ELECRAFT KX3 REVIEW

ROLLS ROYCE QRP?

January 2022

I’ve had a KX3 for a while now, so maybe it's time to talk about it. I’m going to be referencing a couple of other radios throughout.

When it comes to choosing a QRP Transceiver, there are basically 3 main dealerships you can visit -  DACIA, FORD or ROLLS ROYCE. Or in other words, Xiegu, Yaesu or Elecraft. 

Now please bear in mind that these are just my opinions and I'm not saying that my choices are right and yours are wrong. We all have very different requirements, desires and priorities.

At the budget end, Xiegu offer a nice range of QRP radios and I have the Xiegu G90 which is an absolutely stonking bit of HF kit for the money! It really does amaze considering that it costs so little and yet includes so much. Xiegu have other radios worthy of consideration too including the X6100 & 5105.

Somewhere in the middle is the YAESU FT-818  which not only does HF, but also 2M & 70cm. It's compact, tough as old boots, good looking and performs really well out on the field. It's probably the most popular portable qrp-transceiver ever built and has been selling for around 20yrs. Presumably, it'll be replaced soon by a newer model - probably an SDR.

At the top end, there's the stunningly good ELECRAFT KX3 and that's what we'll be focusing on today. It's by far the best radio of this little group, but it costs a small fortune if you spec it up to include all the desirable options.

I took this photo before removing and selling the 2M module!

 

The KX3 covers 160-6M straight from the box and at the time of writing, that will set you back £1600 plus another £50 'build fee' and then another £90 for a microphone! 😮

On top of that, I have the following optional extras...

* KX32M        2M Module       £300

* KXFL3        Roofing Filter  £190

* KXBC3        Charger           £100

* KXPD3       Iambic Keyer    £160

* KXAT3        Auto ATU          £295

I sold the KX32M (2M module) because I just never really used it. It could only put out 3W max and I rarely go outdoors to play anything other than HF. If I do decide to spend the day engaging in VHF activities, I'd take something dedicated to the task.

But anyway, if you bought the same spec KX3, at the time of writing, it would add up to a staggering £2645 😮 That is an insane amount of money for a little portable QRP radio! But that's where this radio differs to the others - used with an amp, this radio could easily also be your main Base Station too.

The first thing I want to point out about the KX3 as an outdoor-radio is that although it's beautifully made, it is also (in my opinion) a little vulnerable to damage from knocks and scrapes. The only solution is to protect it (at even more cost) by adding side-rails and a cover. These are readily available on the internet for around £80. Without them, you'd be worrying about damaging that big beautiful screen (although in reality it's the perspex cover which would get scratched).

The other thing I'm not happy about is the KX3's 'clamshell' design. There is no hinge between the upper and lower parts of the case and when you open them up, you have to be extremely careful not to damage the delicate ribbon cable - you also have to be careful not to trap or kink it when closing the case. The supplied heatsink is also inadequate and should be replaced if you plan to transmit at 15W for any length of time. There is obviously zero waterproofing! Quite a poor design IMHO.

The KX3 has a very sensitive receiver and it's easy to demonstrate it's superiority over the other two radios when you put them side by side and tune into weaker stations. On the G90 and the FT818, there's many occasions where you just cannot pick up the signals that the KX3 hears.

It's important to use a good battery with the KX3 (or any other portable radio) in my opinion. Manufacturers incorporate internal Nicad battery trays but they very quickly run low on power which can cause issues such as the ATU being unable to find a match, etc.

If you invest in a good, LifePO 13.2V battery, you will pat yourself on the back every day!! Rely on nicads and expect disappointment somewhere along the line. If you're not going to be climbing hillsides, you can probably afford to get a heavier battery. Perfect for things like Parks On The Air!

All three radios can obviously pick up regular strength transmissions and many operators will be perfectly happy with the cheaper radios. It's worth mentioning though, the KX3's noise floor is supremely low and that's one of those things that just makes you smile every time you switch it on. It's one of the things that makes this radio special. I'll never forget the first time I took it out in the field and switched it on - I thought there was something wrong because it was deathly quiet - and then a signal came in - boom!

The Elecraft also benefits enormously from the KXFL3 Dual PassBand Roofing Filter. The G90 has some great filters built-in but they obviously don't compare to Elecraft's. This filter makes a huge difference and puts the receiver in a class above the rest.  I installed a Collins SSB filter to the FT-818, but to be honest, it didn't seem to make much of a difference - to the point where I might actually remove it and sell it!

