While out in the woods yesterday doing the Polar Bear event (good wx for it - in the 20s w/wind chill taking it lower!!) I discovered my KXPD1 is not the same paddle as it is sitting on the bench at room temps. Which is often the case! My soft supple antenna wire becomes a slinky at 20*. I can hear it now - you say "why operate at freezing temps?" ...cause it's fun and a excuse to get out the house and play in the woods!
Seems the KXPD1 rubber paddle covers get more ridged causing the spring steel to push against the silver-wire contacts. Manuals say to squash the wire flat against the PCB with needle nose pliers to adjust the spacing. Well, my leatherman didn't make the trip. Plus I had spent the earlier evening getting the 'perfect' spacing! Thus when I plugged in the paddle it started sending ditdahditdah ...etc. Bummer! I thought I had found the solution to having a field paddle for all occasions. So I removed the covers and fummbled with the levers trying to not to sound like some ship wrecked survivor tapping two wires together! Has anyone come up with a solution for their KXPD1 for cold wx operation? Or a modification not using the rubber pads? I do like the basic design and having it itegrated with the KX1 is great but just need to resolve the tempeture issue IMHO. Steve/n0tu _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
