It’s not cheap. There again neither was my KX2 with ATU and IO board. Ah but the KX2 does more you say and yes it does. But quite a few of the things the KX2 does are of no interest to me. (built in data modes, logging, 160/80m etc.) So I paid for stuff I wont use. A CW only radio with whip and ATU on 40-12m scratches most of my HF itches.
Here’s the deal (as the US cops say on Youtube before the break the law)… I want a KH1 because… Because what? Because it’s shiny and I want one! There’s lots of things I want but can’t have. Like a 250GTE MKIII RHD 2+2 5speed but certainly not in red. But the KH1 is affordable though my wallet will cry a lot.
I have too many HF rigs and couldn’t justify a QMX to myself never a KH1. But now it looks like my 706 will be moving on to a new home so there is a slot in the shack. All of a sudden a KH1 with ATU and whip is tempting. I’ll be morbid now: this current HF cycle peak is likely to be the last when I can climb proper GM hills for SOTA, because if I’m still here for the next peak, cycle 26, I’ll be 74/75. So now is the time to have a KH1 when the higher bands will work well for QRP powers and antennas.
So if the 706 goes for an OK price I’m thinking I’ll have a KH1 and use it / keep for 3 years then move it on. It’s why I wanted to hear the one mentioned earlier on but we just got chat about the packing etc. I wanted to hear it as it’s a real radio not SDR. I think my KX2 sounds as rough as a 5 o’clock shadow on CW. Sure it works really, really well and I wont be getting rid of it but it sounds ‘meh’. I think the QCXs I have sound nicer sound! And just listen to Josh WU7H’s Ten Tecs (Century 22 and Argonaut V) or his K2 and K1 in Dusted off the Ten-Tec Today and then listen to the KX2.
So probably I’ll get one early 2024.