Lab599 Discovery TX-500 vs Elecraft KX2
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Lab599 Discovery TX-500 or Elecraft KX2? I put both radios side by side: data from the manufacturers’ datasheets and photos at the same scale. Lab599 Discovery TX-500 comes out ahead: 6 m output power, plus spectrum scope and waterfall; Elecraft KX2: second receiver, transmit current draw, weight and memory channels.
Lab599Discovery TX-500
HF · 6 m10 W0.6 kg
ElecraftKX2
HF10 Wtuner0.4 kg
Specs side by side
| Lab599Discovery TX-500▲ 2 | ElecraftKX2▲ 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bands and modes | ||
| Transmit bands | HF 1.8–29.7 MHz50–54 MHz | HF 3.5–29.7 MHz (no 160 m) |
| Receive range | 0.5–56 MHz | 0.5–32 MHz |
| Modes | SSBCWAMFM | SSBCWAMFMPSKRTTY |
| Transmit power | ||
| HF | 10 W | 10 W |
| 50 MHz (6 m) | 7 W ▲ | — |
| Receiver | ||
| Construction | SDR, quadrature mixer, I/Q output | SDR, 32-bit DSP |
| Second receiver | — | dual watch ±23 kHz (not a separate receiver) |
| Spectrum and waterfall | 48 kHz panadapter | — |
| Features | ||
| Antenna tuner | — | internal KXAT2 option |
| Display | 256×128 LCD, toughened glass | monochrome LCD |
| LAN / remote operation | — | — |
| USB | CAT-USB adapter included | KXUSB cable (CAT, no audio) |
| SD card | — | — |
| Antenna connectors | 1× BNC | 1× BNC |
| Power and case | ||
| Power | 9–15 V DC (18650 pack option) | 8–15 V DC or optional internal battery |
| Transmit current draw | 3 A | 2 A ▲ |
| Dimensions | 207 × 90 × 21 mmwaterproof case, excluding connectors | 147 × 72 × 40 mmwidth × height × depth |
| Weight | 0.6 kg | 0.4 kg ▲ |
| Other | ||
| Memory channels | 100 | 150 ▲ |
| Release | 2020 | 2016 |
Data: manufacturers’ spec sheets and manuals · as of 31.10.2026
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