 

The other massive advantage of the KX3 is that big, beautiful, crystal clear LCD display! It is just soooo nice to use and let's not forget also, all those lovely buttons and dials which are lacking on the 818 and 90. Many people don't realise that the KX3 screen is exactly the same size as the one used on the Elecraft  K3S Base Station! 

When I'm using the 818 outdoors, I always seem to struggle to find a good spot for the radio to sit so that I can see the display. The KX3 on the other hand always seems to be in just the right position and everything kinda falls to hand. The G90 (with the H1 cooler/stand) is much better than the 818 in this respect, but the (lovely) 2" colour screen is not always easy to see in strong sunlight.

The G90 has one thing that I truly wish the other two radios had - a panadapter and waterfall. Boy, that is such a great feature and I think the Elecraft should also have one - even if it's a simple affair. Needless to say, you can spend even more money on a PX3, but then the total price just goes into lunatic mode. 

One failing of the Elecraft KX3 is the audio! The speaker just sounds dreadful! And even though Elecraft try to ignore the issue by saying it's purely a backup and they expect people to use headphones, the fact is, they could easily have done much better! I have a £25 Baofeng which has a superb tiny speaker built in. I strongly recommend that you use an external powered speaker or a good quality pair of earphones. 

The advantage of wearing earphones with the KX3 include the ability to use the DUALWATCH feature where one VFO's audio is played through the left earphone and the other VFO's audio is played through the right earphone. Just bear in mind that A and B can only be a maximum of 15KHz apart, which is a bit poor.

You also get the option to switch on the DELAY feature in single-VFO mode. This adds a very slight amount of echo to the audio, making it sound quite pleasant. You can also use the built-in equaliser to fine tune the audio.

So what's it like to 'lug around'? Well I'd say it's similar to the other two radios. There's not a lot between any of them, but the Xiegu is a bit more awkward due to its length. The 818 is super-slim and if you've got the Yaesu matching leather case, then you can just chuck the 818 into your rucksack without a second thought.

LowePro Tahoe BP-150
 

 

The Elecraft fits neatly into my small rusksack and leaves loads of space for other stuff including a LifePO battery, connectors, antennas, phone, torch, whistle, notepad and even a handheld radio for a spot of DSTAR, FUSION, 2M, 4M and 70cm. I could actually use a much smaller rucksack instead, but I like having a few extra bits and bats with me. Inside that top section I also have rather nifty antennas from Hawkins for my 2/4/6M work, which simply hangs from the top of my telescopic mast.

 Compact 6M Antenna

If you're really pushed for space and are happy to operate on 20M and 17M only, you can carry your KX3 and battery in the smallest bag you can find and just take Elecraft's AX-1 telescopic antenna with you. It's a fabulous little thing and performs really well if you give it a good take-off point. I've managed amazing distances with it, even from my back garden!

 

I've tried this beaut of an antenna connected directly to the BNC socket of my FT-818 too and got from Manchester to Denmark on 2.5W. And I'm talking about a proper lengthy chinwag, not a fake report and 73. I sometimes use this antenna at the top of a portable mast so it's 20ft up in the air. I recently bought the 40M extension. Highly recommended bit of kit! Some people have even modified their AX1 to further enhance its capabilities - read this article from Rob Ramsey, AH6X

Anyway, back to the KX3 itself.  Amongst its other useful features, it has a built-in, on-screen decoder for CW, RTTY and PSK. Personally, I don't (can't) use CW but I do sometimes like to listen and watch the decoded messages. I also like to be able to SEND CW messages like "CQ TEST M7MCQ" to see how far my signal can be heard on the RBN.

Being an SDR radio, the Elecraft is, of course, able to have its firmware updated and Elecraft are not slow to give their customers what they ask for. The same applies to the Xiegu G90 too, but the FT-818 is obviously a superhet and frozen in time.

Highest power output places the Xiegu in first place with 20W. Elecraft is second at 15W and the Yaesu a lowly third with just 6W. The good thing about the KX3 is that its power can be reduced down to a few mW which can save battery usage and is a lot of fun.

Speaking of power, the KX3 is by far the most energy efficient of the bunch, consuming less than 150mW in receive mode. That is a very important consideration when working outdoors on battery power for hour after hour. To many field-operators it is the Number One consideration when choosing a radio.

