Elecraft KX2 new firmware gives 3 times more operating time at full 10W !
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มี.ค. 2022
- Hello guys,
this video is all about the new Elecraft KX2 firmware which I’d become a volunteer tester of. This firmware v.3.02 makes the radio release full 10W of power output up to three times longer than it used to be before off the same battery. I liked this feature a lot and it worked even on my a bit oldie KX2 and its original 2.6Ah battery. IMPORTANT: this feature is ONLY available in CW mode due to linearity reasons of the final power amplifier of the transceiver.
I used in this video my new 100W Dummy Load. The links are affiliate which means I might get some small reward at no cost for you if you buy from these links. First link is convenient for European visitors, second - for the USA and the rest of the universe.
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Thanks for stopping by!
73! Linas LY2H - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Thank you for your service to all of us who has a KX2. Best 73 es hope to work you.
This is quite a fine video! Thank you for the excellent presentation!
Thank you for your effort to work with Elecraft on beta testing new firmware. We need smart guys like you vetting the new stuff 👍🏻
Nice video, Linas. Well spoken and well organised.
Linas, thanks again for the videos… I just uploaded the new firmware, and updated my messages via the Elecraft KX2 Utility program. I’ve yet to test it afield… but I don’t anticipate any problems. The new internal battery charger is of interest… I’d love that mod! Typically I run off an external 12v 10aH LiFePo4 battery. It’s a bit more weight than I’d like to carry, but worth carrying. I may try 10w more often… my solution is an efficient simple speaker wire doublet, up as high as I can get. In practice, it’s the best way to be heard… 72! de Rand W7UDT (dit dit)
Elecraft fantastic radio 73 from kb2uew
That was impressive. I did not think the radio would last near as long as it did on the internal battery.....and at 10 watts out to boot. Very impressive. Since I never run 10 watts, I'm sure I could do contest conditions at 5 watts out for probably 5 hours on
the internal battery. WOW !
Thanks for posting this very interesting and informative video.
Barry, KU3X
I love my KX2, it simply has the best sounding receiver.
Thank you for showing us test. This is handy for sota. I need to figure out how to update now.
Thanks for watching! Surely it’s a big deal for SOTA run! The official Beta version update is readily available for download at elecraft.com 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H thank you. Do you have a video on how to update firmware? I don’t think I have the proper cable.
@@JayN4GO Sorry, I don't have such a video . Yes, you need a special radio - to USB cable named KXUSB. I think it comes with the new radio. If not, it is possible to buy it from Elecraft. Then you need a KX2 Utility software installed onto your PC ( I think, there are versions for Mac and Linux too). This utility is actually a firmware installer to the radio. Both the Utility and the firmware are at free download from elecraft.com. It's all very simple and fun, actually! 73! Linas LY2H
Thanks for this! If I get time I will try the test also. 73, K8JLW
As someone wise once said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."..
You mentioned an internal battery charger. Is that an Elecraft product? I couldn't find it on their website. Great video. Thank you.
Thanks Ron! Regarding the KXIBC2 internal charger for the KX2, I think, I've red abt it first in the Elecraft group in the post from Wayne N6KR himself. I wrote Wayne asking for availability and he answered the charger wasn't "quite in the production" and that the company will announce availability. So much news so far, I'm checking their website and read the group regularly and hope Elecraft will release soon this small yet very useful mod. 73! Linas LY2H
Hi, greetings from UK!
very interesting experiment. A quick curiosity, how much extra weight do those side plates add to the rig?
I wonder if those thermal plates have any positive impact on transmit efficiency and as a consequence in running time?
Thanks for sharing.
Peace
72
Hi Vitor, thanks for watching! The side plates make a negligible increase in overal weight of the KX2 as it's made of lightweight aluminium. The heatsink is installed on one of the side plates. The heatsink makes a very positive impact on the transmit efficiency. I can run a really heavy-duty CW ( contest style) at 10W output with no problems now respectfully the running time. Before the heatsink, even at 5W output intense work in CW mode was problematic. So my personal opinion is the heatsink is a must if you plan to operate a lot of CW and Digital. If you only make leisure-style SSB ( 80% of listening, 20% of transmitting), then the extra-heatsink makes no sense. HTH, 72! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H Hi, thanks that is very useful to know. Also considering that I often like to operate in the summer in places where temperatures often rise above 28 degrees in the shade, that is definitely a good accessory to have.
