Some More QRP Radios
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- This videos gives my thoughts/opinions on 5 QRP radios: the CRK-10A, MFJ-9296, MTR3B, MTR5B, and KX2. This is a follow-up video to one I made last year that covered 5 QRP radios: the FT-817, Flex-1500, KX1, K1, and KX3.
Very informative channel. As I'm new to ham and interested in QRP, your work has been indispensible. I picked up a KX2 and couldn't be happier with it.
Excellent video! I do appreciate your candid point-of-view, as well as the efforts, time, patience and investment put together to produce the second batch of QRP radios review. Another great t-shirt!
cliff , i just got mt ticket a couple days ago, but instead of bothering you with questions and advice this time, I would like to say THANKS, you have been a huge help, and actually got me interested in qrp, and cw, your videos are great, and they are actually about subjects that are useful. and your advice is always very practical , and useful. So thanks alot man, I really do appreciate all you do!
Thanks for taking the time to put all of this together under one roof as we say!!!
Very cool vid and shirt, Cliff. My KX2 arrives tomorrow!
Very good video Cliff. I watched the first one as well and you gave nice review of each radio and even included the cost. Thank you kindly sir!
Just saw this for the first time. I love your shirt!
Hi Cliff, Thanks for your message in regard to which KX model you would buy if you were buying today and the reasons why. I can't seem to find your message, so I'm sending a thanks in here. My wife wants me to stop watching your video's. I buy something every time I do. I now have a flex 6300 and despite all the noise out there lately......wow! What a radio. Looking forward to using the SOTAbeams 20/40 antenna as soon as the weather gets a bit better here in upstate NY. No need to mention other purchases......haha. I appreciate your time and dedication to putting videos up for us all. 73 KD2LMR
Absolutely professional quality presentation. Another great video. Not a key basher myself (yet), but I can say the quality of the video is outstanding work.
I scored a MFJ-9200 and a couple of band modules at a local swapmeet for $120.00, how do I know if its a 9296? Do they all say 9200? Confused
Hello. I believe that the 9296 is the MJF model number of the 9200 radio that already includes all of the bands. So, they are the same radio. - Cliff
I wanted mfj 9200 really bad then I went to order one and they stopped selling them. Haven’t got lucky yet and found one. Might get you kits radio that looks similar. Just starting to get into radio and studying for tech license. Love your channel, qrp will definitely be something that I wanna get into. Thanks for sharing
Great video (and the first one as well)! You've inspired me to explore QRP! Thanks! Jack KB4CG
Love this overview of small QRP rigs, very helpful in my decision process, thanks and 73 - Dave
Thanks for putting out these videos Cliff. I've learned a lot from them. 73 de KD5STH.
Nice informative video. You forgot to mention that the KX2 DOES in fact have an internal mic. You can use that little radio like an HT with the use of the built in mic. I have a loaded KX2 and I feel it's one of the best values in QRP. A tad expensive but well worth every penny spent on it. I even have the internal clock option and use it all of the time so when I paper log (portable operations) I know exactly what time it is.
Barry, KU3X
Excellent reviews, thank you. I learned lots.
Great video! Thanks, Cliff. You forgot to mention that the KX2 has a built in mic for the inevitable day you land up on a SOTA peak and find you have left your usual mic at home :) Works fine as well. Also a nice new mini paddle that attaches to the base.
Note, the KX2 has contest quality RX/TX, and is a full SDR. Truly, with the built-in battery and ATU, it is the most self-contained CW/SSB/Data HF-8 band rig around. 73 John, N6JW
Hello, John. You know, I even took a picture of the microphone hole and meant to mention it. That's what I get for shooting unscripted videos!
For anyone who reads this: The KX2 has a built-in microphone that can be used in emergencies and/or if you want to hold the radio like a walkie-talkie. You can even use a whip antenna with a trailing counterpoise connected to a mini-banana jack, just for that purpose. If this appeals to you, look up "manpack ham radio" and you'll find websites about radio nerds (no disrespect intended) walking around making contacts on HF. - Cliff
KX2 has got a microphone in it, fully functional :-)
Great video, and I loved the Data picture:-)
Interesting video Cliff - thanks for posting. 73, Bill KC5SB
excellent video......love my K1's......did good field day with them.....44 states and three countries...,..MFJ rig has SWL capability as well I think......would be nice to check prop with BC Band......got a lot of bucks into my K1's......like the four-bander better.....stuffed with everything....getting geared up for some SOTA action in a couple of weeks.....YES.....