Another important option is having an internal ATU. The Xiegu has one built-in and I'd say it's as good as the Elecraft's optional ATU. They're both just superb! Sadly, the Yaesu has no ATU and you have to resort to buying (and carrying around) an external unit. I'd recommend the LDG Z-817.

CONCLUSION

So in summary, I'd say again that the Elecraft KX3 is a magnificent radio and something that anyone would surely be proud to own. It's ridiculously expensive with all the optional extras and the Xiegu G90 almost laughs in its face when measured in terms of cost alone.

There's no denying that the Panadapter & Waterfall of the G90 is handy, but operators have been playing radio without them for many decades. It's certainly not worth buying a PX3 for the KX3 unless you find one super-cheap at a rally (unlikely).

As for the Yaesu FT-818, that too is a fab little rig. It does so much and is so incredibly dependable that it feels like sacrilege to discuss it in anything but positive terms. But the truth is, its design is showing its age. Then again, the KX3 could also benefit from an update - maybe a better battery pack & charging system, a soundcard and a USB-C connector?

If you wish to add computer control to your KX3 in the shack, then there's a few options out there which will not only give you control of the rig, but also a panadapter. Here's one such solution...

Win4K3Suite

Anyway, if you've worked your ass off and saved up some money, or if you just won a bet at the races and want to treat yourself to something REAL SPECIAL, then buy an Elecraft KX3 without any hesitation. They are very special and a joy to use.

CAN IT BE MY SHACK RADIO TOO??

Hell, yes! If you have an amplifier, the KX3 could be your everything radio! There's a wide range of amps out there to choose from and if you've got the money, Elecraft's KXPA-100 is the one to go for.... 

Pictured above is the matching 100W amplifier - mini review here... Elecraft KXPA100-AT.

 

HOW ABOUT SWL??

The KX3 would make a magnificent ShortWave Listeners radio, but it would obviously be a very expensive one unless you were lucky enough to find a reasonably priced used one. If you did manage to find one, I'd recommend using it with an antenna coupler or a manual tuner such as the Emtech ZM-2 or the Kanga TransMatch.

Have yourself a Rolls Royce parked on the drive 😂

Mounted on a stand in the shack

Connected to Sony amplified speaker

KX3 SPECIFICATIONS :

KX3 STANDARD FEATURES

•160 - 6 meter ham bands; general coverage receive from 1.5 - 32.0 MHz (also covers 0.31 - 1.5 MHz with reduced sensitivity)

•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

•Internal 8 - AA battery holder

•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

•Dual roofing filter option for enhanced dynamic range.  (500/1500 Hz analog filters; effective IF b/w of 1000/3000 Hz) 

•Switchable preamp and attenuator 

•8-band receive audio equalizer

•Dual watch over +/- 15 kHz 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 15 W (8 W 12, 10 & 6 M)

•(100 W with KXPA100 amp)

•Rugged, SWR and temperature-protected final amplifier stage

•Optional MH3 microphone with PTT and UP/DOWN functions

•Optional attached keyer paddle with spacing adjustment

•Switchable PA output impedance for efficient 5-W or 15-W use

•Fast, silent, PIN-diode T-R switching - no relays

•DSP RF 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 VFOs, modes, etc.

•Computer control via supplied USB cable or optional RS-232 cables

•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)

•Tutorial-style manual ideal for new hams

 

OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES

KXFL3 Roofing Dual Bandwidth Filter for SSB/CW/DATA

KXAT3 Internal, Wide-Range 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner

KXBC3 NiMH Charger

     (8 - AA NiMH batteries not supplied with KX3; non-rechargeables can also be used in KX3 internal battery holder)

KX3-2M Internal 2-Meter Module

H3 Hand Microphone with UP/DN Controls

KXPD3 Attached Precision Keyer Paddle

KXPA100 High-Performance 160-6 meter, External 100-W Amplifier

     also usable with most 5 to 10 W transceivers

KXAT100 Wide-Range 100-W ATU with Dual Antenna Jacks

 

Please leave any comments in the box below. And thanks for popping by.

SAMLEX SEC-1235G UPGRADE/MOD

BACK TO FRONT

As much as I like the SEC-1235G power supply, I do think it would benefit from having an outlet on the front of the case as well as the rear panel. So I decided to open it up to see if there was any room to fit an Anderson PowerPole socket. It's quite a large case, so I thought there'd be plenty of space.

