I own an X6100 and I’m looking to order a KX2 “shack in the box” in the near future. I’ve been saving up for it for a little while now. I’ve also been studying CW and noticed that it appears that once many SOTA operators go CW they don’t go back. First, is that so? If it is, a KX2 could end up on a shelf, which would be regrettable. If I finally learn CW should I go for a CW only radio or keep SSB handy too?
K4SDM - Steve
Thanks and 73
Hi Steve,
I doubt the KX2 would end up on your shelf. It is a fantastic radio for CW. Having SSB on the rig allows for catching Summit to Summit contacts with SSB operators. I operate primarily CW and it is my go-to rig. The tuner is extremely versatile, add in a Endfed Random Wire and you can band hop with ease.
73 de Tim N7KOM
Yeah … what he said.
Elliott, K6EL
s2s guy
The KX2 is the single best all-around radio for SOTA. It does everything well in a compact form factor. Will you want to get a smaller cw-only radio specifically for ultralight SOTA after getting comfortable with CW? Absolutely. Everyone does. But if you are regularly doing SOTA you will use the KX2. Maybe not exclusively but you will use it often. The exceptional ATU will simplify multi-band operation with a mere randomwire antenna to allow you maximum opportunity to chase S2S contacts or just have fun trying all the bands. It’s a readio you will have no regrets in purchasing.
Dunno why you would think that. My KX2 [now ~7yo] was the best birthday present I ever had. I think it’s unmatched by any other small portable radio for SOTA/POTA/WOTA etc.
I use it 99% of the time for CW but I get great reports on those occasions I do 80m and 60m SSB with 10W, its speech processor on, and a good antenna.
I enjoyed building kits and there were far many more CW based offerings than SSB. It took me a long time to get going with Morse but by starting off slowly and with the help of some kind chasers I gradually built up my skills.
Now I find Morse is more rewarding than SSB, there’s just something special about communicating using a hard won skill.
Morse has practical benefits, the gear can be lighter, the power needs are often less (which means smaller batteries), it can be silent (less disturbing to people around you) and you don’t transmit wind noise.
A KX2 should not spend time on the shelf - by many accounts it’s great for CW, I’ve certainly worked a lot of them from the other side! A KX2 is possibly one of the most capable SOTA rigs out there. I don’t use a KX2 because I’ve never had the means to buy one! It seems to be almost impossible to get one in the UK anyway, even secondhand.
73, Colin
What’s SSB ?? 
Here to agree with what others have said already.
KX2 was my first HF radio back when I passed my foundation license. The vast majority of my operating is SOTA. I’ve learned enough CW to be able to stumble through an activation, and since I did I mostly use CW to activate. As well as the KX2 I own the following CW HF rigs: 705, KH1, MTR 3B, QMX, QCX. But I use the KX2 by far the most for activating. If I was allowed to keep only one rig, it would be the KX2. Easy answer, no question. If I was allowed to keep 2 there’d be a lot of humming and hawing over the 2nd one.
Get the built in ATU. Resonant antennas are great. But beaten hands down by being able to be on the right band, which if your planning/skill/luck is like mine is invariably not the one you’ve bought a resonant antenna for.
Worst case, if we’re all a bunch of mis-informed KX2 fans there’s enough of us out there that you shouldn’t do that badly if it doesn’t work out and you decide to sell it
My 2 cents worth as an active SOTA chaser and soon to be SOTA activator and WWFF park activator is CW only !!
de W6LEN / Jess
Hi Steve
As I always say ¨I’m a 99.9% CW guy¨ but last year with the ¨10m Challenge¨ I added SSB and FT8 to my activations.
The advice this “CW guy” (for over 30 years) can give you is “Never leave what you started with, just add more things to what you already are.”
Enjoy all modes!
73 de JP3PPL
I’ve played with an X6100 twice, and it’s a pretty decent rig. Plenty capable CW rig, so don’t wait for a KX2 to start learning code =)
I’ve had my KX2 since 2017, and it is far and away the best rig there is for SOTA. It travels very well and I’ve used it on summits in Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Canada, and many 100’s here in the USA. S2S contacts are the only time I use it for SSB, and it works amazingly well just using the internal mic. It is also handy for getting spotted using the SOTAMĀT app (just hold the phone speaker up to the internal mic, works like magic every time).
I can almost guarantee you it will not end up on a shelf!
Steve,
20+ years ago you needed a Morse test pass to get on HF. I know lots of people who HAD to learn Morse to get on HF and have never used it since. That’s there choice.
I know people who HAD to learn who use it enough to remain capable of a QSO but it’s a not big part of their ham life.
And I know people who HAD to learn it, love it and use it more than other modes.
Now you learn it if you want to. I HAD to learn it to get on HF but then let it lapse somewhat. SOTA made be get back up to scratch and in the last 14years it’s become my favourite type of ham radio.
I have a KX2. It took a while for me to realise just how good it is. It’s when you have been using it a while it just seems right. 99% of my SOTA operation is on the KX2 and probably 75% Morse 25% SSB.
I have a IC705 because it’s very shiny and I need VHF/UHF multimode to drive my SHF/uWave transverters. It’s a fine radio. But it doesn’t have an ATU so I tend to always pick the KX2 unless I will be doing HF and uWaves.
