Wow, Sam's is still around?!?!?!?!? ;D

Sounds like a short between the headphones

That was awesome ;D  There are purists that believe the whole goal is to make the contact, and the more difficult, the prouder.  I do like how the guy receiving the "voice-Morse" was chuckling and enjoying making that kind of contact.

I have a pico-keyer that I can plug one of those little battery powered speakers into.  I assume I could use that and just hold the mic up to the speaker while I work the keyer with paddles.  With the rig set to USB that should work on all bands, shouldn't it?

Quote from: caulktel on October 26, 2017, 12:46:23 PM
Gil, they are C25-C28. In my case they are 2ea 390pf and 2ea 180pf. Apparently the ones provided are not high enough voltage rating and are heating up during Zmit and are responsible for low power output. I'm not sure I agree with this theory, because they are 50 volt caps and I have used them up to 7-8 watts without any trouble. I think somebody is grasping at straws. In any case a lot of people are having the 1.6 watt output problem and Hans needs to get to the bottom of it.

Joel
N6ALT

I too doubt it's the voltage.  If they are heating up it's their ESR (equivalent series resistance).  There's a lot of AC current flowing through the Tx filter capacitors.

ESR is determined by the dielectric used.  From good to bad, the common dielectrics are:
  NPO and Mica:  Either is the good stuff.  Almost zero ESR.  Very stable(doesn't drift with time, temperature, voltage).  Can't get them in large values though.

  X7R:  Most commonly used. ESR 25 times greater than NPO.  Used when 2nd best is fine.

  X5R:  Same as X7R but not quite as stable.

  Y5U:  Cheap stuff, but you can get large values in a small package.  ESR 2X worse than X7R.  Changes value like crazy: temperature, frequency, DC voltage.  Put 48V on a 50V capacitor and its capacitance goes down by 80%.  Seriously, a 1u cap becomes 0.2u.

For a Tx filter I would NEVER use anything but NPO or mica capacitors.


EDIT:  I just looked at my 80M filter bag and I can't tell what type of capacitors are in there.  I guess if my power is low I'll just swap all of them with NPO caps

Gil, that looks great.  I'm jealous!  Can't wait to hear your operating reports.

caulktel, I have a flea market CB and mag mount antenna somewhere in the basement specifically because if/when the SHTF there's going to be a LOT of people on CB.  Sure, I could wide-band my FT-857 and do 11meters that way, but now I have 2 rigs that can do CB. 

There's one more beneficial thing about CB.  Spend a few hours listening.  You will feel so much better about yourself, your level of intelligence, education, vocabulary and the life choices you've made ::).  The last time I put it in the car and listened as I drove around, 11M was skipping like crazy so I was hearing stations from 100s of miles away, and most of them were foul mouthed low-lifes that I wouldn't want to even talk to :o

The convenient thing about CB is since it's only 4watts, I simply put a cigarette lighter plug on the radio.  I just set it on the passenger seat, plop the mag-mount on the roof and shut the cable I the door and I'm operating.

Mine (which I still haven't started assembling) also came with 1.00b firmware.  I think I've got a spare Arduino Uno kicking around somewhere from when the boys were doing that in high school.

I'm on the fence for sockets.  I usually use them because they make me feel good knowing I can swap out a chip, and I've never had a problem using sockets.  On the other hand I can't count the years since I've had to replace a chip on something like this.  For this kit I  think it will depend on my mood ::)

Ray, great, great info.  Thanks!

I guess I will go with the internal battery.  I really do like an uncluttered station.  For that reason the internal tuner may happen too, but I really want a T1 for all my other little rigs.  I guess part of my problem is I'm having a hard time coping with the idea of having about $1,000 tied up in a little box that fits in the palm of my hand LOL.

Quote from: gil on October 20, 2017, 11:31:05 AM
My kit was returned to Japan! Sent again a couple days ago... Now I have to wait another two weeks!  :(

Gil.

Nuts!  Sorry to hear that.  It seems they have a problem with their supplier's shipping.  Not the first time this has happened, I believe.

