Comparing the Elecraft KH1 with the Venerable Mountain Topper Series QRP Transceivers

[@ThomasK4SWL]

qrper.com/2023/12/video-comparing-the-elecraft-kh1-with-mountain-topper-series-qrp-transceivers/?swcfpc=1 Click the link above for the corresponding QRPer.com post!

[@davidwalsh1336]

I recently did a SOTA activation with the Qrp Labs Qmx with excellent results. It's a great radio and worthy of being compared to the Mountain Toppers and KH1. It has a few bugs yet to be worked out ( like AGC) but It's still a work in progress. Considering the price, It's by far the winner. Thank you , Tom, for your excellent videos. I recently transitioned back to being a QRP operator and find your web site and KZbin videos extremely helpful. Keep up the good work.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I should have a QMX on the air before very long!

[@raithjames860]

As stated below, you should include the new QMX by QRP LABS in this group. I just got the latest version 2 of the QMX with firmware version 12 and this thing rocks. Half the price of the mountain topper. Protection circuit for high voltage input, and high swr. Built in power and swr meter. Does digital FT8/JS8Call, CW, and full SSB is coming in the next firmware revision. I listen to SSB on the digital side and this thing is exceptional. Built in CW trainer with decode on both RX/TX. This is the radio that the TruSDX wanted to be. All this in a radio the size of a deck of cards for $150 usd. This radio kills the mountain Topper in every respect.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I think my QMX ships in 3 weeks or so.

[@Bluesmother]

I own a QMX and have sold the MTR3. Here's why: A QMX kit costs $115. That's a little under a third of a mountain topper Even a BUILT TESTED QMX is $165 which is only 46% of a mountain topper The list of QMX advantages vs Mountain Topper includes: 1) Proper knob tuning. 2) An actual volume control. 3) Built-in USB sound card and USB Virtual COM CAT control to enable Digi modes 4) Way way better receiver performance than a mountain topper, better than most commercial black box rigs too. 5) Is actually AVAILABLE not permanently out of stock. I just love the QMX!

[@JonathanKayne]

I think another honorable mention would be the QRP labs QCX mini and QMX. They are both inexpensive radios that can do a lot of what the mountain topper radios can do. They are SDR based instead of superheterodyne but they have the keyer and message memories. At this point I prefer my QCX over the QMX but if they can get rid of the sidetone thump sound and add AGC that won’t be an issue. There just is a certain joy that you get from using these little radios that I can’t describe.

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

It's like comparing your daughter in Jr High, your daughter in High School with your daughter in Grad Scool.

[@birdhouserocket]

that was a good one.

[@nvrumi]

Which is which? ;) de AG7TX

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

@nvrumi I can't say, I love them all!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

🤣

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I often say, "I love all of my children."

[@shadowlab9543]

i got both of my mountain toppers and my elecraft t1 tunner used. i love these little rigs !! now if i can get to the point of receiving cw faster than my brain can currently process ill be in good shape 😂

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You will get there. That CW speed increases with time as you simply listen. You've got this!

[@billcosgrave6232]

I had contemplated buying a mountain topper until the KH1 was announced. The KH1 is hands down the better radio for my use cases. That said, I will continue to carry the KX2 as my EDC emcomm radio. I use the KX3 with the KXPA100 and PX3 pan adapter as a portable base station which I use on the weekend or when band conditions are crowded or for contesting. 73

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I love these types of videos! Great job!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Thanks, Josh!

[@Paul_VK3HN]

All are NE602 superhets, simple but functional receivers using a 40 year old mixer IC. Hey, they work *well enough* for the intended purpose. Thats good design!

[@thuff3207]

You just sold me to get a KH1. My KX2 is my favorite portable radio but small matters.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

If you're after ultra small and portable, the KH1 is amazing. That said? Never, ever get rid of your KX2. :)

[@ksb2112]

I have an LNR MTR-3b, and in theory I love it. It's tiny! But there are two things about it that keep me from using it as much as other radios. The first is that the smallest tuning increment is 50Hz. I really would prefer 10Hz. The second thing is worse, for me. The built-in keyer doesn't seem to behave like most other keyers. For instance, when trying to send an 'L' it is tricky to get just that one dit at the beginning. The repeat seems to happen way too fast. That said, I'll probably never get rid of it!

