The Palstar KH-6 50MHz handheld

I was browsing around the Ham Radio section of e-Bay the other evening when I came across a Palstar KH-6 going for a modest price. I knew a little about them, having heard that some SOTA participants had used them for activations on 50MHz.

The auction was just ending so I popped in a last minute bid to see what would happen. To my surprise, I won!

The rig arrived yesterday. It seems to work ok and I have done the obligatory across the shack test. Transmitted audio sounded good on the FT847. I put the rig on the external collinear and perhaps not surprisingly the receiver overloaded. However, I could hear the GB3RAL beacon on 50.050.

The challenge, as I have found before is how well such a short aerial will do. However, I’m hoping for some local contacts and perhaps some more distant ones from the top of White Horse Hill or similar summits.

Tim Kirby, G4VXE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Oxfordshire, England. Contact him at [email protected].

3 Responses to “The Palstar KH-6 50MHz handheld”

  • José Tavares, ct1ief:

    So it was you.
    Never mine I bought another one even cheaper and it also works well.
    Maybe I get lucky and reach some UK or Spanish repeaters. There are nome in Portugal.
    73,s
    CT1IEF

  • Charles, PA4DHG:

    I purchased my Palstar at http://www.radioworld.co.uk/catalog/second_hand_palstar_kh-6_50mhz_handheld_transceiver-p-11239.html

    Work properly, only the nicad battery turns out to be bad and there was no charger and no manual included. However, a battery holder where your regular penlight can be do so. It is a second hand one, but he looks like new. Will definitely have fun with, though there is little activity here in Holland.

  • Roderick WilliamsGW8YPR:

    Hi Tim,
    I saw an old 2012 write up on a Palstar KH6 tranceiver you bought. I have had one doing little in my shack, bought off Ebay some years back and wondering if it works on transmit, seems to receive okay, at least it picks up interference. I had left 8 AA dry batteries in it and they had leaked but washed the battery carrier out and no sign of damage. Anyway I need to swat up on the band plan for 50 mHz. I just wondered if you were able to get some good contacts. No aerials here yet. May have to rig a dipole,

    73’s Rod.

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