On 4/3/2012 8:24 AM, Keith Heimbold wrote: > If i had to make a recommendation, my choice would be the KX3. I do think > you should do as much due diligence before purchasing and check out as many > different rigs as possible.
As an old timer, 55 years licensed, and more active now than I've ever been, I STRONGLY agree with others who have recommended a high quality pre-owned, vintage rig that runs 100W on the HF bands and includes an antenna tuner. Most that fall into this category are designed to run on 12VDC, so they will work fine in your car. I've worked a lot of mobile, both CW and SSB, using four different rigs at various times. I simply put them on the passenger seat, tilted in such a way that I can read the tuning dial and access the knobs. No, this arrangement doesn't work when you have a passenger, but hams who intend to keep their spouses don't work mobile when their spouse is in the car! Two fine vintage100W rigs I've owned and loved are the Kenwood TS850 and Icom 746. Either of them could be purchased used in the $700-$900 range. The 746 is also a decent 6M and 2M radio. The TS950, mentioned by others, is also a fine rig. > Make sure for your base to put up the best antenna possible. I am a new ham > (15 months) and started with a vertical then quickly moved to a hex beam and > am now about to install a SteppIR three element this June. The antenna is > 80-90% of the hobby. I also strongly agree with this advice. BUT -- before I did ANYTHING with antennas,you should buy the ARRL Handbook and carefully study the chapters on antennas. Very good antennas for the HF bands can be built very inexpensively with wire and insulators, thrown into a tree, or suspended between trees, buildings, even low cost TV mast if it's guyed properly. For some ideas on how to build low cost antennas for limited space, see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm The KX3 would be an excellent choice for a mobile rig, but you will want the 100W amp and the 100W antenna tuner. Neither are yet available, and they will certainly add to the cost. I'd let that be my second rig, selling the vintage rig to buy it if necessary. QRP is fun with decent antennas, but less so with poor ones, and because they are shorter than full size antennas for the lower HF bands. You'll also do much better running QRP on CW or digital modes than on SSB. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
