I haven’t had any problems with my KX2 either until recently.
Over 4 years I have used it even in bad weather. In the rain, of course, you have to cover it. Snow that lay on it I have simply blown away.
Nevertheless, I’m still a bit more cautious now and will perhaps prefer to hike with my QCX on the summits in bad weather, although that would be a limitation… where I have no idea how sensitive they are.
A Lab599 Discovery TX-500 would probably be the best alternative.
73 Armin
I do have a ancient FT817 but I rarely take it out. I do like the rig but I find it rather heavy. My wife said I could have a KX3 if she could have another child - my son is now 10, but I still don’t have my KX3! I have simply never had enough money to spend on an Elecraft rig, although I would obviously really like to own one. I’d probably chose a KX2 these days, although I would be rather precious about taking it out in horrible weather.
My FT817 has been out in all kinds of weather, I guess the rig owes me nothing after 20 years plus of service.
My home built radios go out often in horrible weather and they’ve always been fine. I guess there’s no screen to steam up!
73, Colin
Probably old news here, but I had a KX3 for a while but sold it to fund other purchases which included another FT-817ND. I love the sound out of the little Yaesu and still really enjoy using it. 99% of the time now, however, I use my IC-705. I haven’t been in any bad WX with it yet so no idea how it holds up. I can see how the KX2 is much more appealing for SOTA than the KX3 for quickness getting on the air.
RE: FT-817 dynamic mic mod - I did this a while back and it is very sensitive and sounds good, however most folk I have QSOs with on HF or VHF who are using a stock mic on an 817 also sound great. I think the quality of the MH-31 inserts has varied over the years - the one I got with my FT-857 was terrible, the DTMF Dynamic upgrade being a world away.
I have only ever used drybags.
Regards, Mark.
It does seem to be weather resistant 
I am much less uptight about showers now the KX3 stays at home. I hardly ever resort to the bothy bag which generates big drips onto the radio and just enjoy what view I get through the short showers of rain. Persistent or heavy rain shortens the activation. Not tried falling snow yet.
I miss (occasionally) the KX3 2m facility and more flexible signal processing but do not miss watching the wet creeping under the faceplate before I panic and call a sudden QRT.
I found a plastic case to fit the KX3 for transport (and one for the TX-500). On air the lids give some protection but inevitably hamper operation.
The 817 is strongly built but I always felt that the design left the controls very vulnerable even in its large flip-top camera bag.
73,
Rod
I can confirm that the TX-500 is very weather resistant.
Last winter I accidentally dropped it in the deep snow, at the end of an activation. I dug it out and wasn’t worried at all, even though all the GX12 connectors were full of melted snow and ice. These GX12 connectors used in aviation are waterproof, so no problem at all.
I also own an FT-818, which is definitely more rugged than a KX2, but I wouldn’t repeat this experiment with it on purpose.
In the video below (especially after 3:35), you can see how I operate the TX-500 in the snow (and made my first contact with ZL!) and how I log the contacts with my non-waterproof smartphone:
If I had to decide between the KX2 and FT-818 in the harsh winter, I would probably choose the 818, but without the tuner and additional cables.
73 Stephan
I am an avid user of the Lowepro Viewpoint CS 80 for my KX2. It fits in there wonderfully and I still have room for the powerbank, Bamatech III, Palmkey (as backup), microphone, all cables and writing utensils.
In winter, however, this may not be the optimum. Inspired by this thread, I’ve now ordered a GSI Outdoors Lexan Gear Box, size M.
I wanted a box that I could close and that had a transparent lid so I could see the settings. I haven’t found anything from B&W or Peli Case in the right size.
I’m going to cover it with foam on the inside and drill holes in the sides for the cables for the power, key, headphones and microphone…
If I find that it’s any good, I’ll report back here.
73 Armin
Will the holes be large enough for the cable connectors to pass through? And if so, have you thought about how to prevent rainwater running down the sides of the case from getting in through the holes?
BTW: when it’s raining I prefer to have the battery inside the waterproof case with the KX2.
The KX2 does have its battery built in… however, I like to use an external battery to maintain maximum performance. The internal battery is mainly backup for me.
The case should be big enough to fit it in.
How I design the holes I will see when I have the housing… I have no stomachache with it now.
The main problem comes from above.
73 Armin
Another vote for KX2 here. I have 94 winter activations with mine and no problems. I tried a G90 for 3 and had problems with it all 3 times. It became a brick at -25c until warmed up some.
For the record, a frozen G90 is really cold when it is near your skin.
Malen
VE6VID
Despite the stated operating temperature range for the G90 being 0-50°C - I have operated my G90 at -15°C without radio problems. It’s not the radio that breaks at those temperatures - it’s the operator!
