New Radio in my shack

This is FT1000MP transceiver. It is very old one, however has dual watch facility.

Left
Top Elecraft K2
Middle Elecraft K3
Bottom Yaest FT1000MP

Right
Middle RMItalt 150W amp
Bottom Kenwood TS590SG and Elecraft KX3

We have 2 cats, boy (front) and girl (back)....

KX3/KXPA100 at home

I often use KX3/KXPA100 with Logger32/NaP3. NaP3 works very well as panadapter. I do not need expensive PX3 !!!

KX3/KXPA100 for DX Vacation

KX3/KXPA100 combo is my main Transceiver for DX Vacation.

There are 2 ways to connect KX3 and KXPA100.

1) Using Elecraft optional adapter cables
a. DC power to each.
b. KX3 RF out to KXPA100 RF in
c. PC USB port or serial port to KXPA100 RS232(PC)
d. KXPA100 Control to KX3 ACC1 and ACC2 with optional adaper cable.

It works just like one box transceiver.
However there is a serious problem when using external logging program, Logger32 in my case.
You must always close com port at Logger32 before you turn KX3/KXPA100 ON, otherwise
KXPA100 does not start up properly. There have been no significant improvement yet.


2) Simple connections.
a. DC power to each.
b. KX3 RF out to KXPA100 RF in
c. KX3 ACC2 to KXPA100 PA Key

Each works independently. However there is no problem using external logging problem.
Power set in KX3 manually, Tune with low poer to chnage band before transmitting with full power. I get around 100W with 5W output from KX3.

73 de aki
ja1nlx

HL-100BDX

Tested THP HL-100BDX during CQWW_CW contest on 28MHz.
This is max QSO rate by N1MM Logger. HL-100BDX worked very hard without problem.
I think this is much better than Juma PA-100D.

73

de aki  ja1nlx

Small amp for KX3

This is new HL-100BDX from Tokyo Hy-Power.

It makes good 100w output with about 3w input on all HF Bands. I will try to make more hard test during contest this week end.

I used Juma PA-100D during JA1NLX/VK4 QRV last October. I was very much disappointed that max power was limited under 30-50w on 24/28MHz due to high temperature.

73

aki  ja1nlx

New Radio arrived

Elecraft KX3 arrived here.
I am checking KX3 with Juma PA100D 100w amp. PSU is new MFJ-4230MV. Total weight is only 3.44Kg !
I will take these to VK4 next month unless I find serious problem.

KX3 was ordered on June 17 and arrived here on Sept 15. It took just 3 months !!!


73
de aki  ja1nlx

Small AMP for QRP Transceiver

I purchased RM Italy HLA-150 Plus to get reasonable power with QRP Transceiver. It is 191x290x66 mm and 1.8Kg.
If it works with 130 to 150w output together with small/compact QRP Transceiver then
it is ideal for my DX Vacation.

I simply made input/output measurement with dummy connected.
It is driven by K3.

As you see 3 to 5 watts input is enough to get good output (120 to 140 watts) except 14MHz.
I do not know why it is saturated only at 110 watts.

If I chose KX3 as small/compact Transceiver then total weight is 2.7 Kg !

New PSU for DX Vacation

I am testing new PSU together with TS-480HX.
New PSU is Watson Power-Max-45 NF which provide 13.5V/40A (max 45A). It seems good for TS-480HX/200w operation.

TS-480HX+Power-Max-45-NF: 3.7+1.9=5.6Kg
FT-857+MFJ-4125=2.1+1.4=3.5Kg

New Transceiver for DX Vacation

TS-480HX arrived. It is expected as primary radio in next DX Vacation.
It is very small but much easier to use. 200w output will be available with 40A DC power supply.
I am investigating proper DC power supply. It must be small, light and reliable..

TS-480HX 200w output 3.7Kg
Eagle 100w output 3.3Kg
K2     100w output 2.6Kg
FT-857 100w output 2.1Kg

(KX3 10w output  <1Kg   need any amp for over 100w)

I have no reason to chose KX3 at present time. Elecraft have not announced yet about details of 100w amp

No more Elecraft radio

Elecraft does not allow us to order their product directly because they only distribute via Japanese distributor.  I have owned Elecraft radios, K1, KX1, K2 and K3 and I payed a lot.

Elecraft announced they accept KX3 order and our distributor also announced. Look at following price list for KX3 Kit (with no option).

Elecraft says: $899.95  This will be about 80 Yen x 899.95 = 72,000 Yen
Our distributor says: 132,200 Yen

As I have TS-590 and K3 so for me KX3 is not base radio but DX vacation radio. KX3 need external AMP to get 100w.
As I have FT-857, K2 and Eagle which all run 100w so KX3 is not attractive at all.

