Having just built a Rock Mite and enjoyed it immensely, I am going to get myself an Elecraft K1 for QRP home use and hopefully SOTA activations. However I am torn about the version and bands to go for and use on SOTA.
I could have the 4 band version… but this does not cover 80m… and no I do not want to mess around getting the cover off and plugging in an alternative 2 band board… especially in the field.
…or I would go for a 2 band version and choose 80m and 40m.
Do you think the latter would work out given that I would then hopefully cover Europe and far flung UK on 40m and G-land on 80m?
What do you think? Do any of you use the K1? (note I have discounted the KX1 as I want to use it a lot at home too)
I used to have a K1 - excellent kit and good radio. For SOTA 40/80 would be a good choice. However note that the internal ATU option has a very limited matching range on 80m. You might also feel a bit left out if the USA or somewhere equally distant gets active - in that case you will be in a quandry about what other bands to select!
I had a 20/40 board and an 80/17 board for my K1 (that was before SOTA started).
I used to have a K1 - excellent kit and good radio. For SOTA 40/80 would be a good choice. However note that the internal ATU option has a very limited matching range on 80m. You might also feel a bit left out if the USA or somewhere equally distant gets active - in that case you will be in a quandry about what other bands to select!
I had a 20/40 board and an 80/17 board for my K1 (that was before SOTA started).
73
Richard
PS I have done some activations with my Rockmite - quite successfully too.