Hi Linas, thinking about getting a KX2. Does the firmware upgrade increase the power output time at 10W on SSB ? I don't use CW and just an SSB operator. Thanks. 73
Hello Martin, thanks for a good question! Unfortunately, this new feature is only applicable to CW mode. As it is explained in the Elecraft firmware MCU3.02/DSP1.52 release notes, this is due to requirement for the power amplifier to preserve low transmit IMD. So, the 10W output at the power supply level of 9V is only made possible for the CW mode, for the other modes the criteria for 10W output is still 10V. HTH, 73! Linas LY2H
So the kx2 doesn't get hot running 10 watts cw continuous for 30 minutes.... Is that correct?
Correct, not only for 30min but for entire 1h 20min of the experiment keeping in the the same ~52C region and running non-stop CW . Equiped with the side-panel-heatsink combo, of course. 73! Linas LY2H
So if you had to choose between KX-2 and IC-705, which would you keep? I know, unfair question, and the right answer is to own both of them, right?
Yeh, keep'em both! Because they are of a bit different nature, and might complete different tasks in different circumstancies. So, you can take one wich is better suited for your concrete situation. Like, if you wanna operate HF /pedestrian mobile, keeping the radio in one hand with no way to handle microphone or CW paddle- then KX2 is unbeatable: built-in mic, pannel attached CW paddle , internal ATU and small size yet giving out 10W off internal battery. None of these functions found in 705. But if you need to operate portable but not that extra-light, like from the car, or on a park-bench , and you need also to have VHF/UHF bands, you want to use your laptop for digital and look for an easy one-cable-does-all interface ( or even wireless!) ,and you also like to test the antennas for the best tune and simple integrated antenna analyzer is your dream, then - IC-705 with its fantastic display /waterfall is unbeatable.None of these functions are in KX2. So that's why I keep them both. YMMV :) 73! Linas LY2H
the KXIBC2 is getting closer, it replaces the KXIO2 board... the product manual is on the Elecraft FTP site with a date of 26 Jan 2023...
ELECRAFT KXIBC2 INTERNAL BATTERY CHARGER MODULE INSTALLATION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Rev. B2, Jan. 26, 2023 Copyright 2023, Elecraft, Inc.
INTRODUCTION
The KXIBC2 module is a C/10-rate charger for the KXBT2 Li-ion internal battery pack. Operation is simple,
requiring only that a power supply be connected to the KX2 when charging is required. The radio may be on
or off during charging. The KXIBC2 does not generate any RFI, so the radio may be used during charging if
the power supply provides sufficient current for both charging and receive/transmit operation.
The KXIBC2 replaces the previous KXIO2 option module, retaining its RTC (real-time-clock) function.
That's a good news! Thank you Steve! I'm looking forward to it very much, it could be it's the best optional module for the KX2 (after the antenna tuner ). It would make the KX2 the second radio in the portable radios market which allows for charging when working ( at the moment, only the IC-705 can do this). Hope, it will be released soon! Thanks again, 73! Linas LY2H
Is that a (tr)uSDX in the corner? What’s your thoughts on it compared to the kx2
I'm glad you actually watched the video! Yes, it's a (tr)USDX sitting in the corner , just it's not assembled yet, still in waiting :) I do think it's a very interesting and very simplistic SDR design , but I don't think it could be compared as "apples-to-apples" with KX2. But I'm looking forward to assembling and testing it soon. 73! Linas LY2H
@@Linas_LY2H I have a (tr)uSDX and used it on a 6 day hike inside the Kruger game reserve in Africa managed 9 SSB QSO’s I’ve been saving for the KX2 but can’t justify it yet! So they can be compared for a specific activity- for an ultralight portable rig specifically for hiking it was very good (1.067kg) including antenna Coax battery external inear speaker mic and carry bag. With counterpoise for 40m and 20m I’ve got the weight down to 707g
@@downsouthsafaris6788 What a fantastic wild nature journey for a little radio, congratulations! Now I'm motivated to make my assembly work faster! As it comes to the KX2, it is a bit bigger than Tru alone, but it includes (my version) a battery, a speaker, an antenna tuner, an integrated cw paddle and a mic, protective side pannels/heatsink - all this weighs in 650 g, add a lightweight wire antenna ( with or without a coax cable) and it will make up to around 1kg in the backpack. Good luck, hope to work you /portable! 73! Linas LY2H
Есть такая мысль об ативоенном дне активности Украинских радиолюбителей. Вы приняли бы участие в таком дне активности?
what's your callsign?