I have a MTR3B, and I'm in love with it! 73 de PY1ZB
I liked it when you flashed the picture of Data behind you.
Another really good video ,Cliff...
Great video thanks for sharing !
This is the perfect time to dust off my cw skills and clean my J38 and get my Norcal 40 and put my 30M firefly into a case.
Thank you for the informative video. So many radios... so little time. BTW, cool t-shirt.
please let us know where we can get one of those. keep the videos coming.
I am surprised you didn't mention the mcHF (designed by m0nka, available as a kit), or the Xiegu X1M-Pro (which I heard has been recently discontinued), or the Xiegu XM108. The mcHF is especially nice, as it is about the same size as the Elecraft KX2 but has a color touchscreen, AM and FM capability as well as SSB, CW, and data (CAT control available via USB cable, use Yaesu FT817 command set). Not exactly a "plug-and-play" radio, as a number of mods should be done for best performance, but there is a very good support group on Yahoo covering those mods. Firmware is open-source and is constantly being improved and updated. de KC8MWG
Another great video!!! 73 Chris, ZS1CDG
I've got a KX1, KX2, and KX2, FR-817, MTR3B, MTR5B, and a pile of built kits. It's probably hard to tell but I like to build kits 73 NE5U
Although the 9296 is no longer available, a few band modules are. One thing I think is important, is to put some sort of tape on the chassis above the position where the band module sits, to protect it from shorting to the chassis if it is slightly ajar.
Lee, WA8QFE
Good comment, Lee. I put a piece of electrical tape in that spot. - Cliff
Hi Cliff, I love your videos!! How do you rate the KX2 compared with the KX3 after some time with it now? I would like to buy an 817/KX2/KX3 but can't buy them all because the wife will not be understanding! ;-) If you were to buy one, which would you choose? I would be taking it on vacation/weekends away in a portable situation. Don't mind carrying a separate battery if needed.
Kind regards,
Simon
M0SYS
Simon,
I've hardly touched my KX3 since I got the KX2. I recommend you purchase the KX2 if you DON"T CARE about these features - that are only available on the KX3...
- Optional Roofing Filter (good for when you're working NEAR another ham)
- 160m & 6m
- Optional Panadapter
- Optional 2m/4m VHF coverage
- Weighted tuning knob
I don't care about any of those things in a portable radio so the KX2 is a great choice for me. That said, I will keep my KX3 for in-shack use. It IS the state-of-the-art in portable QRP radios.
You really can't go wrong, either way! - Cliff
The Small Wonder Labs SW+ series has been reincarnated as the ME40+, ME30+, and ME80+ and is available on Ebay.
18:24, left background, picture, take a look
Brent!
Lol, I thought I saw something up in the corner but I didn't catch it
Cliff - I really enjoy your videos, thank you for the time and effort that you put into this. In one of your videos, you have your radio attached to a clipboard with your cw key on it as well. Could you share some info on that setup? Is it something that you made? Thanks! Craig - N0CSM
Excellent videos!! I’m brand new to ham radio (studying for Tech and Gen). Is there an Elecraft that is CW only??
For Elecraft. you might be able to find a used K1 or KX1. The K2 kit is still available and the base model is CW only. However, it's a fairly serious kit. You might consider an LNR Precision Mountain Topper... www.lnrprecision.com/store/Transceivers-c10468544
Good luck! - Cliff
Newbie question, could I pipe the audio from the crk-10a into a laptop and see the separate cw streams with a program like fldigi?
I like the way you justify your 10 rigs. I tell my XYL that this hobby is much cheaper than a new Harley or bass boat, lol.
Love the shirt!
So, I've got to ask, Cliff...where can we get the shirt? waves money :)
Nice video.
i have a 10 12m ht do you think it will dx with the rubber duck antenna? no luck yet.
I received my Elecraft KX 2 two weeks ago and I have already made 75 CW contacts with it.
Way to go, Jim! Is there anything about it you don't like? A friend of mine complains of "the small knobs" but that doesn't bother me, really.
No, so far I have not found anything that I don't like about it. Small knobs do not bother me. I am trying to work all 50 states (23 so far). Not too bad considering all qrp with a G5RV Jr in my attic. I live just north west of Nashville and I hear you on the 2 meter repeater quit often.
