Elecraft KX2 Random Wire Antenna | QRP Portable Test
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
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I throw 2 random wires on the Elecraft KX2 for QRP ham radio CW work in the park. The KX2 is the best portable radio for ham radio adventuring. Just learn CW and you are on the air.
Random wire antenna for ham radio is the simplest one you can make.
Our KX2 “stealth” transceiver can go wherever your imagination takes you. Thanks to state-of-the-art construction techniques, it’s only 5.8 x 2.8 x 1.5” and weighs just 13 ounces-making it the smallest full-featured HF radio on the planet. Yet it puts out up to 10 watts, covers 9 bands, and shares many features with the KX3. It also works with the KXPA100 amplifier.
To maximize your freedom to roam, you can outfit your KX2 with an internal 2.6 amp-hour Li-ion battery. Current drain is as little as 135 mA, yielding up to 8 hours of typical operation on a single battery charge. There’s also an internal automatic antenna tuner module (KXAT2), which can tune a random wire, dipole, or whip on multiple bands.
A rear tilt-foot angles the KX2 for use on any surface, from desktop to park bench to rock. The KX2 also makes a great moble rig, and can even be used hand-held. It includes a built-in mic for HT-style operation.
The KX2’s powerful 32-bit DSP offers features dual watch, stereo audio, user-programmable filter bandwidths, noise blanking, noise reduction, and auto-notch. RTTY and PSK data modes are built in-no PC needed-as well as a memory keyer and digital voice recorder for transmit.
There are two padded carrying cases for the KX2, including the CS40 and larger CS60. Both include belt straps and an interior compartment.
80-10 meter ham bands; general coverage receive from 3-32.0MHz (also covers 0.5 to 3 MHz with reduced sensitivity)
All modes: SSB, CW, and Data (four sub-modes)
Ultra-compact size: 2.8”H x 5.8”W x 1.5”D; 13 oz (less options); low-profile knobs and feet for minimum height
Rear tilt foot provides 3-point mount for rugged terrain
Custom high-contrast LCD with alphanumeric text display
Current drain as low as 135 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
Synthesizer has 1-Hz tuning resolution
Integrated numeric keypad for direct frequency entry
Very nice video. Love my KX2! In order to support the fishing pole, some guys pick up a long screwdriver, with a handle narrow enough to fit inside the bottom of the pole. Stick screwdriver in ground, pole over screwdriver and you're ready to go! If it's not too windy, that should work.
73,
George
K2WO
Excellent Idea!
If you put banana plugs on the ends of your wires they are easy to attach to the binding post adapter plus if something catches the wire they may pull out and save the rig. Nice video! de N9PUZ
oh man, You just made me realize that the ends will hold those plugs... Thanks! I didn't know it!
Great video! I really enjoy CW videos especially portable. It's nice to see people working low power.
As always I appreciate your time making ham radio videos. You always do a great job. Such details is so important to this type of hobby. Thanks ,Fred.
If you have a problem with the wire bending the top sections of the pole, loosely wrap the wire around the pole as you extend it. That will keep the pole from bending as much, then stop a little way down to bring your wire out at a slope. Keep up the good work! 73, Scott N1SER
I think I benefit from these videos more than anyone else does with these great tips. Thanks!
Hey... That crane in the walking shot looks like a great 'emergency portable" antenna mount... LOL
glad you found your counter poise.😀
Just ordered a Packtenna Mini Random Wire antenna, and got a reply email from George saying they were out of stock for over a month. :-( He made it right though. A *GREAT* antenna, and company! If anyone wants a great multi-band, portable antenna, or even a single band, or 'linked-dipole,' Packtenna is a great choice.
Yup, you get it Escape.
I wait until the end then subtract 5 min or so for the log time. Or if I remember to do it at the beginning.
You could build a 40-10 meter magnetic loop. Buy the OH8STN loop kit. Do a video on that.
Talk about external power with the KX2. De KB2QQM
I will look up the OH8STN loop kit. SOunds interesting. I want fast and easy. I am working on some things.....
Thanks. I’ll try the 2 wires first with banana jacks. N0WDM
My gripe is that you answered at much greater speed than the person you were in contact with.
Get yourself a short length of PVC pipe that your squid pole will slide into. I picked up a 5 foot joint of 1" PVC at my local Lowes and cut it to 36". When pushed about 12 - 16 inches into the sand it supports my pole with no problems and no guy lines at all. Edit**** My pole is what remains of a broken SOTA beams mast and is about 20 feet tall. With 1 guy at about 18 feet and 180* from my wire I get maximum height.
I like your videos very much. Got a free trip to Dayton, thanks to your other videos. KX-2 manual recommends 25 foot wires. Would that have made a difference? I guess you used what you had. Again thank you.
Thank you for the nice comment.... I tried to pick a "non-resonant" frequency length.
I enjoy all your videos; they're real life situations and very practical. Keep up the good work. You're a true radio amateur... 72 de Brent VA3YG
It IS a Fishing pole so also buy a rod holder that stakes into the ground set it vertical insert pole done. In fact these rod holders are designed to attach to boats with a clamp...
ok
Nice video thank you for posting
I really like your "Urban" setup. Its good to know what you can do if you dont have any trees around. What are those things called you got on amazon to wrap the antenna?
