Elecraft KH1 Ultra Portable Radio

2025-02-08 From my earliest interest in ham radio, operating portable has enamored me. So when Elecraft introduced their KH1 five band HF hand held rig, I "had" to have one! Finally, last August, I got one! What an amazing little rig. In the seven months I've had it I've logged six hundred fifty plus contacts while portable, it is still my primary grab-n-go rig/kit. Whether with just the four foot whip and 13 foot counterpoise (nearly a quarter of my contacts) or combined with an EFHW or other wire, it never disappoints!

For me the things that set it apart are its small size, internal battery, solid 5 watt transmit, and included whip/counterpoise antenna system. Everything you need, even the CW paddle, to get on the air is included in the little 3-1/2x4x8 inch zipper bag with shoulder strap weighing just a pound and a half.

I also have an ICOM IC-705 which is an absolute gem whether in the shack or in a park. I logged over 1600 contacts with it portable in the two years I've had it. Since getting the KH1 I've not had the ICOM out of the shack!

My go-to antennas are a KM4ACK 40-10 end fed half wave, a 29 foot end fed with a K6ARK 9:1 unun and the 4 foot whip and 13 ft counterpoise that came with the KH1. My mast for the wire antennas is SOTABEMS Carbon 6 push up pole with a DIY stand. I have many other options for antennas and masts but the ones here are easy to transport and set up and just work! The EFHW tunes fine on 30 and 12 meters, as does the 29 ft wire so I effectively have all band (40m-15m which the radio covers) capability without changing antennas.

Some don't like the CW paddle the comes with the KH1 but I've had no problem with it so use it all the time. I do carry a N6ARA Tiny Paddle for backup but have never used it beyond confirming that it works.

Finally, I do nearly all my contact logging live on my Samsung phone with the HAMRS app.