Description
These products will make your KX3 ready for travel and use. The KX3 products again have two elements. The first layer of protection are the Raised Handles on the new end plates. Then when you add the thermal formed Poly-carbonate Cover you get complete protections that is backpack ready!
The Raised handles offer much needed front panel protection to all of the knobs, buttons and delicate LCD display
• Made from Aircraft Grade 7075 T6 Aluminum to resist bending
• All parts are laser cut to match all factory cutouts and media tumbled for a smooth edge
• All coatings applied by an ISO certified coating company
• Mil Spec Powder Coating in the factory Elecraft color
• Two part UV Stabilized Epoxy Silk Screen lettering so it won’t fade or yellow
• Text matches factory look
• The new panels will provide a much needed basic carry handle
Adds only .4 ounces to the weight of the radio
The injection molded cover is Poly-carbonate and the same material used in fighter cockpit windshields and bank teller window bullet proofing for the second layer of protection.
• Completely covers all of the KX3’s delicate LCD display, control knobs and buttons while in transport, keeping away dust and foreign debris
• Provides limited protection from impact to the front panel when installed, (although we have severely abused some covers with no damage to the radio)
• Eliminates accidental powering on of radio, protecting the batteries
• Smoke grey allows visual confirmation of radio power status
• Snaps easily and securely into Side KX end panels requiring no tools, additional straps, connectors, or removable parts to get lost! This cover is FLEXIBLE and does not shatter or crack like acrylic plastic.
Weighs only 1 ounce
All materials from US manufacturers and all production done in the USA
Please come back to this page and post a review of this part! You can post reviews for any of my products on their respective page!
73 SA4ARG / Lazze –
I bought the combo package and the paddle cover at the same time I ordered my fully loaded KX3 from Elecraft. And this is a must accessory to protect your radio when you are
using the radio as a traveling companion outdoors. It protects the display and knobs for any damage if you (god forbid) should drop it. 🙂
I highly recomend it if you are planning to us the KX3 for serious adventure use.
Mike Fiola AI6AB –
Great addition to the radio, strong with perfect detail.
Mike KM6AB –
These little gems not only protect my KX3 while in a backpack or suitcase or whatever, they also make the radio look, well, sexy!
The quality and workmanship are outstanding and installing the side panels was fast and easy. I’m not one to baby my radios and have carried my KX3 in packs with lots of accessories just tossed in the pack to rub and scrape on the radio. Surprisingly the Lexan cover looks fine and is much more scratch resistant than I thought it would be. Its really tough stuff!
In my opinion the SideKX panels should be supplied with every new KX3 from the factory. Owned since July 2013.
Bob -W7BV –
The SideKX end plates are of high quality and fit perfectly on my KX3.. The covers is also of excellent quality and together with the end plates provide superior protection to the equipment while travelling or backpacking.
George. M0UCB (verified owner) –
Ordered KX3 end panels and cover and same for my PX3 for delivery to me whilst on holiday from the Uk in Florida. Scott was really easy to deal with, answered all my emails promptly, delivery was prompt and came well packaged. Products are excellent quality and based on my experience in dealing with Scott, I would not hesitate to recommend GEMS products to other Elecraft ops.
Skip KE7MPO –
I had the opportunity to pick up the combo kit with the paddle cover for KX3 and the combo kit for PX3 in person from Scott. Not only are the kits top notch, it was an easy 5 minute job. Scott is a great guy to talk to. We talked go kits, mountain topping, light weight antennas. Radios in general. I’m looking forward to the mount brackets coming in. The quality and attention to detail is great. Scott is excellent to deal with. I look forward to GEMS future products.