Well it turns out there's not that much room after all, but with some careful measuring I found a spot where it would go and as it turned out, that spot looked pretty good. I got it so that the fixing screws would align perfectly with the white line on the front panel.

Cutting out the aperture for the power socket was, of course, the trickiest part of the job, but thankfully, it has a pretty large flange, so any 'sins' are easy to hide.  I used a Dremel and a metal-cutting-disc. I wasn't sure if the power cable would need it or not, but I fitted a ferrite bead anyway.

Once it was all back together, I applied a little black paint to the fixing screws so they didn't stand out so much (I had no black set-screws). This little job took just a few minutes to complete and was a really worthwhile upgrade - one I think Samlex should consider doing 😂

CAUTION!!!

Beware of the risk of electrocution
when working with high voltages
and be cautious with large capacitors!

Modifying your PSU will void your warranty!

73, Tom, M7MCQ.

QRPGUYS SWR BRIDGE KIT

A GREAT LITTLE KIT!

Super simple to build! It only consists of 16 parts and it literally takes a few minutes to put together. A great beginner project.

The QRPGUYS call this their "LED Tuning Indicator" but most other people would call it an SWR Bridge. I purchased it because I was just a little concerned that I might harm the finals in my QRP-Labs QDX while tuning-up.

I use an Elecraft AT1 tuner which is remarkably fast at finding a match, but for the sake of $20, it's just not worth the risk. With this bridge fitted inline, the QDX will never see more than a 2:1 mismatch. It's rated at 10W PEP or 5W CW which is perfect for the QDX.

All you need to do is fit it between your transceiver and ATU and flick the switch to the TUNE position before tuning up as normal. As the tuner gets closer to a good match, you'll see the onboard LED glow dimmer and dimmer. When your tuner finds a 1:1 match, the LED should extinguish (although it may actually stay on VERY dimly).

So once you've found your match, just flick the switch back to OPERate and away you go. Leaving the switch in the TUNE position will result in your transmitted power being reduced by a factor of 4 (approximately). This can be handy for when you wish to reduce the transmitted power of your QDX for WSPR tests.

When I'd built the little kit, I attached it to the QDX and gave it a go. It worked perfectly on all bands and had ZERO impact when in the bypassed mode for normal operation. Very pleased with this little device and I look forward to playing around with some more QRPGUYS kits in the future.

Kit available >> here <<

Here’s a video of the kit in action with my PreppComm MMX (which is notoriously easy to blow up 😂

SWR-BRIDGE IN ACTION

Just to clarify, this device (apart from being used in-between a radio and a tuner) can be used without an ATU to help you to determine how close to resonance your antenna is. You could adjust the length of your antenna and monitor the brightness of the led after each adjustment. When the led no longer lights up, you've reached the sweet spot.

Here’s a >LINK< to the manual.

Thanks for visiting the Blog. Feel free to leave a comment below.

73, Tom, M7MCQ.

#qrpguys #qrp-labs qdx #swr-bridge

THE FIRST 3 YEARS AS A HAM OPERATOR

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE ENJOYING YOURSELF

I came to be a licensed Amateur Radio operator quite late in life at 60yrs old, but I've been a ShortWave Listener for 30 years or more. On my 60th birthday (December 2019), my friend Carl (G0UXF) bought me a handheld transceiver (Baofeng UV-5R) and it was this "nudge" that made me decide to look into becoming licensed after all these years.

The truth is, back in the 90's when my mates were talking about getting their licences, I'd never really felt like I had the time to study because of work commitments and career progression. I also had the great pressure of discovering that my firstborn son had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which was a terminal illness. All my focus was on him and the rest of my family.

So moving on 30yrs, I discovered that unlike in the 1990's where you had to go to college to study for your RAE, you could now start with a Foundation Licence which permits operation on almost all the bands with a power limit of 10W. That sounded fantastic to me, so I joined the West Manchester Radio Club and never looked back!

The Club had a Tutor (Jim Brett) but the course was nearing its end when I joined, but I still decided to jump on board and take the exam which was due in a few weeks time.

I had already purchased the FOUNDATION LICENCE NOW book and judging by the contents, I reckoned it would be pretty easy to pass the exam. 

There were 26 questions in the exam and all of them were multiple choice answers. You needed to get 19 correct answers in order to qualify for a pass, which leaves quite a generous margin of error.

