I am loading up for a 10 mile backpacking trip this weekend and was going through some weights this evening, along with cleaning my Simmerlite stove and digging up some of my other gear.
When I have gone on trips in the past I have taken my FT-857D. My favorite antenna is a Jumper dipole (sectional - has spade connectors between each consecutively lower frequency band segment 6 to 40 meters) and that is what I will continue to use, though I may try some other ideas as time goes on. My set up before was right about 15lbs. This included the FT-857D, battery, mic, key, antenna, and support rope. My total station weight for the KX3 is just 3.7lbs! This includes the following: Jumper dipole and 50' of 550 chord = 11.4oz KX3 with KXPD3 = 28.4oz Power wire = 1.1oz Mic/cable = 5.4oz Headphones = .4oz 8AA batteries = 7.8oz 6w solar panel = 5.3oz Total oz is 59.8, or 3.7375lbs. That is pretty cool. One caveat is the internal charger is not installed in the rig yet, so it will go up a tad in weight when I get that. I am also thinking of using my AA's externally with 2x 4 battery cases. This way I can charge them easier off the solar panel. What I am probably going to do for this weekend is still use my 7Ah SLA - that comes in at 85.8oz, or 5.36lbs. It is a big weight gain, but when I am in camp at night and the sun isn't out I can run all I want and not drain it. I am sure weights will fluctuate a bit, but given the weight of the rig and the low current consumption its amazing what all can go along and at minimal weight. Some die-hard backpackers would still say this is too much weight, but I am also a die-hard Ham so I'll take my 10lb weight loss and still be 4lbs or so over what I could be for the enjoyment of Ham radio on the trail. Steve, KC8QVO -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX-3-Thank-you-Elecraft-for-dropping-over-10lbs-off-my-pack-weight-tp7559790.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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