Richard G8ITB –
Ordered the KX-3 Side plates/lexan cover & paddle port cover direct from Gems Products – quick shipping and great notifications! Wish I had waited a couple of weeks as the “new” items had come into production!! Comparing the GemsProducts items against a set of Cheapo Chinese ‘Windcamp’ knock-offs – there is no comparison! The GemsProducts items are light years better in every measurable quality aspect! My suggestion to any reader is; pay the extra and wait a couple of weeks for the post to arrive! You won’t regret it! The video by John Doogan on YouTube is an excellent primer for those who may be faint-hearted in opening up an over £1,000 cost radio and playing about with screwdrivers! I look forwards to ordering the ‘new’ products for the rest of my Elecraft portable/holiday line-up!
Eric AK4WR (verified owner) –
The sidepanels and cover arrived on the east coast priority mail seven days after ordering. I had trouble putting the cover the first time on account of the tight fit and after a phone call to Scott he walked me through the process and told me how to get to the instruction videos via the installation tab on this website. There is a proper technique for mounting and removing the cover. Like the Elecraft KX3 itself, this is a precision product. The cover will not fall off.
RIch – N5ZC (verified owner) –
I ordered the side panels and cover for my KX3 (I liked the side panels and cover that came with a used PX3 I purchased) and they were delivered within a few days via priority mail. Nice unit’s and easy to install. Now my kX3 will be protected for my first SOTA trip.
73, Rich – N5ZC
lmsdr3@yahoo.com (verified owner) –
Just received my kx3 combo PACK ! Great product! People like Scott keep quality in Amateur equipment! If you own a kx2 or kx3 the protective combo kit is a must
If you use ur kx2 or kx3 as a portable rig get the protective kit from Scott it will SAVE U MONEY!!
73 and agn TNX’s Steve/W7VI
Scott –
Thanks for the business Steve
January 18, 2018 –
Thanks Scott, I will breath easier now when I am on my SOTA trips.
The guality of your products are incredible. Thanks again.
Duaine KA6AIL, 73’s
Craig – KM4ASH –
I looked at the chinese copies of this product. Everyone likes spending less, however, long ship times and questionable credit card practices in previous chinese purchases just do not make it economical. It is better to support U.S. anyway. Keep the cash here at home. My SideKX endplates and lexan cover shipped same day – on the weekend! Quality is good, install was easy, radio looks good.
Jim N6KZ (verified owner) –
Met Scott at the 2018 Visalia International DX Convention, working behind the Elecraft booth. He was most helpful in explaining how the KX-3 End Panels and Cover attached and how durable they were, esp compared to the Chinese versions. I bought a set and easily installed them on my KX-3. They provide excellent face/controls protection. In wet weather they may be left on during operation as the mic, key, and headphone connections are still available from the side of the rig. FIVE STARS for a great product and service. If you’re into operating SOTA, IOTA, or Whatever-OTA this is the product to protect your KX-series radio.
Lew (verified owner) –
It appeared from the web page to be a nice looking product, So ordered the side panels, cover and the key cover. Scott did it right, very nice product and very happy with it.
Frank LX2AU (verified owner) –
The KX3 rig looks more “finished” with both the paddle, the side panels and the cover.
tom adrain (verified owner) –
Just installed the cover and end panels and itwas the easiest install i ever had. Looking at the parts and the way they fit is a tribute to to their manufacturering skills
Jim Spragg, W8LGZ (verified owner) –
Just received my Side KX handles and cover today, took less than 5 minutes to install. The fit and finish are perfect. Great addition to the KX3. Thanks Scott!!
K5NOW@ARRL.NET –
The Side KX is one of the best improvements to the KX3 money can buy. It not only makes the KX3 look classy, but it PROTECTS the KX3.
WARNING: Don’t waste your money on Windcamp! Windcamp is a cheap Chinese knockoff that is not even in the same league as Side KX.
Nikolai VE3NKL (verified owner) –
Just received my Side KX and installed on KX-3. Wow ! The side panels and the cover are a high quality product, well worth the money. Thank you Scott!