Not too bad at all, using wire in the attic! "I hear you on the 2 meter repeater quite often." Well, throw out your call sign next time and join the chat... if nothing else, just to say hello. And, of course, you don't have to live in Williamson County to join WCARES. We'd love to have you if you have any interest in hanging out with us. See www.wcares.org
You need to check out the uBitX V5 from VE7CA!
NAQCC, i swear everywhere i turn, somebody knows you or your vids, now i was checking out the NAQCC , there u were ... lol.!
Cliff, is there any portable radio with an internal ATU other that the kx's? Just wondering if there is any other that you can use with a multiband like an endfed without a second piece of equipment. Thx, Scott kw4jm
LOL, my old home stereo has SW receiver and I hear CW like on the first radio :) Jumble of cw, sounds like futuristic music though.
Cliff, by getting it bead on, you mean able to get a clearer signal than if not? Like you can get a much clearer signal with the Mountain topper than the MFJ?
reason i asked, is i'm looking at that LNR site, the antenna u suggested is now back in stock, so i also started looking at the mountain toppers, so was just tweaking my final decision between the MFJ, and say the MTR5B, trying to figure if the xtra $150 for the MTR5B was worth it or not, if the signal is considerably clearer i think might be better for me. I have a lil hearing loss from my time in the military.
One question, on the little CRK-10A what frequency did you choose and did you actually make contacts on it? Thanks for any thoughts - 73
Thumbs up for Data!
Clif, I was wondering when you have time. Would you maybe make a video on antennas and coax and accessories that might be considered for QRP. Thanks , Fred😀😎
Can you use an Imabic paddle on all of these radios?🤷♂️
went to a local hamfest today , and was looking at some straight keys, would have bought one, but was really not sure what i was buying, and for hiking , i know smaller and lighter would be better specially thru the hills of KY, but is there any things to definetely stay away from , or to look for?
thank you .73!
Great video and very useful information. What mapping system are you using in the background? Thanks Kevin N5UQG 73's
Hello, Kevin. The monitor behind me is showing the website DXMaps.com. Try this link: www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=14&ML=M&Map=W2LN&DXC=N&HF=S&GL=N
Thanks! You have spurred my interest in QRP. Keep up the great work. Thanks again!
I almost want to get one of the chinese kits just for that fantastic sound. It's next to useless for copying, but if you want a freaky tech sound for sound effects, it's perfect!
A little freaky and a wide-open way to listen to a good chunk of the band at one time, for sure.-Cliff
So, If you had to pick one qrp trail style, which would it be ? Including the radios from the first video. Thanks.!!
The Elecraft KX2 has to be at the top of the list for me. The internal Lithium Ion battery pack and internal antenna tuner make it self-contained. You can do CW, SSB, and Digital modes with it. And it’s packed with features. All of the other radios are fun but the KX2 is the best size/features/performance combo in my opinion. What are your thoughts? -Cliff (N4CCB)
@@QRPSchool Thank you !
73 from baghdad de Yi1hxh .
rafat alheeti. 73 and best wishes, my friend! - Cliff
....DATA pic, Nice.
ok, first where can i get a couple of those t shirts, the QRP school ones?
and can u suggest any transceiver kit builds, i seen one online that a guy built , and i got to give it a try, my electronic knowledge and skills are probably above average, and that would be awesome to actually build a CW transceiver radio, that i could use. so , plz , if you have any suggestions, let me know, i would greatly appreciate it. I am looking to see if there are any radio clubs in my area , so i can stop bothering u with all these questions man, but you have to be the most reliable and practical source i have come across , and u r always spot on.and i cant remember if i thanked you for ur dmm suggestion it was perfect, and i ordered the EXTECH from amazon.so THANKS! and alot cheaper than the fluke i was looking at.
ok, my bad sir, i was looking thru your videos and actually found the one you built and suggested Oak Hills Research OHR 100A QRP Radio, i should have looked before bothering you, my bad.
Cliff you mentioned the HB1B, but what do think of it? Great video. Thx. Kw4jm
I think it's a perfectly viable radio and wouldn't hesitate to take one on vacation, etc. - Cliff
ok, bud , now what should i look for in a battery, you have helped my with the radio, qrp radio, and the antennas, now i guess u might as well give me some idea about battery power, agm, sla, ????? LOL, I will call it the QRP school radio rig LOL!