If I want to replace these radios for DX vacation in near feature then I will look for a way to buy directly (not via our distributor)

73


2012/1/2
Great news from Elecraft....."Elecraft now sell direct to JA"

Radio for my DX Vacation

These are Radios I have used since 2008.
As whole weight is generally limited my target weight is under 50-60 pounds (23-27Kg).
Generally speaking FT857 will be the best if weight is very severe. Eagle is the best only if weight is not severe.

K2 is best radio for CW but very poor for Digital Mode. Audio level setting is very critical to keep stable output power.  Any idea will be appreciated.

I will take FT857 or Eagle somewhere in South Pacific next year.

New Transceiver for DX Vacation

Elecraft announced new Transceiver KX3 at Dayton. It will be available by the end of this year.
KX3 pricing has been not announced yet but it will be $700 - $800. Following are announced specification for KX3 and options. (These are subject to change without notice)

KXPA100 amp will be essential for my DX Vacation. I am interested in details of KXPA100, dimension, weight etc.

KX3 STANDARD FEATURES
° 160-6 meter ham bands; generazl coverage from 1.6-30 MHz (optional
broadcast-band filter module covers 0.5-1.6 KHz)
°All modes: SSB, CW, Data (four sub-modes), AM FM
°Ultra-compact size: 3.4"H x 7.4"W x 1.7"D; 18 oz. (less options)
°Rear tilt feet fold up for transport
°Custom high-contrast LCD with alphanumeric text display
°Current drain as low as 150 mA in receive mode
°High-performance 32-bit floating-point DSP
°Built-in PSK/TTY decode/encode allows data mode operation without a PC;
transmit in data modes using CW keyer paddle
°Low-noise synthesizer with 1-Hz tuning resolution
°Firmware updateable via provided application software

RECEIVER
°Quadrature down-sampling mixer compatible with PC-based SDR
(software-defined-radio) applications
°Receiver I/Q outputs for use with PC soundcard
°Narrow roofing filter option with four bandwidths (500Hz, 1500Hz, 2700Hz,
3800Hz) for excellent dynamic range
°Switchable preamp (2 levels) and attenuator (2 levels)
°8-band receive audio equalizer
°Dual watch over ±10kHz range; uses applicable roofing filter
°Easy-to-use PassBand Tuning (PBT) for shift/width/hicut/locut; roofing
filters automatically track DSP filter settings
°Automatic and manual notch filtering; adjustable noise reduction and noise
blanking; binaural audio effects for enhanced receive
°Center-tuning indicator for CW and data modes
°Built-in speaker; stereo jack for headphones/external speakers

TRANSMITTER
°Adjustable output, 0.1 to 10W+ (100W+ with KXPA100 amp)
°Ruged, SWR and temperature-protected final amplifier stage
°Optional MH3 microphone with PT and UP/DOWN functions
°Optional attached keyer paddle with spacing adjustment
°Switchable PA output impedance for efficient 5-W or 10-W use
°Fast, silent, PIN-diode T-R switching - no relays
°DSP speech processing for excellent "punch"
°8 band equalizer tailors passband to your voice and microphone

OTHER FEATURES
°Built in digital voice recorder (DVR) with two message buffers
°Internal CW keyer with 8-50 WPM range
°Six CW/DATA message memories
°100 general-purpose memories store VFO A/B, modes, etc.
°Accessory/RS-232 port for computer control using supplied cable
°Full remote-control command set works with most amateur radio software
applications (emulates Elecraft K3)
°One-click firmware upgrades via the web (with free PC software)
Optional mobile bracket compatible with RAM-mounts
°Tutoriall-style manual ideal for new hams

OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES
KXFLE Roofing Filter Module (500/1500/2700/3800 Hz)
KXAT3 Internal, Wide-Range 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner
KXAM3 Broadcast Band Filter Module (0.5-1.6 MHz)
KXBT3 Internal 8-AA Cell Battery Pack with NiMH Charger (Batteries not
supplied; nonrechanrgeable batteries can also be used)
KXPD3 Precision Keyer Paddle
KXMM3 Mobile Mount Bracket
MH3 Hand Microphone with UP/DN Controls
KUSB RS232 to USB Adapter
KXPA100 High-Performance 160-6 meter, 100-W Amplifier; usable with most 5 to
10 W transceivers
KXAT100 Wide-Range 100-W ATU with Dual Anenna Jacks (attaches to KXPA100
module)