Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat? (Barry N1EU

[Wayne Burdick]

FWIW, the drift is proportional to frequency, so you should be seeing < 3 Hz on 
20 meters. 

It’s < 2 Hz on my lab test unit on 20.

Wayne
N6KR



http://www.elecraft.com

> On Nov 24, 2017, at 4:23 PM, Edward R Cole  wrote:
> 
> I ran intensive frequency stability tests on my KX3 in 2014 after getting it. 
>  Adding a VE3FMN heat sink and running the temp-compensation procedure 
> maximum drift running JT65 on 6m showed +13-Hz drift in the first minute; no 
> more than 10-Hz afterward.  That is good enough for JT65 (but not sure what 
> WSPR or FT8 require).  Before installing the heat sink drift was 54-Hz before 
> temp comp.
> http://www.kl7uw.com/KX3.htm
> 
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
>  http://www.kl7uw.com
> Dubus-NA Business mail:
>  dubus...@gmail.com 
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat? (Barry N1EU

[Edward R Cole]

I ran intensive frequency stability tests on my KX3 in 2014 after 
getting it.  Adding a VE3FMN heat sink and running the 
temp-compensation procedure maximum drift running JT65 on 6m showed 
+13-Hz drift in the first minute; no more than 10-Hz afterward.  That 
is good enough for JT65 (but not sure what WSPR or FT8 
require).  Before installing the heat sink drift was 54-Hz before temp comp.

http://www.kl7uw.com/KX3.htm

73, Ed - KL7UW
  http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
  dubus...@gmail.com 


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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat? (Barry N1EU)

[Robert Allbright]

I wonder how stable is the KX2 in digital modes?
My KX3 with the temperature compensation carried out was inadequate when
running wspr at 5 watts output.
However, this was before Elecraft introduced the improved heat sink.
Rob G3RCE

On Nov 24, 2017 13:23, "Howard Hoyt"  wrote:

> Hi Barry,
>
> While using the KX2 in just about any digital mode above 5 W or so, we
> found the PA temp will reach thermal limit fairly quickly, which is why
> Elecraft rates the KX2 at 5 W in digital modes, and why we came up with an
> improved cooling solution.  (commercial content) Many owners who wish to
> run more than 5 W in digital modes have purchased the Pro Audio Engineering
> Kx22 Heatsink, which allows for an average (band and ambient temp
> dependent) 200-250% increase in transmit time before thermal limiting kicks
> in.
>
> Cheers & 73,
>
> Howie - WA4PSC
> www.proaudioeng.com
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat? (Barry N1EU)

[Howard Hoyt]

Hi Barry,

While using the KX2 in just about any digital mode above 5 W or so, we 
found the PA temp will reach thermal limit fairly quickly, which is why 
Elecraft rates the KX2 at 5 W in digital modes, and why we came up with 
an improved cooling solution.  (commercial content) Many owners who wish 
to run more than 5 W in digital modes have purchased the Pro Audio 
Engineering Kx22 Heatsink, which allows for an average (band and ambient 
temp dependent) 200-250% increase in transmit time before thermal 
limiting kicks in.


Cheers & 73,

Howie - WA4PSC
www.proaudioeng.com
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat?

[Barry N1EU]

I think the problem only shows up if you're consistently transmitting
(i.e., 12 sec every 30 sec).  My use case is doing a SOTA activation in FT8
mode and having several callers waiting to work me so I could make 5 - 10
qso's in a row without gaps.  That's when the KX2 seems to really heat up.
It must be retaining heat through the 18 sec of down time before the next
transmitting cycle, and this slowly raises the baseline temperature.  This
is evidently NOT a good use case for the KX2 at the 5 watt level, except
perhaps if the ambient temperature is low.

73, Barry N1EU

On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 9:46 PM, Tommy  wrote:

>  Barry,
>
> I run 10w through my KX2 with the back leg down to allow for airflow
> and don't find heat to be an issue. I'm not TXing all that much, I'm a hunt
> & pounce type with occasional CQing. In the summer I ran a small fan over
> it to help a bit. No issues for me. I normally see it get to the mid 40's
> c.  1:1 swr's.
>
> 73!
>
> Tom - KB2SMS
>
> KX2 #01927
>
>
>
> On 11/23/2017 02:51 PM, Barry N1EU wrote:
>
>> I'd appreciate hearing from others who are using their KX2 in FT8 mode in
>> terms of your experience with power output and acceptable PA heat level.
>> The reason I ask is that I'm running 5W on 40M with the rear foot down
>> (rig
>> tilted up) and I'm seeing the PA temp reach 60deg C in ordinary qso'ing
>> (i.e., xmit for 12 sec out of each 30 sec period) with low SWR.  How much
>> power are you running?  Are you using extra cooling of any type?
>>
>> Thanks & 73,
>> Barry N1EU
>>
>>
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Re: [Elecraft] KX2 in FT8 mode - heat?

[Tommy]

 Barry,

    I run 10w through my KX2 with the back leg down to allow for 
airflow and don't find heat to be an issue. I'm not TXing all that much, 
I'm a hunt & pounce type with occasional CQing. In the summer I ran a 
small fan over it to help a bit. No issues for me. I normally see it get 
to the mid 40's c.  1:1 swr's.


73!

Tom - KB2SMS

KX2 #01927


On 11/23/2017 02:51 PM, Barry N1EU wrote:

I'd appreciate hearing from others who are using their KX2 in FT8 mode in
terms of your experience with power output and acceptable PA heat level.
The reason I ask is that I'm running 5W on 40M with the rear foot down (rig
tilted up) and I'm seeing the PA temp reach 60deg C in ordinary qso'ing
(i.e., xmit for 12 sec out of each 30 sec period) with low SWR.  How much
power are you running?  Are you using extra cooling of any type?

Thanks & 73,
Barry N1EU



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