I use a Stark Power 9Ah Lithium Ion battery. It's lightweight and I get all 9 Ah of current before the voltage drops to unusable levels. If you want to spend less at this time, a simple 7Ah SLA battery will do the trick! You'll be able to transmit morse code all day with a QRP radio using a battery like this: www.amazon.com/ExpertPower-EXP1270-Rechargeable-Lead-Battery/dp/B003S1RQ2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469026294&sr=8-1&keywords=7ah+battery
thanks man, u should probably start charging a advisory fee, lol
If I just starting with qrp would the mfj-9296 a decent choice
Quick question ! I run a homebuilt magloop antenna (36” across)for 40-10meters, is it possible with these little radios (MountainTopper) to hear the “peak” of the matching capacitor when trying to find a match?
I built a Norcal 40 that i cannot peak tune to the resonant frequency.
Yes, you should be able to use the magloop with a QRP radio the same as with any radio. Go for it. While I'm here, I have to tell you that using a 36" magloop on 40 meters will put you into QRPp teritory. Loops of that size are great for 20m and up.
But, for 40 meters your 5 watts will turn in to a few hundred milliwatts. It's just physics... the size of the loop is so small compared to the wavelength of the lower bands. This warning is not from me... it's from an article I read from a couple of PhD's who wrote an article about using the AlexLoop. They graphed the efficiency and it just plumments when you drop below 20 meters. - Cliff
QRP School I know. Its only like 7% efficiency on 40. I built it to actually work with my SDRPlay receiver. It actually tunes from about 5600-22000. I just started teaching a group of Homeschool kids about Amateur Radio. I am trying to get them excited about Radio. Its easier to lug this thing around vs a full size antenna. I did build it with a 6Kv transmitting capacitor. I have run it with my 7300 but only briefly. My Norcal 40 (the pre-kit version) will not peak on receive with the loop. Im looking for a small portable radio I can bring to class and demonstrate to the kids cw/ssb. Im looking at the Elecraft KX2. Its sooo nice.
If you were t buy one Elecraft KX radio, would it be the KX2 or the KX3 and why
MB
LOL @ Data and the Muppet guys.
great video cliff, u r definitely the go to guy for qrp, i think i'm going grab the MFJ 9296 , low cost , multi band, if i don't end up sticking with QRP i haven't invested that much. Would you be able to give any suggestions as far as antennas, something i could maybe hike with, im guessing 40 m maybe.
If you'd like to purchase a commercial antenna for hiking - or just want a very compact antenna - I would recommend the LNR Precision 10/20/40 End Fed Half Wave antenna. During the day, you'll want 20 meters. In the evenings, you'll want 40 meters. This little antenna will work on both of those bands. I have it and it works great. Check it out here: www.lnrprecision.com/store/#!/EFT-10-20-40-Trail-Friendly/p/39885475/category=10468543
+QRP School absolutely fantastic man, ty very much
+QRP School ok, and just curious, do u have a preference over the mfj , and the L N R MTR3B. other than the mfj being 6 bands and the lnr being 3 bands
+Hammer USN 75 bucks for the antenna is great, they were out of stock on both the LNR s or I would have ordered one
+Hammer USN correction , when i said they were out of stock on the LNRs i meant the transceivers , not the antenna...
In your opinion which radio has the best receive? I'm currently building 2 Pixie 40m radios.. i already have an ft-817 with all the options but i find its to big for backpacking...
There's "Best" and there's "Plenty Good Enough". The KX3/KX2 would be in my "Best" list. If you care about all modes, I'd go with the KX2 since it's significantly smaller than the KX3. All other radios (except the single frequency rigs with wide bandwidth) are plenty good enough.
The KX1, if you can find one, is a fantastic little rig that was designed for hiking/backpacking. But you should definitely check out the LNR Precision Mountain Toppers. They are pocket-sized - although you'll need an external battery. You may want to consider using a battery pack like those used in RC model cars to keep the package small. (The KX2 has a nice internal Lithium Ion battery pack, btw.) - Cliff
But if I had 10 qrp radios I just might have to start paying alimony.
I would like some help about morse radio .. i would like get one but i really dont know where to find it on Google lol , radio morse transceiver give me bad résult.. maybe i can have the chance to know some good model for less 100$? And what i need for use it ? I mean , antenna etc etc .. that would be very sad if i buy one and i cant use it directly because i miss other stuff..sorry im noob
Welcome to the wide world of ham radio. There's a lot of information that you need to get up-to-speed on... more than I can send by typing. It would be best if you could join a local amateur radio club and meet some other hams who could talk with you in-person. You might also want to take a look at the ARRL.org online bookstore which has books for hams of every level. This one is recommended for hams that want to set up their first HF radio station: www.arrl.org/shop/Your-First-Amateur-Radio-HF-Station/
PS: And if you must pack a separate ATU, which ones do you like? Thx agn.