Great that the KX-2 works at -25°C! Although this isn’t stated in the Elecraft specs.
According to the Yaesu FT 818 manual, it will work at temperatures between -10C° & +60C°
73 Ed.
As I said above, I’m always keen to see [and adopt] better ways of protecting a KX2 when operating in rain and dense fog than my current solution [described above, as photo below].
I’m concerned about keeping the winter weather away from my precious KX2 whilst operating. I try to have the cables for paddles, headphones and antenna hanging down out of the bag’s zip opening so rainwater doesn’t run down them and into the bag.
If it’s merely drizzling, I’ll have the zip open somewhat to change bands, etc.
If it’s heavy rain, I’ll activate on just one band (usually 30m) and go QRT when out of chasers. I key the Palm paddles (with its magnetic base) attached to a small steel plate in my winter jacket (It doesn’t take long to perfect keying with your hand in your pocket!). The clip-over-ears earbuds stay dry under my Lowe Alpine cap and jacket hood (which also help keep out the wind noise).
It’s not perfect: if operating long enough in very-high humidity, moisture can appear under the KX2 display panel. That might be unavoidable unless the enclosure is airtight. So, if you have a better wet-weather operating solution that’s as practical, let us know.
All this supposes that I’ve misjudged the weather / forecast and didn’t take the tarp. Tarps stop the rain but not moisture in the air getting to the rig, The tarp’s wind noise can make copying weak signals harder and make me wish I had taken over-the-ears headphones.
Photos from a summit madness event on 9/28/19.
817 was protected as much as possible but the tunner was left to fend for its self… No damage to either unit. I am personally more worried about rain than snow.
KG7VLX
My coldest activation was -34C with KX2. Some drift was happening then, operator and hiking partner not radio. I had 3 contacts and foolishly re-spot saying I needed 1 more, a pile-up ensued.
Malen
Taking any radio (except a fully waterproofed handheld or Russian HF one) out of a bag on a mountain top is a risk, even on a dry rocky summit. The risk increases with snow and yet again with precipitation.
It’s your decision. What’s your attitude to risk (to quote many a financial advisor)?
Hi Fraser, I’m going to assume that isn’t a rhetorical question, and that it’s specifically about radio equipment rather than life in general.
The KX2 is the most expensive bit of radio kit I’ve ever bought (or strictly speaking, my wife bought me as a birthday present). And as a retiree, I no longer have the discretionary spending power of my working years, so I might apply more TLC during equipment handling than some less financially constrained than me.
But, as an inanimate object it’s way down the well-being pecking order from the safety of me and my dog on the hills.
In practise that means I’m prepared to use [and have used] the KX2 in heavy rain and dense fog inside the bag described above [though not Wx conditions I knowingly plan to activate in] but on the first sign of malfunctioning or moisture inside the display panel, I’m looking to go QRT soon to avoid an expensive repair or replacement.
Hey KG7VLX!!!
That looks like what I call the “HOBBIT HOLE” up on More’s mountain!
Made a ton of contacts from that little spot, summer and winter.[quote=“KG7KKE, post:31, topic:30875, full:true”]
Hey KG7VLX!!!
That looks like what I call the “HOBBIT HOLE” up on More’s mountain!
Made a ton of contacts from that little spot, summer and winter.
I think they’re linked. Partly rhetorical.
I just think if you are I go out in winter, or on a day with an iffy forecast, then to some extent we are accepting the risk. The risk can be mitigated by using a tarp, bothy bag, some kind of radio bag or whatever. However, there is still a risk. I just don’t see a way round it.
I think you have missed my original point. I wasn’t seeking a no-risk solution, but rather inquiring if anyone had a better method for minimizing the risk of moisture ingress than the one I described and am currently using in adverse weather.
I was also speaking to the original question (KX2 vs 817/8 in bad weather). As others have said, both rigs need protection in very wet weather so it’s good to see how others do it.
I have a small rig shelter, originally intended to keep the radio and logging tablet out of the sun. It also works as a rain shelter, albeit a flimsy one without anything stopping it from sailing away in the wind like a wrecked drunken kite. A few loops of twine and some tent pegs would sort that out.
It’s just a shopping bag with a frame made from dowels and joined with irrigation tube joiners. It was put together by Andrew VK1AD after a casual mention of the concept. I put the dowels into the shopping bag and roll it up, it goes with me on every activation.
No doubt the more creative members of the group would be able to come up with more elaborate and effective shelters for their radios and other gear.
Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA
Andrew, I think that’s the answer. My ft-857d was getting a bit of a soaking yesterday (partly due to my own stupidity). I grabbed the bag I’d carried it in and threw it over the top, tucking it under the radio at the rear. It did the job and I could still hear the audio, see the screen and work the controls.
