KX2 ham radio and Camping | K7SW

[@hamradiowithkevin]

What is your favorite Portable antenna ? how long does it take to deploy ?

[@N7KOM]

I use an trapped EFHW for SOTA ops. Takes a couple minutes to set up depending on sloper or inverted v. Great quick do it all qrp antenna. Thanks for taking us through your setup. Great to see the advantages of different setups. Subscribed! 73 de Tim N7KOM

[@hamradiowithkevin]

@@N7KOM, thanks for the subTim , you are right. the best way is the way that works and is the most fun for each person 😃.

[@DaveW6OOD]

I like the 17' stainless steel telescopic whip into a ground stake hamstick mount with a couple ground radials. Compact, quick, adjustable and effective.

[@KC3UVF]

I use a 17ft telescopic whip about 7ft off the ground either on a stake or a tripod with 2 radials set up @90 degrees about 3ft off the ground. I can deploy in 5-10 minutes and work anything from 6 to 20 meters with a slight bit of directivity between the radials. KC3UVF

[@Bob814u]

I saw this on Facebook and clicked because I had a contact with you yesterday. "Oh it is a year old.". Subscribing!

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Very cool and thanks for the contact 👍

[@Andrew-dg7qm]

Nice antenna set up, thanks for all the details!

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Any time!

[@old-timeangler5356]

Thank you, that fishing pole is just what I've been looking for, thanks again.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Very glad that it helped 👍

[@ve3sif]

love the kx2. 73 Ron

[@propagating-radio]

My favorite portable antenna is a homebrew endfed halfwave for 40 meters.

[@mikes6844]

EFHW for 20 metres, 10 or 12 meter Spiderpole. Takes about 5 to 7 minutes using a mast support less of I’m using a drive on mast support. Great setup, I use KX3… love it still after all these years. 73 from the U.K. M0AZE

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Thanks Mike for sharing your setup ! portable setup is AWESOME stuff, super fun. Thanks for watching

[@bradleyjohnson452]

Howdy neighbor. I'm in St George but during the summer on Cedar Mountain. Always great to see some local HF action.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Howdy back ! Indeed HF is fun. Get that general and let the fun begin 👍

[@bradleyjohnson452]

@@hamradiowithkevin I think October will be the month. I’m picking up a hopefully gently used FT-857d to start with. I will be making a couple of wire antennas similar to what you use to start and experiment with.

[@josephhager1933]

Great video looking forward to watching your channel

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching

[@propagating-radio]

Just found your channel. Great content. Keep up the good work!

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Awesome, thank you!

[@billssimplepinedesign8878]

Great videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Thanks a lot Bill 👍

[@tysonherzog8010]

Good video…

[@DaveW6OOD]

There are always 50 ways to skin that cat above 14mhz, but showing us another one is food for thought. I like to imagine a sport, similar to scavenger hunting, where hams are released into the wild to make effective antennas out of found objects. (you know, zombie apocalypse style) This is a good example of findable items used effectively.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Dave, that would indeed be a fun thing to do. Like a survival show of sorts.

[@Jwebsterlsu]

Hi Kevin. I'm viewing your video a year after you posted it, so you are probably not expecting additional comments. Great video of the KX2 and your antenna. Just one comment: when out in the field, far from man-made noise, using a small antenna on the upper bands, you might want to try turning the PRE-amp button on. It will give you a more realistic sense of the strength of the received signals. Rule of thumb--if the guy on the other end is S7-9 you should be able to work him with 10 watts with little trouble. Lower than that, will take good ears and a willingness to work weak signals from the other station. Thanks again. 73 John, N6JW

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Thanks John, I am glad you commented. You are so right about each thing you noted. Admittedly I don't think I made a real good video at that location, however I did want to share the experience and I am glad that you shared your thoughts. 73 Kevin

[@tonyridlen]

Excellent video I made sure to click the subscribe button! Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas season 2021 K7SW 73 KC9QVE Marion,Indiana

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Tony, Thank you ! I appreciate the support. Thank you for watching. Hope to catch you on the air one day. Happy holidays to you too

[@kwycherbichon-yb5tg]

Where were you when you did this? Not sure I heard that. Would provide context to the contacts in NY, IN & ME.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

South Central Utah for those contacts

[@randalltom9750]

The KX2 is so field adaptable… I have a 12m SpiderBeam Telescopic mast. A 40m vertical element, and elevated radials has proven itself, time and again. I really need to stop buying antennas… and focus on field activations (camping) and understanding the radio better. With all the various settings, I tend to mess it up. Thanks for your videos. I’m up in Boise, a short hop down to Utah. Maybe one day I’ll hear you up in the hills, and we can chew on a good QSO? de W7UDT Rand (dit dit)

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Nice antenna setups Randall. Yes the KX2 is very fun and easy to use, when I don't use many of the features often, it is a must to refer to the manual. looking forward to working you one day. 73 de K7SW

[@notreallydaedalus]

I can't decide whether Kenwood or Elecraft make the sexiest hardware...

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Sometimes we feel like a nut, sometimes we don't 😉

[@barrykery1175]

What a great video and a great setup. I have a Crappy Pole but it's only 16 feet long. I can make it work for a 20 meter vertical but I'd sooner use the fishing pole you have. Please edit your video and post a link to the fishing pole you are using. I'd love to purchase one since it's probably 8 feet longer than the one I have. Thanks for posting. Barry, KU3X/QRP

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Barry, Thanks for the feedback, I have added a list of supplies for this antenna in the description. I also have a Crappy fishing pole that I use and i may make a video on that setup in the near future. Thanks for watching

[@barrykery1175]

@@hamradiowithkevin Thanks for updating the data. Barry

[@pnowikow]

I've got my eye on the kx2. Do you use it as a base radio with the optional amplifier?

[@hamradiowithkevin]

I don't use that as a base radio, portable, hiking, like camping only. For the money you would spend on an amp and all the wires needed, I would just buy a radio like the Ft710. I own that radio too and iltge experience is so much better

[@Zayne_24]

I see everyone using a CW Key with it. Do I need to use a CW Key with it or can I use the Hand Mic with it?

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Absolutely, you can use the hand mic , can even use the built-in mic if you wanted to.

[@ag1382]

Buddipole has a full size 20 meter with four Buddipole accessory arms and the 9.5' whip. However the cost difference for putting it together and your build is huge.

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Yes huge price and huge physically. if you are looking for QRP and backpacking, the buddypole ( which I own and like) is just far to big. It is great for a standard portable outing.

[@sphexes]

Nice tying one handed like a surgeon

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Thanks ! Practice practice 😉

[@rayettinger5892]

What radio stand are you using?

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Thanks for asking and for watching, I added the stand to list in the description.

[@rayettinger5892]

Where did you acquire the stand for your kx2?

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Ray, i just put a link for the Kx2 stand in the Description. Thank you for watching and letting me know that you needed that.

[@CharlesHarpolek4vud]

I want to buy a used KX2 cheap. Take pity on me I am very old and live alone in this big old house with no loop antenna.