KK4 ZJH I try to always use resonant antennas. That said, if there's an option for an internal tuner I my radios, I get it. For the ones that don't, I use my Elecraft T1 tuner. It's small and does a great job. -Cliff
Thx Cliff. Do you know of any other portables that have an internal ATU other than the Kx's?
Hmmm... the only small HF radios with a tuner (besides the KX1/KX2/KX3) that I can think of is the PFR by Steve Weber, which has a Balanced Line Tuner. www.qrpkits.com/pfr3.html -Cliff
I have been told that MFJ is dis-continuing the 9200 series.
Lee, WA8QFE
Thanks, Lee. I recently heard the same thing. - Cliff
Could you tell me does KX2 do all digital modes. Thanx 73 KC3HMC
Hello, Dave. You can connect the KX2 to your computer and use any digital mode software. As a matter of fact, you can connect ANY HF radio that can transmit SSB (voice mode) to your computer and do digital modes. I use a Signalink box for this purpose.
The KX2/KX3 also have the ability to decode PSK31 and RTTY without a computer. And, if you send morse code using paddles, the radio will encode your morse code to PSK31 or RTTY. This allows you to send/receive PSK31 and RTTY without having to take a computer with you into the field. However, I'm (relatively) slow at sending Morse Code using paddles and can type much faster so I'd rather type than send PSK31/RTTY with paddles. Plus, using computer software instead of paddles allows you to take advantage of "macros" (pre-written text) and logging capabilities of the software.
If you're trying to decide if you want a KX2, it's a FANTASTIC little radio!!!!!!! -Cliff
Thank you for the information. I have Signalink with Kenwood TS 590D at the shack. Was looking for grab & go. I like your comment I will be getting me KX2! Thanx! KC3HMC 73.
Even though most of these radios are Morse Code only, can you still listen to voice transmissions on them?
Some (but very few) CW-Only radios allow you to switch the receiver between CW, Upper Sideband, and Lower Sideband. The user manual will tell you if they do. The two CW-only radios that I have owned that do this are the Elecraft KX1 and the Youkits HB1B-Mk III. If anyone else reading this knows of others, please reply to this comment. Thanks - Cliff
QRP School I was thinking it might be a silly question but I'm glad I asked and that you answered. I wanted to get a decent transceiver first and just listen and get familiar with everything before I take my first exams. Thank You so much.
Cliff, another great video about QRP radios. Help me out, though. What actually constitutes a QRP radio? Other than transmitting on
have you ever used a youkits tj2b 2016
I haven't. I think it's an interesting little radio but there are two things that bother me about it...
1. Fixed 1KHz Sidetone Pitch. This is too high-pitched for my taste. I actually am not aware of any other radio whose sidetone pitch is so high.
2. Can't Handle > 30 Second Transmit Time. The manual says you can damage the radio by transmitting full-power for more than 30 seconds. That makes it less attractive for people like me who would also like to use it for digital modes.
-Cliff
+QRP School after talking with the designer they said on ssb the tx limit is 1.5 to 2 minutes it's only on cw is the limit 30 seconds and they officially support digital modes like psk31,jt65 and wspr
Aaaand the question everyone wanted to ask... when is the giveaway? ahah 73...
I just don't understand why there are not many little QRP radios designed for digital only in mind. There are 4 radios in your table designed only for CW, why no more people do the same for radios for RTTY,PSK, etc? Im in the market right now shopping for a QRP radio for ONLY digital which is the only I like at this moment, something that I can hook to a Windows tablet and be in the air doing PSK,WinLink, etc without a bunch of cables or interfaces in between. I narrowed down to the KX2 which in my opinion is a total waste of resources for what I need and the Xiegu 5105 which has internal antenna tuner, like an antenna analyzer and IF output which the KX2 dont have, is just that Im not trill for Chinese radios. Anyways, if someone knows about QRP radios designed for Data that put at minimum 5 watts please let me know, maybe I just dont found them yet, but is frustrating why many developments for QRP radios for CW only and nothing for data. I had a Kx3 in the past and the radio is top notch, for if you like voice or CW. I like Elecraft but I think they screwed up in 2 very simple things in the KX2, not an IF output? really? is that hard? and the thing to have to open the case to recharge the battery, that is very silly and can;t believe they did that.