As part of the training provided by WMRC, one of the senior members (G0FRL) very kindly visited my home to provide me with some practical tuition (which was compulsory then, but no longer is since the Covid Pandemic). He also took me through the Morse Code requirement which again has been removed from the syllabus. 

Anyway, when I took the exam I was gutted to find I'd got one answer wrong. My instructor said he'd have chosen the same answer as me but my invigilator disagreed. No matter though - I had passed and soon after I received my letter from OFCOM, so the real learning could begin. I had always wanted an MCQ callsign and I was lucky enough to get the one I requested : M7MCQ.

My first radio apart from the Baofeng, was a Yaesu FT-897D and at home I'd found a nice little corner to set up my Shack. It was all very exciting and the start of something much bigger.

Little did I know how much there was to the hobby. Even though I'd been a SWL for decades, I'd never realised how much things had changed in the world of amateur radio.

One of the biggest changes was the progress of digital operations and also the introduction of full blown SDR (Software Defined Radio). This meant that this already wonderful hobby had a whole new raft of exciting avenues to explore! There were no end to the possibilities. I could experiment with voice on SSB FM, AM, voice on Digital (DSTAR, C4FM, DMR), and Data modes such as FT8, FT4, WSPR,etc.

My limit of 10W very quickly turned into an actual desire to use less and less power. QRP operation became enjoyable, to the point where I still have no interest in taking my Intermediate test even though I have zero doubt I would pass. Who knows - I might do it in the future just for the hell of it, but 10W is certainly not restrictive in terms of how much you can enjoy this hobby!

 

There's numerous experiments and fun to be had with antennas too. I learned how to erect and tune 'off the shelf' antennas and how to make my own from bits of wire and coat-hangers! It was like a dream come true to someone like me, who normally gets bored with hobbies because they become a bit repetitive.

If you've got an open mind, Amateur Radio will always keep you busy and interested! There really is no end to how varied the hobby is. It's good for your mental well-being because it keeps your brain active (heavily taxed sometimes 😂) and guess what? It can keep you physically fit and active if you choose to participate in some of the many outdoor pursuits such as Parks On The Air and Summits On The Air.

As a Foundation Licence holder, my 10W limit encourages me to go outdoors and find a good spot to work from. In the warmer, dryer months of Spring, Summer and Autumn, it's great fun to hike up to the top of a hillside or spend a day at the beach and set up station. It's good for you and your logbook! From the seaside I managed to have a number of amazingly clear chats with American operators using just 2.5W and a wire antenna. 

If you choose your destination well, you can make it very appealing to other family members too, so you're not abandoning them at the weekend. And you don't have to go far either!

Other enjoyable activities include Field Days with your local Club.  WMRC have organised countless Field Days over the years and it's always fun and rewarding. Of course, operating with the Club gives you the opportunity of using some amazing antennas and even experiencing a bit of QRO using the Club Call Sign under the supervision of members with a Full Licence.

 

Field Days also provide opportunities to learn from more experienced members. It might be something technical, something about RF or even how to tie a better knot to start a generator 😂. Whatever it is, you'll come away wiser than when you arrived. Others may also benefit from your help - everyone's got something to offer someone else. You also get to build closer friendships with fellow Hams.

I've really enjoyed trying out all the new equipment, selling some and then trying something new. I've enjoyed all the experiments in different modes of operation. antenna building, learning to master new software, configuring hardware, learning to build kits, learning to troubleshoot and trying to help other Newbies who are still learning.

 

In the last 3 years I've learned (but not necessarily mastered 😂) all sorts of stuff and continue to experiment and improve my knowledge of the hobby.

Best of all though, has to be sitting at a radio and speaking to a complete stranger at the other end of the world! Someone in a different timezone. Someone with a totally different outlook on life. Someone with something new to say. It'll never grow old.

If you happen to be someone who's been thinking of 'getting into radio', stop hesitating and go join your local Radio Club.  Join in and you'll be rewarded with new friends and new knowledge. 

So in summary, I'm pretty happy with my progress so far. I've made around 2500 logged entries and have managed to bag 76 countries using 10W or less. I'm sure that others have achieved much more in that time, but I'm still more than content with my progress considering that I work full time and have a few other demanding hobbies.  I look forward to many more years of enjoyment from Amateur Radio and I thoroughly recommend it to others.

73, Tom, M7MCQ
www.m7mcq.com

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GALLERY