I ordered a "Think-tank Strobe Stuff" bag from Amazon (about $45). It just arrived, and in my opinion this is the ideal bag for anyone who wants to carry a KX3 and accessories in the smallest possible form- factor.
You could even use this bag for Ultra-light HF Pack operation (pedestrian mobile). Just strap it on and deploy the whip out of the top of the bag. There's a way for mic and headphone cables (and a trailing ground wire) to emerge from the bag while it's fully zippered shut. (I also need to write some new firmware that allows you to hold both mic buttons together to switch their function from VFO control to volume control :) The "LowePro Edit 140" bag, which I also have, and Rose Kopp's KX3 bag, both have a lot more space when you need it. But sometimes I like to travel really light. Here's a rough dimensional comparison (HWD) of the two camera accessory bags: "Edit 140": 6 x 11 x 7.5" (total volume, about 500 in^2) "Strobe Stuff": 4 x 9.5 x 4.5 (about 170 in^2) The Strobe Stuff bag is much smaller, but still holds everything you need for a complete station: KX3 MH3 mic backup "mini-mic" (3" long, hinged, with 3.5 mm plug) KXPD3 keyer paddle ear buds spare set of 8 AA cells (or a 4-cell, 14-V Li-Ion pack) antenna and ground wire (two 25' lengths of Wireman #26 "silky") two 1" stainless-steel hex nuts (for tossing wire into a tree) 20-m two-piece telescoping whip (in case there isn't a tree) BNC L BNC-to-binding post adapter (for use with the wires) I put the KX3 and the antenna wire in the main pocket, spare batteries in the small accessory pocket on the bottom of the bag (4 x 4 x 1"), and everything else in the large accessory pocket (4 x 10 x 1"). The Strobe Stuff bag has a few other features: - The small zipper pocket at the bottom normally holds a rain fly that can be pulled out and secured over the entire bag to keep it dry. But I pulled the rain fly out in favor of the external battery pack or spare AA cells. - At the top of the bag there's a small fabric loop you could use for hanging or carrying, and two smaller loops that could serve as strain relief points for wire. - On the back there's a T-shaped fabric strap with lots of velcro that conceals a hinged strip of very sturdy plastic. This strip reinforces the fabric strap, so the bag can be attached securely to a belt or backpack. The strip also seems to function as a tilt-stand for the bag if deployed at an angle. This probably has some utility when used with camera strobe lights. I'll be testing the bag this weekend (Field Day). 73, Wayne N6KR ______________________________________________________________ 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