I have 3 QRP Labs QCX+ radios. These are nominally single band CW radios but you can squeeze 2 bands out of them with reduced performance on the band down from the main band. I have a tiny box of QCXs, some tiny batteries, a tiny SWR meter and manual tuner. They are my “reduced space SOTA” setup. Now they’re the choice when we’re on a family holiday and I haven’t got space to bring a full SOTA setup. They work excellently so it’s a nice change to operate with them. They have a big advantage that when on holiday, I have ended up with a small shoulder bag containing a KX2 (or FT817 when I used one), a laptop, a camera, batteries, my diabetci drugs etc. and it’s such a chore lugging it all about airports etc. I don’t trust airline baggage with a KX2. Taking the QCXs is great. They’re cheap enough to get lost/damaged and I wont cry too much and they can go in the checked luggage. Only having a laptop and camera on my shoulders makes airports much nicer 
And the QCX is more than competent to be the only radio I’d have on a SOTA holiday.
I have far too many radios and I have sold 3 recently. But I still want an Elecraft K1, KX1. Probably an HB1B and PFR3 or MTR. I did think about a QMX kit but I’m replete with QCXs and a QDX right now.
So buy your KX2 and learn Morse. Use Morse, learn to love it. Then you can treat yourself to a CW only radio.
How many radios do you need? One more than you currently have
I have used my KX3 since 2012 for SOTA on SSB and CW and would not go back to a single band/mode radio. Over that period of time to reach 504 activations both CW and SSB chasers are wanting a score from me and both lots of chasers have been with me through good and bad band conditions. As I intend to do my summit list again in 2025 I still need those chasers to qualify summits to make MGX2. Another thing to consider is how long are you going to take to become efficient at CW to give scores on activations. I did take a HB-1B to a summit one time but could only find 1 CW chaser and my 2m hand held saved my activation with 4 QSO on VHF simplex.
Regards
Ian vk5cz …
As I see it, more than two is clutter. Its rather difficult to operate more than one at a time, you can operate on one while monitoring on another, but that is about the limit. I see pictures of shacks with a wall of rigs and smile because that is more like stamp collecting! TBH I do have four myself, but two of them just gather dust.
CW has its advantages, but what is it about CW that makes its devotees treat it like a religion? Some of you guys proslytise for CW like you’re standing on a chair at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park! Some of us prefer the human voice, we don’t need to be hammered over the head with a Morse key!
Mini rant over!
We had to put some continued effort into learning it. And now when many of us use it, we get a dopamine hit as we get rewarded for the all effort originally expended. If you could do it you’d understand too.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me it’s just the practical advantages it offers, rather than any religious fervour. I’m actually quite impressed by SOTA activators using QRP SSB as that seems harder (once you’ve learned the code). On a summit I am quite self conscience about my activities. I try to set up some distance from a trig point or shelter and CW means nobody hears what I am doing (I always wear headphones).
I had to pass the morse test to get on HF in 1983 and I thought I’d just used SSB once licensed but I found I really enjoyed it.
Fortunately that’s not a problem here in Europe. Even with difficult solar conditions or a non-working RBNHole there always seem to be plenty of CW chasers.
I think that KX2 (with internal ATU, internal battery, RTC and internal charger) is something like a swiss knife for the SOTA. It is a HIGH-END TCVR for SOTA activations. I am not sure if you can find a better one. For me the KX2 is the best.
I’m with you. I’ll tell you a little about my beginnings. As a child I listened to shortwave and spent hours and hours hypnotized by the CW beacons. I didn’t understand anything but it fascinated me. Years passed and I attended Radio Club LU5CBA in the City of Buenos Aires with the dual intention of obtaining my license and learning CW.
I was lucky that Morse’s instructor was a Navy telegrapher and his teaching method started at 15wpm. I think this method allowed me to learn it quickly and with little effort. On the other hand, in the course we were required to carry out approximately 15 hours of SSB transmission in the 80m band. For me that was a torture because it seemed most delirious to me to be talking with the “Q” code and other radio jargons.
As soon as I obtained the license, my activity was practically limited to the CW. And unfortunately here I found many arrogant people. These were precisely people who had a very difficult time learning the CW and once they had learned it (or poorly learned it) they did not accept that others criticized the mode or they simply dedicated themselves to speaking badly of other modes.
It is the same thing that happens with the “Fanboys” of some radio brands. They spend a lot of time saving coin after coin and when they manage to buy the rig of their dreams, they do not allow or are offended by the slightest criticism.
I have decided to drop off my excess QRP radios, RG-213 coax spool of 882 ft and also got rid of my Collins and Drake tube gear
It’s not fair that I have too much while others just have the brochure
Also all deposits on new 2025 radios have been cancelled
I will stick to 1 radio, 2 batteries, RG174 and some speaker wire wrapped around a tree branch I use as a hiking stick
I have a Begali straight key and paddles and the stock mic for the QRP radio
The Charity came and took it all away and I gave them furniture and canned food for their food banks
Ok off to the forest with my single rucksack and radio kit…hmmm maybe I should have kept the snowshoes
John VE3IPS
Feeling better these days being a minimalist