Hi everybody.
I joined the forum about a year ago but haven't really visited here much other than in the last few weeks so I thought I'd introduce myself. My QRZ profile; http://www.qrz.com/db/KK0G (http://www.qrz.com/db/KK0G) gives a quick rundown of my ham activities and a few photos.
As to the subject of my post; I just ordered an Elecraft KX1 on Monday, hopefully it shows up later this week, can't wait to get started building it. About a year ago I completed a Weber Dual Band from Hendricks QRP Kits and it's been a great little rig but I wanted something a little more trail friendly hence the KX1.
KK0G
Welcome Chris. This is a great forum !!! We are like minded people, My background is pretty close to yours. The KX1 looks like a great kit, it is one that is on my list, but aways down the list.
73 Joe
Welcome aboard Chris :) You'll fit right in... As Joe says, we all have similar interests here. I practice and occasionally teach Systema martial art... Are you a pilot (given your QSL)? I am... Good choice on the KX1. I hesitated a long time between the KX1 and the K1. The K1 won because of it's speaker, but the KX1 might have been a better choice because of the SWL. I might still build one some day. Not that I don't have enough radios ::) but building is fun and relaxing to me. Though, I hurried too much building my K1, and that was somewhat stressful. Take your time!
Nice shooting position there on the range rifle-to-bone-to-ground ;)
Gil.
Are you a Pincus disciple?
I respect the Glock!!
Thanks for the warm welcome guys, and yes it does appear we all have pretty similar interests.
To answer a few of the questions; No I'm not a pilot, I just really like aircraft and the Corsair is pretty damn sexy 8). Becoming a pilot is definitely on my bucket list.......... someday. Between guns, shooting, reloading, instructing, machine tools and amateur radio there's not much time or money left over for expensive flight lessons.
Yes I'm a disciple of the crazy bald guy known as Pincus. I'd starve to death if I had to rely on my instructing to make a living but I enjoy doing it and Combat Focus Shooting is an awesome program. If anyone is interested in more info check out my webpage http://www.efficientcombattraininginc.com/ (http://www.efficientcombattraininginc.com/)
Quote from: kk0g on April 24, 2013, 08:26:37 PM
Thanks for the warm welcome guys, and yes it does appear we all have pretty similar interests.
To answer a few of the questions; No I'm not a pilot, I just really like aircraft and the Corsair is pretty damn sexy 8). Becoming a pilot is definitely on my bucket list.......... someday. Between guns, shooting, reloading, instructing, machine tools and amateur radio there's not much time or money left over for expensive flight lessons.
Yes I'm a disciple of the crazy bald guy known as Pincus. I'd starve to death if I had to rely on my instructing to make a living but I enjoy doing it and Combat Focus Shooting is an awesome program. If anyone is interested in more info check out my webpage http://www.efficientcombattraininginc.com/ (http://www.efficientcombattraininginc.com/)
We have a few instructors up here in the NE that are CFS instructors and as far as they are concerned and act it is the only training anyone should be doing.
Glad to see you are both into radio and shooting.
The KX1 arrived in the mail yesterday. I was able to complete stage one of assembly and it passed all tests. I finished about 1/2 of stage two before I started falling asleep at the bench. Should make some progress this evening and hopefully have it on the air by late Saturday or early Sunday if I don't get any interruptions.
(https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/116741089939720715871/albums/5871169511479075313/5871169510323433682?hl=en&authkey=COT659qs2_HhkwE)
Build photos?
Gil.
Well I completed the build at about 0100 last night, never ran into any problems, of course this isn't my first time building QRP, just follow the directions to a T and even an inexperienced builder should be able to build one.
Overall I'm very impressed, this is one sweet little QRP rig! So far I've just played around with all the menus options and different controls to familiarize myself with how it operates, it's pretty sophisticated compared to my Weber Dual Band rig, not that it's a bad radio either. As with practically all modern ham gear there's a bit of a learning curve to all the features especially since Elecraft stuffed so many features in such a small rig with minimal controls but just in the short time I've played with it I pretty well have the hand of it.
