chose the 40m and 20m bands as I figured this would give me "round the clock" operation. On 40m I'm getting 7 watts out, and on 20m around 6.5 watts. As I never run more than 3 watts or so QRP, this is more than ample.

I do have one or two very minor criticisms:

- the AF Gain and RIT pots feel a little flimsy
- stability is excellent, but still not quite as good as my DSW-30 from Dave Benson
- a detent for the RIT control would be nice

These are minor concerns for me and don't detract at all from what is undeniably the nicest little QRP rig I've played with. I'm smitten - well done to Wayne & Eric at Elecraft!
K5ROV Rating: 2001-01-05
Best QRP rig yet! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
In 60 years of hamming and building I have built a lot of QRP/QRO rigs. Never have I built a rig that has given me such pleasure. The directions are easy to follow, and everything worked the first time. Even with my old eyes (used a lighted magnifying glass) and my shaky hands I managed to put it togethr with no problems. The only problem I had was that Elecraft shipped me two wrong toroids, and I had one shorted capacitor. No problem! Elecraft came right to my rescue. I would recommend this rig to a new builder but I suggest studying the manual and carefully follow directions exactly as stated. Get a good lighted magnifying glass and a good low wattage soldering iron. Then, read the manual again! And don't be afraid to ask questions of Elecraft. A better way to get answers is to get on the Elecraft reflector and pick the brains of some great experts! Oh, the reports I have received have been outstanding, and the receiver is one of the best, considering its size, price and simplicity.
K1KID Rating: 2000-12-20
WOW, what a rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just finished building the K1 2 days ago. My first impressions are WOW, what a rig!!!!!. Reciever is quiet, sharp selectivity, and HOT. The "fit and finish " is outstanding. The manual is very complete and well written. I had a couple of minor problems (my fault) and found tech support to be as good as it gets. VERY fast and knowledgable response to problems on E Mail. This is a fantastic QRP rig and a GREAT company to do business with. They don't forget who you are after they get your money. If your eyes are over 40 years old though I would recommend getting some magnifier lenses before building it.The ID numbers on the parts are very small.
N3WT Rating: 2000-12-03
One very sweet rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Excellent QRP rig with a very hot receiver. Went together without a problem. However, be sure to check the full inventory before starting as I was missing a few items, but Elecraft got them all to me within 3 days before I needed them. I prefer using this rig over my Icom IC-756! The QSK is smooth, with excellent keying note reports. By the way, my ten turn pot does not squeek.
DK3IP Rating: 2000-11-24
Fun to build - even more fun to operate! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The kit went together nicely, without any problems (building took me about 13 hours). If you follow the step-by step-instructions, it should be no problem to get the kit working.
Operating is a blast! Clear audio, nice filters (down to 200 Hz), everything you need and would expect from a larger rig (I love the spot function!). I worked TS7N on 40 m through quite some pileup a few days ago.
I can recommend this kit to anyone looking for a weekend project or truly portable equipment - you´ll get what you expect!
WA7SPY Rating: 2000-11-16
Excellent Rig Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Elecraft K1 is a great little dual band cw rig in a small package. It went together with out any problems. The support from Elecraft is outstanding along with the available help from the reflector via e-mail. The manual is very clear with excellent direction and pictures. It took me about 15 hours to put this kit together. The receiver is hot. Having three selectable and adjustable filters is a nice touch. The menu scheme is easy to use and is very logical. It is a blast to operate on the air. It is great to have the option of deciding what two bands to select when purchasing this kit. I selected 40 and 20 meters. It will be a super package when the automatic antenna tuner comes out in the next month or two.
W7BWT Rating: 2000-11-03
Great little radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just completed building mine, serial number 57. The kit went together like a dream. The receiver is about what I'd expect for a $1500 commercial radio, not a $300 kit. It doesn't quite keep up with the FT 1000D, but it's head and shoulders over the other half dozen kits I've built. I haven't worked it long enough to run the tx through it's paces, but so far a definite 5 out of 5.