Elecraft KX3 Operation Guide

The Elecraft KX3 and One Amateur’s Weekend Project:
A Guide to KX3 Mobile Installation and Operation
Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
23 November, 2012 Rev B1 (1.6)
Introduction
There can be no doubt that the KX3 is a revolutionary Amateur transceiver. Its technical specs, compact size, light weight, and general versatility perfectly match the requirements of a portable, mobile, or fixed station rig. This Guide is written to assist those interested in the KX3’s mobile installation and operation.
Essential factors in mobile operation are significantly different than when operating portable or at a fixed station. In many ways, operation of any HF transceiver in a mobile setting is nonoptimal. Simply put, this means that a series of compromises play out for mobile use, including both the installation and operation of the transceiver.
One aspect of KX3 mobile installation and operation that is emphasized in this Guide is safety. No mobile installation should detract from it, so safety is treated herein as a serious issue with specific recommendations that will assist the installer and Amateur operator in maintaining passenger and driver safety.
Topics in this Guide include the following:
Scope and Warnings Safety and Legal Considerations Location and Mounting Powering the KX3 and KXPA100 Cabling Like a Pro Speaker Output Antenna Installation Operating Tips
Updates To This Guide and In Closing
Scope and Warnings
Scope Note: This Guide’s scope covers only installations in vehicles that have negative ground electrical systems. If your vehicle has a positive ground system, consult your dealer’s and/or Elecraft’s technical staff for advice on power considerations for the KX3 and KXPA100.
Warning Note: Some hybrid vehicles don’t use 12 volts for their starting batteries. If your hybrid is in this category, don’t even think an inverterbased DC to DC converter is used to power the 12V accessories (radio, fans, illumination, etc.) and any invehicle power sockets. Invertersupplied power is usually very noisy, and shouldn’t be used for the KX3. If in doubt, check your 12V accessory power with an oscilloscope. DC power should meet Elecraft’s DC power quality specifications. If it doesn’t you may want to add conditioning and filtering circuits to clean up the DC supply.
about using its battery to power your KX3 or KXPA100. In many hybrids
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Safety and Legal Considerations
These are some important KX3 mobile safety and legal considerations:
Road visibility Access to vehicle controls Minimizing driver distraction Intact vehicle safety features Security of mounted objects Electrical power Distracted driver laws
Maximizing road visibility seems like an obvious objective, doesn’t it? But many Amateurs sacrifice visibility in favor of keeping their radio equipment in view and accessible. Others mount their rigs in locations that take attention away from what’s going on in front of and around their vehicle while driving. However you choose to mount your KX3, it should not interrupt your forward visibility or cause you to take your eyes off the road. This Guide has some mounting suggestions in a later section.
Another goal probably also seems obvious: To be able to drive and control your vehicle normally. Direct visibility of all mirrors and backup camera displays is essential. Access to all vehicle controls used for driving should not be impeded or blocked in any way. For example, it’s less critical to block airflow from an A/C vent rather than make it difficult or clumsy to signal a turn or apply the brakes. Your choice of the KX3’s mounting location and orientation is crucial here.
A major preventable cause of distracted drivers is personal electronics. Smart phones, tablet computers, DVD players, TV receivers, etc. all are on the road now. Most of us have at least some of these on hand while we drive. Adding the KX3 in this type of situation could complicate it. If you’re busy with the KX3 when driving, keep in mind that its controls are relatively complex compared to a car radio or CD player. Standard vehicle electronics aren’t very complex to operate, but not so with some Amateur transceivers. As an example, compare the controls of a mobile VHF FM transceiver to those of a KX3. Of the two, the KX3 will demand much more of your attention to operate.
Your Number One Job when driving is Driving pull over. If a nonessential device in the vehicle is doing the same thing, turn it off. A distracted driver has symptoms similar to one with impaired judgment: Lack of use of sensory inputs, and delayed reactions to those that are perceived. Don’t let Amateur Radio turn you into a statistic, or into another ham with a sad story to tell others. Let the drive‐while‐texting folks become the statistics.