Radios for CW-only can have circuitry that is less sophisticated than radios for SSB. Since the Digital Modes all transmit modulated audio that is Upper Sideband, a radio used for Digital Modes must be capable of SSB. So, sadly, a cheap, small, CW-only radio cannot be used for Digital Modes.
I think you meant to question why the KX2 doesn't have IQ outputs (not IF), right? I have heard rumors that there are IQ outputs on the circuit board of the KX2... as though it might be possible for someone to tap into that. Again, it's just a rumor. Elecraft would naturally want to keep some of the KX3's functionality from the KX2 so that KX2 sales wouldn't cannibalize KX3 sales. I suspect removing IQ outputs from the KX2 is part of that strategy (just as the KX2 doesn't have 160m or 6m bands).
I agree that it would be best to not have to open the KX2 case to recharge the battery. On the other hand, it only takes about 5 seconds to loosen the 2 thumb screws and remove the battery. And accessing the battery compartment in this manner makes it easy for those who wish to carry more than one charged Elecraft battery. So, I can see both sides of it.
Keep an eye out for Hans Summers QSX transceiver kit. This $150 radio kit will probably be the radio you're looking for in order to put together a low-cost multiband HF radio for digital! Read about it here: www.qrp-labs.com/qsx.html
Cliff
@@QRPSchool Hi Cliff, thanks for your reply. Regarding the battery, I know it is "easy" to remove it but lets remember that is a radio ment to portable/sota/trail operations. I personally dont feel confortable opening a radio and be able to see all internal components while I am outdoor. Outdoor and mostly during sota operations we have many elements like snow, water, etc and open a care of an expensive radio to have to pull a cable from his plug? mehh, nop, is way easier to just plug a charger to it. If I go with a KX2 which i doubt the first this I will do is to drill a hole and put a connector in the case. I will take a look of the radio in your link, thank you very much. So far the Xiegu 5105 still winning.
ATTENTION ATTENTION , From this day forth , thall shall refer to me as "KD9GRP"!!! lol.
KD9GRP! Way to go. The hook has been set and you've been reeled in, my friend. Congrats! - Cliff
+QRP School lol, ur right , thanks! and honestly u and ur channel really got me interested, and motivated Cliff , so THANKS AGAIN MAN!
hope this discussion link will assist in decisions. forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/best-bargain-hf-cw-only-transciever-or-equivalent-near-100.530010/
Thanks, Kevin. That's a very helpful link for those looking for a low-cost QRP rig. - Cliff
Very droll picture of data
CW only radio is a joke in 2020 I think.
I understand why you would say that and I wouldn't recommend that someone buy a CW-only radio as their ONLY radio. A small do-it-all radio like the excellent Elecraft KX2 will allow you to do CW, voice, and digital. That said, a small CW-only radio can be a lot of fun to take into the field when you want a very compact, dedicated radio for a CW outing. If you saw my last video (made in May of 2019!) I worked 8 stations that were 5,000+ miles away using only a tiny Mountain Topper CW-only radio. That made the accomplishment more fun for me... like catching a big fish using lightweight fishing tackle. To each his/her own. It's all good. - Cliff
$1100 is way to much for a qrp only radio IMO.
I just posted a link to discussion about a QRP radio around $100. see above previous comment.
This is an opinion. You get what u pay for. For ppl who want the best and can afford it Elecraft is best.
Elecraft makes fantastic QRP radios and I've got 5 of them (2 KX1's, a K1, a KX2, and a KX3). But, to be fair, there are other radios that might be considered "best" by someone with specific criteria. For example, someone hiking the AT might prefer the tiny MTR3B sold by LNR Precision - even though every Elecraft radio is superior to it.
For Field Day last year, my ARES group used my Flex-6300 with a 30" monitor. That radio, turned down to 5 watts with a 30" panadapter, provides an incredible QRP base station. You have to see it in action to believe how awesome it is.
I do agree with you that Elecraft makes "the best" traditional QRP radios. - Cliff
+QRP School Yes sir. You are right.
+QRP School To be clear I am not knocking the quality they have excellent rx. I just couldn't bring myself to backpack a $1000 radio. That is just my take on it everyone has different priorities and objectives.
Great video (and the first one as well)! You've inspired me to explore QRP! Thanks! Jack KB4CG