New Transceiver for DX Vacation

Elecraft announced new Transceiver KX3 at Dayton. It will be available by the end of this year.
KX3 pricing has been not announced yet but it will be $700 - $800. Following are announced specification for KX3 and options. (These are subject to change without notice)

KXPA100 amp will be essential for my DX Vacation. I am interested in details of KXPA100, dimension, weight etc.

KX3 STANDARD FEATURES
° 160-6 meter ham bands; generazl coverage from 1.6-30 MHz (optional
broadcast-band filter module covers 0.5-1.6 KHz)
°All modes: SSB, CW, Data (four sub-modes), AM FM
°Ultra-compact size: 3.4"H x 7.4"W x 1.7"D; 18 oz. (less options)
°Rear tilt feet fold up for transport
°Custom high-contrast LCD with alphanumeric text display
°Current drain as low as 150 mA in receive mode
°High-performance 32-bit floating-point DSP
°Built-in PSK/TTY decode/encode allows data mode operation without a PC;
transmit in data modes using CW keyer paddle
°Low-noise synthesizer with 1-Hz tuning resolution
°Firmware updateable via provided application software

RECEIVER
°Quadrature down-sampling mixer compatible with PC-based SDR
(software-defined-radio) applications
°Receiver I/Q outputs for use with PC soundcard
°Narrow roofing filter option with four bandwidths (500Hz, 1500Hz, 2700Hz,
3800Hz) for excellent dynamic range
°Switchable preamp (2 levels) and attenuator (2 levels)
°8-band receive audio equalizer
°Dual watch over ±10kHz range; uses applicable roofing filter
°Easy-to-use PassBand Tuning (PBT) for shift/width/hicut/locut; roofing
filters automatically track DSP filter settings
°Automatic and manual notch filtering; adjustable noise reduction and noise
blanking; binaural audio effects for enhanced receive
°Center-tuning indicator for CW and data modes
°Built-in speaker; stereo jack for headphones/external speakers

TRANSMITTER
°Adjustable output, 0.1 to 10W+ (100W+ with KXPA100 amp)
°Ruged, SWR and temperature-protected final amplifier stage
°Optional MH3 microphone with PT and UP/DOWN functions
°Optional attached keyer paddle with spacing adjustment
°Switchable PA output impedance for efficient 5-W or 10-W use
°Fast, silent, PIN-diode T-R switching - no relays
°DSP speech processing for excellent "punch"
°8 band equalizer tailors passband to your voice and microphone

OTHER FEATURES
°Built in digital voice recorder (DVR) with two message buffers
°Internal CW keyer with 8-50 WPM range
°Six CW/DATA message memories
°100 general-purpose memories store VFO A/B, modes, etc.
°Accessory/RS-232 port for computer control using supplied cable
°Full remote-control command set works with most amateur radio software
applications (emulates Elecraft K3)
°One-click firmware upgrades via the web (with free PC software)
Optional mobile bracket compatible with RAM-mounts
°Tutoriall-style manual ideal for new hams

OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES
KXFLE Roofing Filter Module (500/1500/2700/3800 Hz)
KXAT3 Internal, Wide-Range 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner
KXAM3 Broadcast Band Filter Module (0.5-1.6 MHz)
KXBT3 Internal 8-AA Cell Battery Pack with NiMH Charger (Batteries not
supplied; nonrechanrgeable batteries can also be used)
KXPD3 Precision Keyer Paddle
KXMM3 Mobile Mount Bracket
MH3 Hand Microphone with UP/DN Controls
KUSB RS232 to USB Adapter
KXPA100 High-Performance 160-6 meter, 100-W Amplifier; usable with most 5 to
10 W transceivers
KXAT100 Wide-Range 100-W ATU with Dual Anenna Jacks (attaches to KXPA100
module)

JA1NLX/VK4 from OC-187 updated

All has been fixed.  See topics on May 14, 2011. See you in Aug 19 - 23.

JA1NLX/VK4 from OC-187 updated

Following is the latest plan as of May 15. It will be fixed shortly.

8/18 Depart from Tokyo
8/19 Arrive at Lizard Island. QRV will start at around 0400z.
8/23 QRV will end at around 1000z
8/24 Depart from Lizard Island for Cairns.
8/25 Depart from Cairns for Tokyo.

Band and Mode
7-28MHz CW/SSB.
It will be around IOTA frequency.
CW: 7015 10115 14040 18095 21040 24920 28040
SSB: 14260 18128 21260 24950 28460

Transceiver and Antenna
TenTec Eagle Transceiver running 100w.  Simple random wire wounded on fishing pole with ATU and radials. Antenna will be set at room deck high above sea.

QSL
I will QSL via Buro for all QSOs. The Log will be uploaded on LoTW when I am back in Tokyo. Direct QSL will be welcomed with SASE. Address is on QRZ.com.

OnLine Log
The Log will be uploaded on ClubLog daily if good internet service will be available.

JA1NLX/VK4 from OC-187 updated

VOACAP give us interesting propagation prediction chart.
Here are a few charts from VK4 to DL, OH, JA, W6 and W2 in August this year.

For DL

For OH

For JA

For W6

For W2

As you see I do not expect too much for EU and East coast of NA.  In Sept 2010 I operated JA1NLX/VK4 at Dunk Island, OC-171.  I found very limited opening for EU around 17z on 14MHz and almost no opening for NA.  The location was not good for NA though.

Your comment and advise will be very much appreciated.

JA1NLX/VK4 from IOTA OC-187

I am planning to operate JA1NLX/VK4 from Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia in August, 2011.
Lizard Island is located about 240Km north of Cairns.

I will QRV during 3 or 4 days in August on HF Bands CW and SSB if possible.
Details are not fixed yet.