This is the Elecraft KH1's Super Power: Anytime, anywhere portable HF!

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Thanks for watching!
73,
Thomas
K4SWL

[@Bill-HRT]

Thanks for the video. Nice use of and practical example of being just a bit off frequency to be successful with qrp. Thanks. 73 de Bill

[@k2wo1]

Another great real life video of the KH1 in operation. Well done Thomas! Your video give me even more enthusiasm for Wayne's new toy! Best 72, George k2WO

[@d3w4yn3]

Real, live, operational use of this radio! Way better than just marketing videos or talk-throughs of how someone could use the radio! Very exciting! I will use this to set my goal on learning CW. This will be my reward! Thanks for pioneering this in the field!!!

[@thewheelchairprepper8070]

WOW NICE RADIO 73 OM

[@boots_n_coots]

Ya think Elecraft’s got a winner here? Ya think? 😎

[@ThomasK4SWL]

If orders are any indication? Yes indeed!

[@romanomorelli2831]

Another nice activation can you tell me is the power viable down to say 1W ? 73s

[@ThomasK4SWL]

So I think the low power setting is 1-2 watts. I would need to confirm this--it depends on the input voltage.

[@peterhardy5071]

I ordered the kit the first day and I'm really looking forward to it. The only problem is that side tone!🙉 Hopefully it's adjustable in the menu or they'll have a firmware update for it. Really reminds me of the 1970s Radio Shack practice oscillators they sold.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I’m under the impression Elecraft is working on the sidetone. Funny, but I really pay very little attention to sidetone characteristics as long as I can hear the sidetone. If I hear it, I’m good. The filter between my ears just accommodates it. This is why I rarely ever even change sidetone frequency on my radios and why they’re all different.

[@KO4DFJRadio]

have you noticed an SWR drift? mine drifts whether stationary or mobile. Love your videos!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I haven't noticed this yet. It's probably not a big deal unless the change in SWR is pretty dramatic.

[@pablod6872]

Gahhh, quit showing this radio - you're going to cost me a fortune! 😊

[@ThomasK4SWL]

😆

[@pickinpastor9347]

if the clips holding the antenna on are plastic they will be history in no time

[@grantmcduling9760]

Another great video Thomas. Watching you with the new KH1 is becoming addictive! I wonder how long the paddle will last. I see it moves around a fair bit when in use. Reminds me of the one Elecraft made for the KX1. I soon replaced mine with a Pico Paddle. I think perhaps a leg-mounted paddle like the ones made by American Morse might do just fine, especially if seated at a park bench.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I'll be finding out as I use my paddle. So far, so good. It does worry me, too.

[@N4XTL]

When I saw this radio announced I immediately thought, "Thomas will love this!". Overall it's a phenomenal form factor and design. I do think that the speaker is disappointing, it reminds me of the speaker on the (tr)uSDX. Also, how easy was the display to see in that bright sunlight? It seems hard to read. For every one thing we could nit pick about this radio however, there are 100 good things to say. I plan to wait a bit to see if there are revisions and order one next year.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The display is superb in sunlight. Any issue you might see with that has more to do with my camera and polarization. The speaker is much better than the (tr)uSDX but not as good as the KX2. That said, I'm learning how to work with the speaker better now. This is a very exciting radio for me, I'll admit!

[@lingen2193]

It's somewhat ironic that this ultra-portable radio was designed for serious POTA activators taking it on expeditions to alpine summits, yet the vast majority of use cases will be to go on the air whilst picking up children from a soccer match or waiting for the wife to come out of a shoe store. Anyway, your videos are highly appreciated and keep me motivated to learn CW (even though I'll probably reward myself with a KX2 rather than KH1 for my 1st CW QSO - but you never know where it goes from there).

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes. The temptation to pull out this radio and hit the air--no matter where you are--is always there. :) And, the KX2? One of the best field radios ever made in my opinion! Reward away!

[@mikak1]

Thanks for the videos regarding the KH1. I am starting to come around to this radio. I think it would be great for those tough SOTA hikes that don't have trees/brush/rocks on the summit to set up an antenna, as well as keeping pack weight down. I think it would also be a good travel radio. I recently travelled to SC where I activated POTA in NC/SC/GA. I brought my KX3, Battery, Key, tripod and AX1/AXE1, Coax, charger, and a few additional items. It would be nice to toss this in the carryon suitcase for the trip, leaving everything else at home. May purchase one down the line as the reviews continue.

[@dsharaf]

It is so nice to see just a quick on-the spur Parking Lot On The Air (PLOTA) activation. 😃 I wonder if we can infer from this video, and others previous to this one, that you are having fun with this radio? Hmm....🤔

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The KH1 and I are inseparable! :)

[@g4okt]

So versatile indeed Tom! In the UK, the total price will be through the roof, VAT & shipping makes it a tad prohibitive!

[@m0aze611]

Think we may have to wait to see if Waters & Stanton take this up, but it’s not accredited with CE yet. I’ve ruled it off my Xmas list 🤪 73 Mike

[@ThomasK4SWL]

@@m0aze611 Yes, I'm hoping W&S will carry this model.

[@m0aze611]

@@BanterMaestro2-vh5vn could be but still subject to tax etc plus any import duties. If it goes faulty not sure who’d be able to address that issue.