Thanks, man. Do a search for - "West Coast Paracord - Paracord Ladder Winder - Holds 100 Feet of Cord"
Thanks. Keep up the good work.
Great video. I’m considering the KX2, but it’s sooooo $$$$. I do like the portability and the ability to set up anywhere vs the FT817nd. I like that you can use the 10 watts cw and SSB.
What set up do you use at home ? Do you use an amp with it
I do 95% of my radio out doors because I have a tiny terrible back yard. Plus it seems more exciting to me. I have an ICOM 7300 and I have never used an amp before. The KX2 IS expensive, but I figured it is the end-all / be all goto radio for me and I'm pretty glad I got it. I got it at Dayton last year.
Gregory...have you thought about using a Elecraft T1 tuner with your 817nd...add the tuning capability of the KX2? Matt - KF7PXT
i find with my squid pole if you pull it over on top to make it bend slightly with the antenna it loads up the joints then hopefully it won't collapse just as you sit down to call cq.
The BNC splitter connector directly radiant element and ground wire to the radio? Without an UN-UN for long wire or antenna tuner? Isn't it dangerous for the radio?
What about using a clamp on the side of table or spike in ground attach your clap on the pole. Lot easy then throwing up a tree. One pole your on the air.de Dennis vk4oc. Cheers & Beers mate.
Great presentation. Thanks for the good info. Really enjoy your videos.
73
Phil CX7CW
Nice vid, KX2 work perfect...whitch soundtrack you did use on 0:00 to 0:20 ? Thx 73
Me again, go to a fishing store and get a surf fishing rod holder that goes on the beach in the sand it will push into the ground and hold your pole for you.
Great video. I was going to suggest a surf fishing spike for your pole but someone beat me to it. Hope to work you one day… learning CW. de K4MHC
Beatcop 49 thanks
Use a fishing rod holder that stakes in the ground to support squid pole and ground wire?
You need a surf spike for that squid pole. Do an Amazon search.
Also, what brand is that pole? I have a Shakespeare Wonder pole at 20', but it is almost 4' collapsed. Yours is super compact.
Surf spike sounds interesting, will do. Do an Amazon search for this: 5.4M Bamboo Pattern 11 Sections Telescoping Fishing Rod Army Green
Check this out though, someone informed me that they have an even bigger squid pole. 7.2 meters. www.ebay.com/itm/Spinning-Freshwater-Fishing-Rod-Telescopic-Stream-Pole-2-7m-7-2m-Glass-Fiber-FRP-/172367719502
That's cool. you could remove the top section (which is so darn flexible it's almost useless anyway) and still have petty good length.
HI, IM NEW TO HAM RADIO. IV BEEN WATCHING UR VIDS, I FIND THEM INTERESTING INFORMATIVE AND MOST OF ALL ENTERTAINING. PLSE KEEP MAKING THEM. DE M6OYU/LYON
Thanks so much. I hope you have a club nearby to help you get started
AnythingWithWheels I SURE DO. LSWC(LINCOLN SHORT WAVE CLUB) AND RWRC (RAF WADDINGTON RADIO CLUB). IV JOINED BOTH AND AM LEARNING ALL THE TIME. LOOKING 4WARD TO GETTING MY 891 IN 2 WEEKS TIME. THEN OUT I GO LOOKING FOR CONTACTS ALL OVER.. 73 M6OYU
perfec vıdeo and very help ful thank you tom.. de ta3le...
Glad you liked it!
I have a question for you. I am interested in the Packtenna, a random wire antenna with a 9:1 balun/unun but I was told that all I needed was the wire for my KX3 because the tuner doesn’t require the balun. If you are familiar with that antenna would you be willing to comment? MikeinMinnesota N0WDM
That is a really good question. Yes, I do believe you can get away with just a wire...I would try that first before spending money. See if a wire and counterpoise get you what you need. I think the packtenna doesn't need a counterpoise to worry about. Mostly I just throw it up in a tree as you see.
I have had great success with my packtenna. It also winds up easily and has holes on it for easy connecting to bunjee cords.
Why not just run a thin carbon nanofibre rope from the tip of the pole and tie it to a geostationary satellite. That should hold it. Alternatively, attach a heavy flywheel from a car to the bottom of the pole and gyroscopically stabilise it? You're welcome!
I already tried that stuff. It doesn't work.
BNC to 5 way binding post
Jim Newman I will need to look that up
can you add a link to what that is
www.google.com/search?q=BNC+to+binding+post&oq=BNC+to+binding+post&aqs=chrome..69i57.7416j0j8&client=ubuntu&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
There are other names but that is the 1 I use most of the time supposedly you can connect a wire to 1 of those post 5 different ways I count 4
Jim Newman I see. thanks
Nice video! This is exactly the type of real world test I was looking for before I added a random wire antenna to my Go Kit. Thanks! Mike WB6I
Love your videos. They help me alot. Try using a whip antenna on the fishing pole as the radiating element and add a ground wire to it. I will give it a try and see what I get :)