[@VK1HF]

Hey Thomas...I found this video VERY helpful. Love your style. You have an upbeat voice and vibe which is really good. Please don't apologise for anything in your videos...your format is good, keep at it.! 73

[@richardtwyning]

I've just ordered a QRP-Labs QMX assembled, and there's quite a few months lead time at the moment, but I'm OK with that. Hoping to receive it for August as we've rented a cabin in Scotland and it will be perfect

[@ThomasK4SWL]

A QMX in a Scottish cabin? That sounds ideal!

[@David-km8in]

I love the mountain topper transceivers. Such neat little sets. David M0DUU

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Agree 100%!

[@scottkralph]

Great comparison

[@qrplife]

The discrete, manual band switching arrangement on the MTRs takes a cue from the Ten Tec PowerMite series from 1970!

[@Summicron1951]

How about a compare of the KH1 and KX1? Admire all the work you put into your videos.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

That one is next!

[@AG7SM]

For any of the Mountain Toppers, you have to add a battery, antenna, key, and either a speaker or earbud/headphone. Once you'e added all of that, aren't you at about the same weight as a KH1 with the Edgewood package? What is the size/weight difference between the KH1 in its pouch and a Mountain Topper and associated gear? Edit: Clearly I need to watch ALL of the video before I comment.

[@bolovanro]

What about SW3B?. I love my KX3 (it's my favorite RIG)...but...when I go in sota...I prefer SW3B. It's smaller...very efficient...and also it's very robust (high swr it's not the big problem...in fact, I tested for around one hour playing with max power - around 6W on 12V and swr of around 4:1). My entire pack (without antenna) it's around 500g (battery+rig+key+logbook+pen). And much cheaper.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The SW-3B is a great rig! In a sense, it's a lot like the Mountain Toppers but with a proper Encoder, AF, and RF gain knobs. :)

[@bolovanro]

And more tolerant to voltage (at 14.8V is able to output around 9W on 20m...I don't know for a long run...but on short...is able to handle this). This is what I like to SW-3B. The Mountain Troppers was my second choice when I had to decide what to buy (sw3b or mtr3b). Unfortunately, mtr3b is not in production anymore/

[@drewbuller7680]

Im just really disappointed that the kh1 is delayed. Ordered on the 20th of October was told 4-6 weeks. Six weeks came and now it’s MAYBE middle of January

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yeah, I know a lot of folks are feeling those extended lead times.

[@antonanker583]

Interesting, nice review. I was wondering if the KH1 could be used with the Elecraft AX1 antenna? It would work on a tripod with a short jumper to the BNC on the radio like any other antenna however, would it overstress the BNC on the radio if direcly attached to use it as pedestrian portable and could you attach the counterpoise to the lug on the radio itself?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

You can definitely use the AX1 with the KH1's BNC!

[@barrybogart5436]

You should like at some of the ALL MODE little radios like the Tru(SDX) and the QMX, etc. MUCH more useful. But ALL these little radios are compromised. So I just use my KX3 for everything,

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I think the (tr)uSDX is a brilliant little project radio. For me, though, the audio and receiver performance is not that great. I've done a couple of activations, but I tend not to use it because so many of my other radios are much better. I have a QMX on order. I look forward to playing with it. I do wish the AGC was sorted, though. I can't really use earphones without an AGC.

[@barrybogart5436]

I agree. It's more of a demonstration of minimalism. Had they made it just a 1/4" larger all around, it could have been better. There is such a thing as a minimum usable size! The KX3 is only 5oz heavier than a KX2., I don't get the tiny trend. But I want a QMX too! Or kxFOUR!@@ThomasK4SWL

[@fabriciolombardi6160]

Elecraft KH1 is Overpriced …..QMX QRP Labs for $95 is a much better option. .. Did not know you became a seller Thomas! 😢

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I do think I'll sell one of my FT-818s to purchase a second KH1. The QMX is a great deal and a great radio. Both QRP Labs and Elecraft are amazing companies. Elecraft won't be able to compete with price though as their units are assembled and tested in the USA (California). US wages keep Elecraft from being really price competitive, but I also like knowing I'm supporting my domestic economy too. I say buy both!

[@jertres2887]

Appalachian Trail Sprint. ATS. Steve should have copyrighted it because you see it ripped off a lot especially with Chinese clones. When you are hiking, minimizing weight is very important. He hikes a lot and has done probably most of the Appalachian Trail. Like me, he used to smoke. His trail name is something like ‘Slo-Goin’. The original was made at least in part by scavenging surface mount parts from discarded satellite tv boxes when one company got taken over by another and a bunch ended up in dumpsters. One of the problems is that after designing, sometimes some of the parts that he has cleverly used go out of production, become obsolete and can no longer be obtained so he has to change the design slightly to use what’s now available.