The very next thing I want is the KXPD1 plug-in paddle kit followed by the internal antenna tuner and finally the 80/30 meter module. Now I need to sell some more of my junk, err I mean prized possessions at the next hamfest to pay for them.
If anyone wants to hear it on the air let me know and we can set up a sked. 73
Tomorrow (late) morning on 20m, say, 11:00 on 14060?
Gil.
Just to clarify; you mean 1700Z?
11:00 AM Eastern time. So, yes...
Gil.
I just realized I don't know your callsign :o
I'll call you ;)
Gil.
I tossed an end fed wire up into the tree in my front yard today, used my trusty SOTA tuner to feed it and the very first QSO with the KX1 was a W7 in Glendale, AZ........... 1130 miles, 559 both ways. Not too shabby for a little over 2 watts.
I really need to get the internal auto tuner and the paddle kit to eliminate a lot of the clutter, should make set up much quicker and easier.
I'm back in the house now and hooked up to my big dipole, I'll probably be on 40 meters this evening somewhere around 7.105 MHz if anyone wants to ragchew.
Quote from: gil on April 27, 2013, 01:51:47 PM
I'll call you ;)
Gil.
Never heard you today Gil, we'll have to try again. You busy this evening?
Hello,
I did call you at 11:00 EST sharp on 14060... We could try 7030 at 22:00?
Gil.
Quote from: gil on April 28, 2013, 08:47:17 PM
Hello,
I did call you at 11:00 EST sharp on 14060... We could try 7030 at 22:00?
Gil.
I'll listen for you then.
Heard several stations from 7.025 up to 7.035, if you were there Gil I never heard you.
Yeah, I was listening for you guys and it was really crowded around 7,030. I thought I heard one of you because I copied "SOTA" (as in the end fed coupler), but I guess that was someone else talking QRP.
I think there was a contest... Too busy... Sorry.
Gil.
I got home from work today and decided to take the the KX1 out for it's first trail contact (the one in my front yard doesn't count). I did a short hike of probably not more than a mile back into an 1100 acre tract of timber a few miles from my place, found a suitable tree and tossed a wire into it maybe 10 feet high. After 10 minutes of calling CQ on 14.060 a W2 in Georgia answered with a solid 599 signal and gave me a report of 559. After that it was getting dark and the ticks were crawling all over me so I packed up and headed out.
QRP works, a rig small enough to fit in your pocket works, dirt simple end fed wire antennas only 10 feet in the air work, but the key to all of this working is CW, CW, CW, CW 8) If any of you are still on the fence about learning code hopefully this is a little motivation.
OK, I'll bite. What's that key you have so neatly attached to the clipboard? I can't be sure from the photo but it looks like a homebrew out of FR4.
Quote from: gil on April 28, 2013, 10:31:14 PM
I think there was a contest... Too busy... Sorry.
Gil.
I listened as well; all I heard was someone +30, splattering 3kHz up & down.
Quote from: KC9TNH on April 29, 2013, 09:35:13 PM
Quote from: gil on April 28, 2013, 10:31:14 PM
I think there was a contest... Too busy... Sorry.
Gil.
I listened as well; all I heard was someone +30, splattering 3kHz up & down.
It's a Snapaddle kit I got from Jackson Harbor probably about 8 years ago. Unfortunately it's been discontinued. For a cheap paddle made out of circuit board material it works surprisingly well. http://wb9kzy.com/mechpadl.htm (http://wb9kzy.com/mechpadl.htm)
Quote from: kk0g on April 29, 2013, 09:57:10 PM
Quote from: KC9TNH on April 29, 2013, 09:35:13 PM
Quote from: gil on April 28, 2013, 10:31:14 PM
I think there was a contest... Too busy... Sorry.
Gil.
I listened as well; all I heard was someone +30, splattering 3kHz up & down.
It's a Snapaddle kit I got from Jackson Harbor probably about 8 years ago. Unfortunately it's been discontinued. For a cheap paddle made out of circuit board material it works surprisingly well. http://wb9kzy.com/mechpadl.htm (http://wb9kzy.com/mechpadl.htm)
That's a neat, simple and really light key. It never occurred to me to mount the key directly to the clipboard. With your forearm on the board the key probably holds still without the key needing to weigh a ton.