[@SOTAGoats]

Thomas- in the video it looks like there is quite a bit of side to side movement in the paddle. Is that so? -W7TAO

[@ThomasK4SWL]

There is a little back/forth movement, but Elecraft says it doesn't have any negative impact on the jack. They are releasing a lighter spring (free upgrade) that will likely fix this anyway.

[@SOTAGoats]

@@ThomasK4SWL Interesting, thank you for the details.

[@N4GW]

receive audio sounds a little distorted

[@k6usy]

Use headphones.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes, it's much, much better via headphones.

[@k6usy]

It’s a neat product but I’ll stick to doing FT8 with my IC-705 and my phone.

[@houseofhamradio]

Thanks Thomas. This is a very good testament to the value of this little radio. I enjoyed your POTA activation with it but this shows that it works as a hunter too. Impatiently waiting for mine to come in. 73 Bob WV7W

[@Ira06002]

Thomas - As always great videos with real applications in the wild (or parking lot) I have the IC705 (which I ❤) and was considering the KH1, but kinda pricey.

[@petemillis4666]

Is there any sealing membrane behind those push buttons on the front? Wondering about potential for rain and dirt ingress. This is an issue with my KX1 - bigs gaps everywhere!

[@ThomasK4SWL]

I don't think there's any sealing. I would not take the KH1 one out in a downpour. I have used it in a drizzle, though. Just flip the logging cover over the front of the radio and it protects it from light moisture intrusion. But, no, don't operate this in rain exposed.

[@davidk7des76]

What a great little self contained package! This really is an exiting little radio… Thanks for the great demo. David K7DES

[@RonanCantwell]

Now, I do like a QRP radio but this just doesn't do it for me. It's dinky and everything but just way too expensive and looks like it'll fall apart if you stare at it the wrong way.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It's a niche product. I happen to be in the niche market for this radio. Most are not and that's perfectly fine. :)

[@RonanCantwell]

@@ThomasK4SWL Haha.... I reckon they designed that specifically for you. They should have called it the Witherspoon edition. 😂

[@alistairg6770]

Lovely little rig. However, I'm not convinced by the sound quality. When you pushed the volume up it distorts badly. Also, can you connect a different key? But other than that an interesting bit of kit and of course handled by the POTA master himself. Always a pleasure to watch your activations.

[@k6usy]

You should just use headphones in the field, he is using the speaker so we can hear it.

[@alistairg6770]

@@k6usy I get that. For me, I never wear headphone as I simply don't like them. But either way, for me a rig at that price point should be able to deliver the sound without distorting.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Since this video, I've posted a number where I use an external recorder and speaker. You get a much better idea of audio quality.

[@stevecolby6505]

Thomas: Does the KH1 do CW decode? If so, how does it compare to KX2 CW decode, which works amazingly well. Also any chance you could do video of hooking the KH1 to your shack antenna with a powered speaker (Anker) to show how well it plays when not in field? Is the filtering as good as many other Elecraft rigs or does it have a significantly compromised receiver/front end. Contest capable when in the shack?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It is capable in the shack and you'll see me use my Anker speaker with it soon. It will do CW decode--it's coming down the pipeline in a firmware update.

[@douglasbittencourtmachado246]

🔝 Take my money 🔝

[@billjobes1851]

That looks really awkward to operate standing around for any length of time.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

The only awkward part is trying to hold the radio in front of the camera while filming. Doing pedestrian mobile with this is effortless. The KH1 weighs less than a pound.

[@billjobes1851]

@@ThomasK4SWL I'm sure it will find a solid SOTA market. Hopefully it sparks a surge of interest in learning cw.

[@antonanker583]

Interesting radio. Can the paddles be configured as a sideswiper?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

They're only available as dual paddles. That said, the KH1 can be configured for straight key operating.

[@owlcricker-k7ulm]

Can you easily spot the freq from the face of the radio? What good fun🎉

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Yes you can!

[@abumac1963]

The cw-key moves a lot ....

[@billcosgrave6232]

Fantastic idea

[@DavidKirwanirl]

Love it❤

[@georgeosier5459]

too pricey for what it is

[@leeguitar5210]

Agreed.

[@ThomasK4SWL]

Keep in mind that the starting price for a KH1 is $550. That will get you a five band general CW radio with options you can grab later if you choose. You couldn't have touched this price (not even accounting for inflation) 30 years ago. Also keep in mind that this radio is both designed and manufactured in the United States. This is the cost of US labor, benefits and living wages. I like my money going to innovative companies that support domestic production. To each their own, though. We've so many cool products out there now. :) There's never been a better time to be a ham!

[@carolannefisher1516]

I did wind up ordering a KH1 of my own. Can’t wait! -N0RNM

[@dorvinion]

How far off the operator's frequency are you when you're tuning?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

It doesn't take much...maybe .1-.2 Hz. If you go too far and the activator has a narrow filter engaged, you might not be heard at all. You want *just* enough to vary the tone.

[@barryzoll9772]

Why is the sound so distorted on receive?

[@ThomasK4SWL]

This is because I'm using the internal speaker and cranking the AF gain up for the camera. The audio is much better via earphones. The speaker is truly a "bonus" item.