In aviation, we have a saying: “Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.” First is highest priority. Last is lowest. You could retask that saying for your priorities when piloting a ground vehicle. Keep your priorities straight.
Seat belts and airbags are important vehicle safety features; they save lives. Don’t mount your KX3 in a location that interferes with seat belts or proper airbag “deployment”. The quotes are there for a reason. If you’ve never had an airbag deploy in front of you, you wouldn’t believe how quickly the KX3 may become a projectile if it’s in the way. Airbags move fast, and with explosive force. Anything blocking an airbag’s path should be moved out of the way. If there’s any
. If a passenger is distracting the driver, the driver should
doubt about your vehicle’s
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airbag deployment paths, consult your dealer’s technical staff. Airbag locations are marked with a prominent embossed label.
I mentioned “a projectile”, above. In a vehicle moving at 65 MPH [105 KPH], a two pound KX3 on a ballistic trajectory can be deadly. Simply put, your KX3 should be securely mounted to a stationary surface in the vehicle interior. Seems like common sense, right? Common sense isn’t all that common, unfortunately. There’s more about mounting techniques in a subsequent section of this Guide.
One final safety factor: Electrical Power. Don’t compromise on the quality, security, location, and especially protection of your DC supply cabling to the KX3. If you have an electrical fire while in motion because of a poor or temporary installation, it’s too late to complain, “But it’s only temporary!” Man, oh man talk about distractions while driving!
Distracted Driving Laws: Amateur Radio has come under some of the same fire that is hitting mobile cell phone users. It is true that many of the same hazards exist for both practices, but hams are more used to mobile operations than the general population. For some excellent legal and practical considerations, see the November, 2012 QST magazine, p 81 and 82. Such laws are a mixed bag. The states of California, Illinois, Washington, and Hawaii specifically exempt the Amateur population from the most onerous provisions of their distracted driver laws, however many of the state laws aswritten are ambiguous, and refer to “communications with electronic devices”. Be aware of the law in your state! Most of these require the use of “handsfree” devices.
Wireless handsfree accessories for mobile twoway are available, but the market is slim. This may be due to low consumer demand. The few Bluetooth handsfree addons for twoway are marketed for law enforcement, and are pricey.
Vehicle, passenger, and driver safety is a big topic with a wide range of considerations. Make yourself aware of the factors in your own mobile installation that could become problems while you’re at the wheel. Install and operate your KX3 accordingly. If you’re planning a new car/SUV/truck/RV purchase and also would like a KX3 mobile installation in it, survey the interior, electrical system, cable runs and raceways, and vehicle construction before signing on the dotted line. You may want to discuss mounting and cabling arrangements with the dealer’s technical staff beforehand.
Location and Mounting
Ideally, mobile‐mounting your KX3 provides the following benefits:
Accessible and directly visible controls and display with onehanded operation; A minimum of cable clutter; Least possible amount of divided attention while driving – most important!
The good news is that if the KX3 is near enough in front of you, using the controls onehanded shouldn’t pose a big challenge, even while driving. Hints are:
Make sure the KX3 is mounted to one side of the steering wheel. This avoids a crosshanding
problem. It is best if the KX3 front panel controls are within an easy reach, or maybe right at your fingertips;
It’s a great idea if you get 100% used to the KX3’s controls before ever using the rig while you’re
driving. It’s a case of, “DO try this at home.”
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With the KX3, we’re fortunate to have the I/O connectors on the left at least, most of the cabling can be routed over the edge of the dashboard, or behind the instrument panel. The BNC and SMA connectors can be rightangled to the rear of the KX3, keeping the antenna cables out of the way. Don’t leave cables scattered on your dashboard because they can be a distraction. Having cables drop off and get wound around your hands or feet makes this much worse. There is more on cabling below.
Several types of vehicle mount that work with the KX3 are readily available. You can always roll your own if needed, but the easiest and usually best course is to use a manufactured mount from one of the following categories:
Hard mounting. This is the case where you’d have to develop your own mount or adapt one
that exists. A good source for hard mounts is National Products, with RAM Mount as their brand name: (http://www.rammount.com/Products/VehicleMounts/tabid/4077/Default.aspx#/ downside to a hard mount is that you’ll need to drill holes for the mount base. The upside: Hard mounting is the most physically secure type, with a lot of safety margin.