Interesting.  MFJ and others have a lot of similar products, but they are all 1 band.  To me the most unique thing is that the telescoping part collapses from 3.5' down to just 6".  The 3/8"-24 mounting stud seems too beefy. 

I'm having a hard time envisioning making any 20meter contacts on an antenna 1.2meters tall, but then, the MFJ Hamsticks I use on my car work great and they are only about 2.25meters long and mounted 3/4meter below the roof.

Hi Gil,

Thanks for the voice of experience!
I dithered back and forth between the FT-817 and KX2 and decided on the KX2.  The 817 is getting to be pretty ancient technology, it's heavy, battery hungry and (from all I read) doesn't perform nearly as well as the KX2.  I can live without 2m/70cm in an HF rig.  Also, I've been wanting to get into digital-portable and the KX2 seems perfect for that.

I'm not going to get the internal battery.  From what I read it doesn't last as long and I came across one comment that sounded like after an hour you have to turn the power down because it droops during Tx.  Besides, it's expensive and I don't like that I have to open the radio and remove it to charge it.

I'm also going to not get the internal tuner.  I'll get the T1 instead.  Then I'll have an auto-tuner I can use with all my other little rigs.  What I really wish is Elecraft would adapt the KX2 to interface with the T1 the way the T1 will interface with an FT-817.  But then, Elecraft would sell fewer internal tuners, so I can see why they don't do that.

I know what you mean about the emotional attachment.  I think that kind of thing is earned by building or modifying or doing something great (operating from the top of Mt. Blanc, etc.) with the rig.  Even if I go deaf, I'm keeping the MTR-3B that I built and modified with an internal touch-keyer and touch pads on the outside.  I'll just hang it on the wall ::)

Hi Steve, and WELCOME aboard the board! ;D
That's a great selection of radios you have.  The only thing missing is a Pixie, 49er or Frog Sounds so you can claim you've made HF contacts on a radio you built for less than $20 ::)

Gil, I think I'm about to get a KX2.
The company I work for gives you a $750 gift of your choosing on your 15th anniversary with the company.  Strangely, I'm at a point if life were I don't want much, except spare time to play with the toys I have :P.  Even though I don't have much time for operating, I've always wanted a KX2, and it's just the right price.  So, now that you've had yours a while, what are your thoughts, especially on their accessories, which are pretty expensive.

Did you get the internal tuner, or are you sticking with the T1 external tuner?  Is there any real advantage to the internal tuner, other than fewer pieces and wires and probably a simpler tuning procedure?

What are your thoughts on batteries.  I like fewer wires, but I also like the idea of having a standard battery pack and charger that I use for all my QRP rigs.  If I get their internal pack($60) then I think I need their charger($25).  And I don't like that you have to open the radio and remove the pack to charge it.

What about the RTC real time clock.  At +/-2 seconds a day it doesn't seem like much of a clock.  Is it needed for digital modes, or is it just a convenience for date/time logging?

Quote from: Broncus on October 12, 2017, 10:03:26 AM
Many radios tend to offer a WX receive ability. And it seems that many people end up not using WX ability for some reason or another. I am one of those people.

Cell phones is my guess. 
I'm that way.  I still have a little Radio Shack weather radio, and I used to bring it on most trips.  Now my cell phone provides me with all the Wx info I need.  But I'm glad my UV-5R and FT-60 get NOAA Wx.  If the SHTF and the cell towers are down there's a chance NOAA will still be broadcasting, or will be back on the air much sooner than the cell system.

Shhhhhhhhhh! ;)
I've been following Steve's progress on this digital capable SSB rig for weeks but haven't posted here hoping that when he's ready to take orders the feeding frenzy won't consume all available radios before I get my order in ::).
I'm only half kidding since the last one of his kits I got in on was the first build of the MTR-3B three years ago.  They sell out so quick I keep missing them.

I've always wanted a tiny SSB radio that can do digital.  I'm thinking I might get some teenagers interested in ham radio with digital texting on a cell phone or tablet.

Steve's an amazing guy and a talented engineer.  I just wonder where he finds all the time :D