N1PIO – DM2JS –
Scott’s side panels and covers for the KX3 and PX3 are AWESOME! I spent some time comparing the el cheapo knock-offs on Amazon, and there is just no comparison. Scott has put a lot of work into developing these, and they are really well crafted. I got them just as soon as I ordered an Elecraft KX3 and PX3, because I want them to be fully protected. I’ve seen Scott’s YouTube videos explaining how they are different from the overseas competitors, and I am impressed! They are totally different. I am also ordering Rose’s cases, and the Side KX side panels and Lexan covers fit nicely into the padded cases that Rose makes. I am so glad I found out about Side KX!
Scott –
Thanks for the feed back and support! 73 Scott AK6Q
Michael Parkes AB7RU (verified owner) –
Perfect finishing touch for the KX3, the panels went on smoothly, great instructions and overall super products! The KX3 and the PX3 with Side KX panels and Covers, fit into Elecraft’s ES80 Carrying Case, making a very portable kit for the trail. Nice work Gems Products!
Steve Black (verified owner) –
What service. The End plate handles and cover arrived very quickly and the fit and finish is excellent. The paint is a perfect match to the Elecraft color. In minutes the handles and cover ere installed and protecting my rig. The package came well wrapped and packaged. I would highly recommend the handle and cover package to anyone who has a KX3. If you own a KX3 it deserves these items. Very inexpensive in comparison to a damaged radio.
Terry Basom (verified owner) –
I received my End Plates and cover several weeks ago. The quality matches the KX3 quality. Fit and finish is excellent. The communication from when i ordered to shipping was great! Packaging was very innovative and well put together. Looks really good and does a great job in protecting a very expensive rig..
This product is a must if you use the rig outside of the shack!
Kim M0KNV (verified owner) –
This product is superb! Even with the extra cost of shipping to the UK, the import duty and the UK postal service charge for collecting the duty, I would thoroughly recommend. Superb quality and great protection for this lovely rig. First class service from Scott into the bargain too! Thank you.
Mike Short (verified owner) –
Great quality as always.
philip (verified owner) –
I bought side panels, cover and key cover plate in 2019, so have had a while to actually use them before making any comment.
Fitting was easy and the end result very professional looking, and seemingly good quality, which has proven to be the case in practice.
I recommend these products to any KX3 owner.
Philip K7UF
James Garnett (verified owner) –
I was happy to find this protective cover, given that I plan to use the KX3 SOTA and POTA operations and thus the transceiver will be inside a backpack and jostled around quite a bit. The side plates are indistinguishable from the factory plates in terms of material and print, and the cover is extremely sturdy. Needless to say, I’m quite happy with this purchase. The side plates install quickly–someone mentioned “less than five minutes”, which is probably accurate: it’s four small screws. Thanks to Elecraft’s smart engineering, those screws take any common Phillips head that you’ve got on hand nearby, and the new plate mates perfectly with the rig. The left-side plate’s installation requires unscrewing the single nut holding the mic input, but that’s easily done even with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Overall: quality product, quick installation. Oh, and quick shipping: I ordered on 7/18 and today I installed the kit on 7/21, after letting my mail sit overnight. (That is, it probably arrived yesterday, not today. So I ordered on a Sunday, and the kit was here on the following Tuesday.) I’m a convert to the quality of Elecraft gear, so I’m sure that I’ll be a return customer here to Side KX.
Paul Jewell (verified owner) –
I was slightly concerned about buying from the US and shipping to the UK – not because of the US aspect, but the additional charges which could be added. I shouldn’t have been concerned. The products arrived well packaged within a week or so of shipping, and no additional charges were levied. I am extremely happy with the quality of the components – installation is quick and easy, and the fit and finish is excellent. Now I can happily take the radio on adventures without being concerned about possible damage. I would definitely recommend you buy this combo.
Tom Gordon (verified owner) –
Thanks Scott for a excellent product, It fits great and looks great. Anyone thinking about this product, do it .
RICHARD BERMAN (verified owner) –
I do not need to restate what the others have said complete five stars.