Dashboard seam mount. This type of mount is meant for crowded small vehicle interiors. One
manufacturer is ProClip (http://www.proclipusa.com/ seams in panel or dashboard, or around dashboard seams (spanning two seams, or between the two edges of a panel component). I’ve seen these support loads up to five pounds, including ruggedized laptops for field service, though two mounts are needed for this type of load. Almost all the different ProClip mount bases come out to an AMPS hole pattern. Figure 1, on the next page, shows this type of mount with RAM cradle. described below. A KX3 is shown in the cradle. At least in this installation, the mount is very secure and KX3 “wobble” is minimal.
Vacuum mount. An example is a family of products manufactured by Seasucker of Florida
(http://www.seasucker.com/shop/seasuckerram‐x‐mountphonegpsholder in marine environments to secure heavy loads to bulkheads and acrylic surfaces. An example is shown in Figure 2. Seasuckers are available in 4‐1/2‐and 6inch vacuum diaphragm diameters. The 4‐1/2‐inch unit is adequate when used with the KX3 on auto glass, and is rated at 120 pounds for either axial or radial load. Vacuum mounts do not generally work well on curved surfaces, but a side window or windshield should be okay. This type of mount requires an occasional push of the plunger to maintain its seal on auto glass. “Occasional” means about once a week. There is an indicator showing the vacuum level and if it’s getting too low. In the author’s opinion, the Seasucker is probably one of the two best noholes mobile mount bases available.
Suction mount. There are a lot of these available, for use with device types from iPods to
navigation units. You would probably want a suction mount with a 3inch or larger suction cup to secure the KX3 against windshield or sidewindow glass, or on the dashboard. Most come with an adhesive disc that allows a solid mount point on any surface. Arkon is one manufacturer: http://www.arkon.com/ should be rated at five times the KX3’s featherweight of 2 pounds. Suction mounts don’t perform as well as vacuum mounts, and may lose their grip – dropping the KX3 in your lap when
. There are many others. Any suction mount you use
panel. For left handdrive vehicles
). The
). The mount base is inserted between
/). They’re for use
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it’s least convenient. Suction mounts should be reseated several times a month to maintain retention. They only last about a year, so keep that in mind.
Air vent mount. Most of these are designed for use with very lightweight devices like smart
phones and media players. They’re available at electronics retailers such as Best Buy. One manufacturer is Bracketton. Vent mounts may sag and most will need periodic adjustment. This alternative is not recommended, but may be the only choice for some mobile users with limited space. Don’t count on air vent mounts lasting very long: They have too many moving parts, most of them are too fragile for a lot of mount / dismount cycles, and they’re not rated for the KX3’s weight.
Figure 1. ProClip dashboard mount in a 2012 Honda Civic supporting a RAM doublearm clamp from an AMPS 1” ball adapter. The cradle retaining the KX3 is the same unit as shown in Figure 2 (also made by National Products – tradename: RAM).
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The Seasucker 6018 with a mounted KX3 is shown in Figure 2, below. Using the 41/2” vacuum mount, the KX3 is secured to the driver side window of a 2012 Honda Civic. Also note the cable dress and clearance to the curtain airbag’s deployment path (driver’s side post in background).
Figure 2. Seasucker 6018 vacuum mount with a KX3 in a Honda Civic. Note the use of the Elecraft KX3 PCKT cable set on the left. The right angle arrangement keeps cable layout tidy and out of the way. Below the audio cables (left side), a retaining clip is used to keep the bundle together.
Powering the KX3 and KXPA100
Vehicle accessory power systems are notorious for conductive emissions, and they may come in many forms – both transient and steady state:
Load dump surges Engine starting transients Inverter noise (hybrids, especially) Poor line isolation (fan motors, relays, and solenoids) Transients due to accessories being switched on and off (a/c compressors and electric fuel
pumps are two examples)
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