[Elecraft] Interesting K3 Pan Adapter Development

[Bill Tippett]

N6TQS:
>Given that "no knobs" operations are pretty new, and only possible
with some radios, I think you may be confusing a correlation with a
causation.  When "no knobs" operators have the experience that "with
knobs" operators do, then we may see different results.  It also is
dependent on the "no knobs" interface.

        Actually the SDR-1000 has been around since 2003, but has
had little acceptance by top contesters.  The rapidity of contester 
acceptance of the K3 will simply astound us all once it reaches full
production.  This is little surprise with top contesters like N6TR 
(perennial winner of the NCJ CW Sprints) and W0YK (RTTY contests) 
being on the beta test team (N6XI also).  CT1BOH, who is among the
top world contesters, also has a K3 on order along with many others
I know of.  These guys are quick to adopt anything which gives them
a competitive advantage.

>It does look as if the K3 is the radio that may make this transition
and experience possible.

        In my opinion, the main feature SDR is the panadapter display,
but it trades off front-end immunity (BDR) to achieve this.  One place
where it shines is VHF contesting, which is because VHF contests
are very slow-paced and the panadapter is helpful for searching wide 
areas of otherwise dead bands for an occasional signal.  In a fast-paced 
contest like the NCJ CW Sprint, operator agility comes into play, 
which is definitely not "no knobs" territory in my opinion.  

        Indeed the K3 + Panadapter will allow the operator to have it
"his way", but I predict most Top-10 guys will be using it in the
classical mode with knobs.  Time (and results!) will tell.

                                                    73,  Bill  W4ZV