Going Portable with KX3

[BenMara]

So im going portable with my KX3, plan to purchase KXPA100 early next year. Currently have a 20m vertical sota antenna. Plan to make a 80m dipole fed with 450ohm to carry along.

What balun ratio would i need? Some locals say 1:1, others say 9:1...

What other odds and ends would you carry?

Minimal pack would be just KX3 and some sort of light weight vertical.
Max pack would be in a dedicated day pack (KXPA100, battery, ect..)

The KX3 and KXPA100 would be my mobile setup with some sort of screwdriver antenna...

 

[binrat]

I have a KX2 for my SOTA adventures. I use a few antennas but the best is random wire, 58' with 13' counterpoise. Both are elevated almost like a "v" configuration. Internal tuner tunes 10-80 metres.

 

[BenMara]

I totally agree... but i just love resonant antennas
Thats why i have a 20m vertical sota antenna that weight under 1.5 lbs, but i love lower bands..

 

[kopcicle]

62' vertical...

 

[binrat]

I totally agree... but i just love resonant antennas
Thats why i have a 20m vertical sota antenna that weight under 1.5 lbs, but i love lower bands..

If it's resonant antenna, then really no need for a balun, in my books.

 

[BenMara]

If it's resonant antenna, then really no need for a balun, in my books.

I have a bad habit of making dipoles fed with ladder line..

 

[binrat]

Then ground mount the balun, but if your KX3 has a tuner, I would try that first.

 

[Moleculo]

For the pack antenna with ladder line, I would just forget the balun unless your field testing with the antenna shows that you absolutely need it to get a good match. I'd start with a BNC/Banana plug adapters and let the internal tuner (which is amazing) do its thing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BNC-Male-P...pid=16024417993&hash=item2cd932d69d:rk:1:pf:0

If that doesn't work to your liking, then I'd consider the Buddipole Triple Ratio Switch balun, which is small and lightweight and also has BNC connectors. It switches between 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 ratios and will do the trick if needed. I have one of these in by toolbox and find that it really is a nice accessory.

 

[BenMara]

Wow now thats a response.... Tkx Mole