[Elecraft] Re: Announcing the Elecraft K3 Transceiver: 10/100W, 160-6m, Assembled or Kit

[Lyle Johnson]

Hello Jim!

> Will the new K3 be able to TX on the Alaska emergency frequency of 
> 5167.5 kHz?  This is close to the 60 meter band, but not a "ham band" 
> frequency.  This channel is authorized to hams in or near Alaska for use 
> during emergencies, and  contacts between hams and non-hams (for 
> example, the police or a commercial HF user) are authorized when the 
> situation calls for it.   The authorization is for SSB (USB) only, 150 
> watts max output.

This should be possible, I'll leave it to Wayne for the definitive 
answer since I haven't swept the 60m bandpass filter.  With the KBPF3 I 
should think it would be no problem, technically.

> Also, this was touched on, but I would like a bit of clarification - One 
> of my favorite ways to operate CW during a contest  or DX pileup is to 
> use both the main receiver and the sub-receiver in my Yaesu Mark 5 set 
> to the same frequency but with different filter bandwidths, for example 
> 400 Hz on the main and 500 Hz on the sub, which gives a quasi-stereo 
> effect to the sound.  When using a stereo headset, the different 
> bandwidths make the signals seem to have a spatial differentiation that 
> really helps sort out the pile.  The only fly in the ointment is that on 
> the Mark 5, you have to hold down a front-panel button to get the VFOs 
> to track,  which creates sort of a pain where I sit.  Having the ability 
> to have the 2 VFOs track automatically would be a big help.

I believe we can accommodate this kind of auto-tracking.

Another feature the K3 possesses is "dual passband" or perhaps "context 
filtering."

This lets you set a wider bandwidth at some dB down *and* a narrower 
bandwidth filter at the same time.  So you could, for example, dial in a 
1 kHz wide filter and set it 10 or 20 dB down and a narrow 200 Hz filter 
centered on your preferred pitch.  You can thus hear the signal you want 
with emphasis, while still retaining some context of the activity nearby.

73,

Lyle KK7P